Then We Take Berlin

Today we left charming Dresden and headed for Berlin, but first we had to get out of Dresden.  The big reunification party, scheduled to begin this evening has totally closed the square, so taxis can't get anywhere near our hotel. We haul all our stuff a couple of blocks to a tram stop and head for the train station. 

Instead of the familiar silver or red DB Bahn train we catch a blue Czech train complete with our own compartment.  

We arrived at the amazing three story Berlin main train station.  Having survived the taxi ride of death we make it to our base for the next five days, Hommage a Margritte.  Located in the trendy Charlottenberg area, we chose this B&B based on its quirky nature and extremely high reviews.  We were met by the owner's daughter, Sophie, who led us down the art draped labyrinthine hallways to our room. 

With some afternoon daylight left we decided to see some of the sights.  First stop, the iconic Brandenburg Gate.  This is the only remaining vestige of the walls that used to surround ancient Berlin. The Godess of Peace riding in her four horse drawn chariot top this monument.  

Our desire to be able to walk through the gate was thwarted by fences blocking off the area in preparation of Berlin's reunification ceremony. We headed over a block to the Reichstag, the site of Germany's parliament.  This building has had an interesting past. A mysterious fire in 1933 was instrumental in Hitler's run for power.  It was rebuilt in 1999 complete with a new glass dome.  People line up for hours to get tickets to walk up the ramp inside the dome.

 We decided to have a bit of a sit on the enormous front lawn and watch tourists, protesters and Gypsies parade by.  Heading back home we stopped at two interesting memorials. The first - a bunch of jagged slates honouring the opposition politicians murdered by the Nazis.

 The second - a row of white crosses set to remind us of the people killed trying to escape East Berlin.