Some pics from a recent trip to Berlin.  Berlin is probably my favorite large city in Europe. While not the most beautiful, dense or ancient city in on the continent, Berlin has a certain vibe and dynamism to it that makes it an incredibly interesting place to be. It has several diverse city centers that reflect back on the old communist state, the west German enclave and the post-cold war Renaissance. Â
The pictures start in the former area of west Berlin around the Zoo station, the Ka Da We, and the Kurfurstendamm (main shopping street in western Berlin)
The Ka Da We, an excellent department store in the heart of western Berlin. Department stores may be a dying entity in the states but not in Europe. This store had an entire floor devoted to foodstuffs with small cafes built around the different food sections. Something like this would be nice in DT KC.
The "Tooth" in west Berlin
Alexanderplatz in eastern Berlin. Once a pretty stark commercial area left over from the DDR, the place is starting to come around.
Moving towards Unter Den Linden in the former east Berlin. This was the former main drag of the city prior to WWII. Each time I go, the area is farther along in reclaiming its former spot as the center of life in the city.
Turning down Fredrichstrasse towards Checkpoint Charlie, another area making a great comeback
From Frederichstrasse, we went over to Potsdamer Platz following roughly the same tract as the former Wall. The wall is mostly gone now although you can see it along a memorial built atop the former Gestapo HQ near Potsdamer platz
and small vestiges appear adjacent to Potsdamer Platz
Potzdamer Platz. This area has been entirely reborn since the fall of the wall. The architechture is both celebrated and much maligned. I love the place. The only complaint is that it still feels somewhat isolated from the rest of the city which basically got on with its life during the division when Potsdamer Platz was relegated to being a no mans land between east and west. In a way, kind of like what happened to DT KC when they surrounded it with a "wall" of interstate highways; think of what KC to do if that space was put back into circulation. Anyway......
Inside the Sony Center
and looking out towards Potsdamer Platz
Berlin
- Highlander
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Berlin
Last edited by Highlander on Sat Aug 27, 2005 5:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Berlin
Thanks. Keep 'em coming.
- ComandanteCero
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Re: Berlin
wow, looks like a pretty great city. How did you get around? (i.e car, mass transit, walking), are these areas relatively close to each other or in completely different parts of the city?
KC Region is all part of the same animal regardless of state and county lines.
Think on the Regional scale.
Think on the Regional scale.
- Tosspot
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Re: Berlin
Its never done much for me; after being bombed to smithereens by Allied Forces in WWII, they replaced everything with a lot of architecturally modernist clap-trap. Similar situation for Rotterdam. That's why I don't care for war; it tends to ruin cities. But good photos nonetheless Highlander.
photoblog.
until further notice i will routinely point out spelling errors committed by any here whom i frequently do battle wit
- Highlander
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Re: Berlin
By European urban standards, Berlin is pretty spread out. In the city center is a huge, very green urban park called the Tiergarten (the scale of which is illustrated in the photo at the bottom). Most of the governmental, cultural and commercial centers of the city are located at the various ends of the park. The commercial center of the former West Berlin is on the western side, the center of the communist capital with the Reischstag, the Brandenburg gate and Unter Den Linden and Museum Island are on the eastern side. The recreated Potsdamer Platz is on the SE side of the park. Spread out as they are, they are all easily accessible by the excellent public transportation system.ÂComandanteCero wrote: wow, looks like a pretty great city. How did you get around? (i.e car, mass transit, walking), are these areas relatively close to each other or in completely different parts of the city?
I almost never drive a car in European cities. Just too difficult to navigate and park. If I arrive by car, I park at the hotel and leave it there. In Berlin, we got around by the U-bahn (underground) system, the bus, and by foot. Prefer foot because you do not see much underground but Berlin can challenge ones determination; we walked over 10 km per day while there.
ÂTosspot wrote: Its never done much for me; after being bombed to smithereens by Allied Forces in WWII, they replaced everything with a lot of architecturally modernist clap-trap. Similar situation for Rotterdam. That's why I don't care for war; it tends to ruin cities. But good photos nonetheless Highlander.
I know where you are coming from. Berlin was reconstructed quickly in the 50's-60's with little regard to the former architectural styles. Nonetheless, I rather like the city. It is clearly a dynamic place and has an interesting vibe to it.  What I really enjoy is the diversity in the city's different districts....the socialist realism styles around Alexander Platz and Karl Marx Strasse, the 60's-ish style in the former West Berlin, and the contemporary styles of the new Potzdamer Platz. I also really enjoy the cold war history, the wall etc... The eastern part of the city (museum island) is host to several world class museums that are located in their original structures, many of which still bear scars from the battle that ended WWII.
Â
Looking east from a monument from within the Tiergarten towards the east side of the city with Potzdamer Platz on the extreme right.
- Gladstoner
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Re: Berlin
The left side of the glass tower may give a nice preview of the H&R Block building.Highlander wrote:
A fool and your money are soon united.