World Travel

Berlin, Germany

I travelled to Berlin by car in winter 1992 and it was cold, -6°C during the day. Arriving in the evening, the city was enveloped in winter darkness with the streets eerily empty for a city it's size. Somehow this felt like being on the set of a film. With hardly any people on the streets due to the cold, it was insightful to explore the city's former eastern and western sides. The unification of Germany had just taken place and the differences between east and west were glaring. After Berlin I continued on to Dresden before returning to Zurich. The highways of the former East Germany were mostly built with ill fitting and badly maintained concrete slabs so driving at high speeds was both dangerous and noisy.

The TV Tower, formerly in East Berlin, can be visited by lift
The TV Tower, formerly in East Berlin, can be visited by lift
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche, left in it's bombed-out state after WWII
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedñchtniskirche, left in it's bombed-out state after WWII
The wide 'Strasse des 17. Juni' road, with the Brandenburger Tor and the TV Tower in the distance
The wide 'Strasse des 17. Juni' road, with the Brandenburger Tor and the TV Tower in the distance
It was so cold that the river was frozen
It was so cold that the river was frozen
The entrance to the Pergamon Museum (formerly in East Berlin)
The entrance to the Pergamon Museum (formerly in East Berlin)
The Pergamon museum's centerpiece is the Pergamon Altar, an original Greek temple
The Pergamon museum's centerpiece is the Pergamon Altar, an original Greek temple
The steps of the Pergamon Temple have neon lights on them
The steps of the Pergamon Temple have neon lights on them
Old Military Hardware at the site of the former Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie
Old Military Hardware at the site of the former Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie
The most famous symbolic structure in Berlin, the Brandenburger Tor, completed in 1791 divided East and West Berlin after 1945. Most of it was destroyed during the war and is rebuilt
The most famous symbolic structure in Berlin, the Brandenburger Tor, completed in 1791 divided East and West Berlin after 1945. Most of it was destroyed during the war and is rebuilt
Berliner Rathaus. There are so many wide open spaces in this city. They're wonderful even though most of them seem unfinished
Berliner Rathaus. There are so many wide open spaces in this city. They're wonderful even though most of them seem unfinished
The gate to the Zoo at night
The gate to the Zoo at night
The Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall
Schloss Charlottenburg, completed in 1699. Just next door is the Egyptian Museum
Schloss Charlottenburg, completed in 1699. Just next door is the Egyptian Museum
Gedñchtniskirche
Gedñchtniskirche
The top of the TV tower has disappeared in the winter mist
The top of the TV tower has disappeared in the winter mist
Doorway in the city of Dresden
Doorway in the city of Dresden