Yesterday was quite the day for our UF in Berlin group as it was jampacked with sights to see and cultural events. For a few hours, we went on a walking tour of the city with our guide, Jonathan. We visited die Museuminsel mit dem Berliner Dom, the oldest church in Berlin — although we will be going inside another day. It was amazing learning even more history of the city simply through the architecture of this area and seeing the contrast between the cathedral and the TV tower.
Der Berliner Dom und der Berliner Fernsehturm
Pope’s Revenge (cross from the Berlin dome shines on the tower)
Das Brandenburger Tor reminded me a lot of the Champs-Elysées in Paris — and it was supposed to. There was a lot going on in the Pariser Platz with a meditation group and anti-homophobia and -transphobia celebration.
Das Brandenburger Tor
Meditation in Pariser Platz
International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia celebration in Pariser Platz
We also saw many memorials today: Die Neue Wache, The National Memorial to the Victims of War and Tyranny, where the sculpture Mother with her Dead Son can be seen suffering in all kinds of weather under the oculus; Versunkene Bibliothek (Sunken Library) am Bebelplatz, an underground library with empty shelves, which is a tribute to the more than 20,000 books that were burned in the plaza in 1933; and lastly, the abstract Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe with 2,711 concrete slabs.
Die Neue Wache
Versunkene Bibliothek by Mischa Ullmannim im Bebelplatz
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
After the tour we went to the Flohmarkt am Mauerpark where I bought a jacket and magnet. I look forward to going back next week for more souvenirs. There was also karaoke going on with hundreds of listeners.
Mauerpark Karaoke
Quite an overwhelming, but unbelievable day. Can’t wait to take in more of the city this week. Tschüß!
Je suis Charlie
Cats, Chocolate + Commas. 