We arrived in Berlin to bright blue skies, they weren’t always blue but I must say the weather was quite good throughout our five days.
This is the famous televison tower or Fernsehturm, at 1207 feet tall it’s the city’s tallest structure and no matter where you are in Berlin, you can see it!
It only takes the lift 40 seconds to reach the viewing area and I with my fear of heights took it! Eek!!
It didn’t freak me out too much, you can see the viewing area above and some views of the city from the top.
The Brandenburg Gate or Brandenburger Tor. This iconic structure was the top of my must see list and it didn’t disappoint!
The Victory Column, I have to admit I didn’t climb to the top of this monument, I sat at the bottom in the sunshine and let the boys do the climbing.
Another must see when visiting Berlin is of course the Berlin Wall. Bits of the wall crop up all over the city, not all of them in their original position but this is the longest remaining stretch of the wall at the East Side Gallery.
The famous Checkpoint Charlie!
It a much more light hearted area nowadays than it was in the past.
This original sign shows a more serious time.
Another sad reminder of the past is the very poignant Holocaust Memorial.
The lovely Oberbaumbrücke where traffic, trains and pedestrians can cross the River Spree.
Weeping willows along the banks of the Spree.
This church is the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtnis-Kirche which was bombed in 1943, the ruins were removed leaving only the damaged tower and it has stood this way ever since.
This impressive building is the Reichstag, the German Parliament building.
We had to book to get in here as there are a lot of people who want to do so, entry is free but security as you can imagine is very tight.
We were booked to visit at 8.30pm on the Sunday evening and by the time we got in it was dark, I wasn’t really sure what exactly we were going to see but the booking is for the dome the most recent addition to the building.
So off we set up the spiral ramp in the glass dome looking out over the city lights but about 3/4 of the way up I suddenly realised where I was!! There is a lot of glass and I felt very exposed believe me I held on very tightly to my son until I got back down again.
You can actually look down beneath the dome and see where Angela & Co actually hold parliament, if you’re brave enough that is.
I’m glad I did it, not sure I would again though!’
This is the beautiful Charlottenburg Palace named after Sophie Charlotte the wife of Friedrich III who commissioned it, work began on it in 1695.
Unfortunately the Palace doesn’t open on Mondays which of course was the day we visited but thankfully the beautiful formal gardens were open.
On the banks of the River Spree is the Berliner Dom a magnificent cathedral.
Inside it is wonderfully ornate and yes we went up inside the dome!
To be honest I thought I was going to be inside only but we ended up outside too, for someone who is afraid of heights I seemed to find myself off the ground quite a lot during this trip!!!
So I’ll finish off with another photo of the TV tower, this time at night, still can’t believe I went up there.
It was an amazing trip, Berlin is not at all what I expected, it’s a city with a lot of history but a very modern vibrant city with a lot to offer.
We really enjoyed it and it was wonderful being able to spend some time with our son…I really miss him now though!
14 comments
You seem to have done a lot of heights this break . It looks a very interesting city . The new architecture is a good contrast with the old , they work well together
Thanks for sharing, V! Beautiful, stunning photos… Oh, the palace beyond that bridge… So gorgeous. Glad you had a wonderful time.
What a lovely post Vivienne. I really enjoyed my visit “with” you, such great photos and so much history too. As that beautiful palace was not open you have an excuse to make a return visit soon! Heights are not my thing either but often if I’m “contained” I’m OK. I really can’t stand anywhere near the edges of cliffs etc. I’m so glad you had a lovely time and caught up with S, I’m sure he was an excellent guide to this stunning city xx
Thank you for sharing photos of your trip to Germany Vivienne. I think the glass dome looks spectacular and futuristic! Lots of stunning architecture to amaze and inspire. As I am also not fond of heights I congratulate you on your high rise adventures! It is wonderful that you got to spend time with your son too. x
What an interesting looking City. Not somewhere I have ever been.
Stunning photos Vivienne – amazing architecture, the past is brought right up to date. You have sold Berlin to me – would love to visit. We had the poster of a little boy reaching out to the soldier across barbed wire at Checkpoint Charlie, at the youth club years ago – as you say so very different now. . .Well done risking the heights! Pleased you had a brilliant time. Thank you for sharing.
A really interesting post, and lovely photos of Berlin. I like how you showed us the old and the very new too. You are amazing braving those heights…I felt a bit funny just seeing your photos!! I’m glad you had a lovely time seeing your boy too…..and can understand how much you must miss him again now, but he certainly lives in an exciting city x
Helen xox
Just got back last night from Berlin – what a coincidence!! One of my favourite cities. Never done the heights though. Hope you enjoyed the food and beer too!!
Great photos….glad you had a great time I’ve never been to Berlin but my son has and brought me back a piece of the Berlin wall as a souvenir.
Thinking of you while you were at Berlin Vivienne, that was a very exciting time, being with your Son too. Our Son lives just one and half hours away so we see them often. Thank you for lovely bright photos, I will show them to our Grand Son. Love & Blessing Elizabeth. x x
What an amazing place to visit, full of history and sorrow but amazing to see it so alive too.
I never knew Berlin was so cultural!! I want to go!!
Lovely to see these photos and your IG posts!! My fave. ones are the Charlottenburg Palace gardens. (my husband does not like heights) Missing my son, too.
Here’s to more travels in late spring/summer.
Anne and all xx
Hello dear Vivienne,
What a lovely visit you had, and WELL DONE going all those really high places, I think I would have spent much more time on ground 😉 but boy! the views! Fantastic! It seems you had beautiful weather too, so all great! How about Post Offices, did you visit any???? 😉 😉 😉 😉
Happy last days of April (can’t believe it, May starting this weekend!), hope sun shines!
Yours,
Mia
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