Berlin - a place for history buffs

After lunch I went to Potsdamer Platz which is a modern shopping district. Huge skyscrapers and cars everywhere. I have been sneezing a lot today and I think it's the pollution. There is a lot of dust here and my eyes are full of it. I walked to the Brandenburger gate (which is famous since the wall came down) the Reistag (Parliament buildings) which is open to the public and has a viewing platform and......there is a massive lineup. I make my to Bundestag and then onward to the 17 of June Strasse to the Victory Column. There's a huge rain cloud and it starts to pour, no umbrella so I duck under a huge tree and wait for it to pass. Once I get to the Victory column I go underground to get to the other side. It is remarkable. The reliefs are made with melted down cannons from the 1800's and looking closely at it I see bullet holes, with a lodged bullet, from WWII. I walk back because my feet are really starting to hurt now and find the Jewish museums, one built by Germany and one by Israel, right across the street from each other. Both are patrolled by the Police. I buy my metro ticket for tomorrow because I know I'm not going to want to trek to the bus in the morning.Read more