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Brandenburg Gate
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It was a
nice fine day for our cycle tour around Berlin.
We were able to walk to the bike shop which was only 20 minutes from
where we were staying. Part of the walk
took us through the Fredericspark which looked like a rather large park
We were
fitted with bikes and given helmets and all of us chose to wear them. It felt much safer.
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Bike fitting
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The ride
began by going through the aforementioned park.
Michael told us the highest part of the park was a hill that was created
by the rubble from the wreckage of the bombing of Berlin. It was all done by hand!
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One of many statues in Frederichpark
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We were then taken to a part of the famous Berlin
Wall- a remaining part of it. There we
saw the famous painting of Brezhnef kissing Honecker. The walk was actually the inner wall as the
river provided a primary barrier to escape.
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Very hard to get a photo without someone in front of the wall
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And another by a famous painter
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Next we
went into Nicolai district where a rather interesting building was pointed out
to us. It had been the Berlin mint until
recently and was now a very popular destination for corporates to eat out. There are parts also for the general
public.
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The Rathaus with the ever present Sputnik Tower
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We were
taken past the Rathaus (quite a distinct building, and then onto the Homboldt Forum
which is a reconstruction of the palace of the Kaisers. The original one was badly damaged but was repairable
after the bombing of Berlin. However the communist administrators of that part
of the city decided they didn’t want a reminder of the elites of Germany so had
razed and instead built a palace of the people.
After reunification, debate was held as to whether it should remain but
after a “discovery of asbestos” it was decided to raze that building as
well. It was controversial as there was
a belief that some East Berlin’s history was being destroyed and the west was
prevailing.
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Humboldt Plaza
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The ride
then took us to the Brandenburg Gate and then through the Tiergarten to the Victory
Column. From there we rode alongside the Spree River, past the government quarter and Bundestag or Reichstag. There are some very beautifully designed
buildings. It seemed that huge amounts
of money had been poured into Berlin post reunification. From there we continued back to where
started. At the end of it all, Bev
announced that she would like to have a beer, being very thirsty and hot with
the temperature reaching around 27 degrees.
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A memorial to escapees who died trying to cross here
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Across the
road was a bar which we sat outside to enjoy our drink. A local guy with his young daughter sat down
shortly afterwards. He had his drink and tried to converse with us. Unfortunately, his English as not very good
and our German was non-existent but we had a nice exchange nevertheless.
On our way
back to the apartment we called into the local French restaurant, which had been recommended by the
Commandant, to make a booking.
The meal
was delicious. Probably the best food I
have had so far on the trip. I had
saddle of rabbit which was beautifully cooked, tender and not dry. Bev had a steak which she was pleased with as
well. We had a glass or three of the
house red, a Bordeaux and a Syrah. Both
were good. It was a nice meal and we had
an interesting conversation with a couple who were sitting next to us. The man was from the old West Berlin and his
partner from the old East Berlin. I asked
her what it had been like growing up in East Berlin and she said that it was
not so bad as she didn’t know anything different.
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Our group outside The Mint
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Picnicking in the park
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Looking down the Spree by the Wall
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Evening beach volleyball
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In the Government area
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