Last day in Berlin:
A trip to the Museum Island, two trips on the UBahn and thirty five minute later we arrived at the Freidrichstrasse Haubtbahnhof. A ten minute walk-through an interesting neighbourhood and past the reconstructed buildings of the Museum District. The area had been destroyed in WW2 and it can be seen when you look at the buildings, the upper floors definitely look new.
Expecting a lineup at the Pergamon, after we found the entrance; the Museum is being renovated and is disorganized, so the entry was tucked away, we had to wait. The Museum staggers the visitors so that the Museum doesn't get overloaded (it felt full when we were there). After hitting the cloak room, all bags have to be checked in a locker that has a key-operated door that costs 1 euro. You get the euro back when you open the door to get your bag back. The only slot machine in Town that gives you your money back!
Up the stir into the Museum and you are stunned by the first exhibit - the Ishtar Gate (wikipedia reference here). This artifact was disassembled, as it was being excavated, into over 500 packing crates and shipped to Berlin. This exhibit is worth the price of admission, just to be able to wonder at it - magnificent! Passing into the next room is also worth the money.
Here is a reconstructed Roman Building - The Market Gate of Miletus, a huge undertaking. Unfortunately it is not until you get the next floor that the remaining marvel is found.
Behind a sealed barrier is The Aleppo Room; seven walls (three are shown in the pic) of an antechamber, that would have led into a receiving room of a wealthy Merchant during the Ottoman period. Having checked out all of the Pergamon, not much to look at after the sights mentioned, we left for the next planned sight - the Berlin Cathedral.
The Berlin Cathedral is another reconstruction, but done very well and took many years. Completed in 1963 it is now the main Church of Berlin, the Crypt contains the coffins of the Royals and famous people of Germany. Not built in a traditional design there is no Nave but four lines of pews arranged in the four stations of the Compass under the huge and ornate Dome. The Altar lines up North, congregants face North. An interesting and novel design for a Church.
Leaving the Church and getting to the train back we had to use the SBahn - a surface train that also travels underground. Back to the hotel and there is still an afternoon left. Fred napped and Doreen shopped, she had spotted a bargain yesterday and had to go back today when the stores were open. Sunday shopping is non-existent in Berlin (maybe Germany as well). And a return trip to the Restaurant Elefant, where the waiter amazed us all by not only remembering who we were but also what we had ordered. Again all the meals were large and excellent. Back in the room we watched the World Cup and managed to stay awake to watch the winning goal of the Belgium/Japan scored in the last minute of the game.
Travel day:Up early, to make sure we were not rushed because of the commuters. But being surprised by the lack of commuters we arrived at the Hbf with an hour to spare. Which gave us plenty of time to explore the place.
Another impressive feat of architecture and engineering, this place was five storeys of station and a few more on top for offices. On platform 3 the next piece of the puzzle was where to stand so that we lined up with our reserved seats. By luck or design the railcar 225 ended up just where we were standing. Our seats were found, in a crowded car, and our travelling companions, in adjacent seats, were a couple of 'utes' who were travelling to Bratislava to have a biking/camping holiday.
Alighting from the railcar we headed to the rendezvous spot for the hotel pickup - "stand outside Burger King" we did and still managed to miss each other. Hailing a taxi got us to to the Hotel and we nipped out for lunch!
After that we fought the crowds and took in a quick spot of sightseeing,
A trip to the Museum Island, two trips on the UBahn and thirty five minute later we arrived at the Freidrichstrasse Haubtbahnhof. A ten minute walk-through an interesting neighbourhood and past the reconstructed buildings of the Museum District. The area had been destroyed in WW2 and it can be seen when you look at the buildings, the upper floors definitely look new.
Expecting a lineup at the Pergamon, after we found the entrance; the Museum is being renovated and is disorganized, so the entry was tucked away, we had to wait. The Museum staggers the visitors so that the Museum doesn't get overloaded (it felt full when we were there). After hitting the cloak room, all bags have to be checked in a locker that has a key-operated door that costs 1 euro. You get the euro back when you open the door to get your bag back. The only slot machine in Town that gives you your money back!Up the stir into the Museum and you are stunned by the first exhibit - the Ishtar Gate (wikipedia reference here). This artifact was disassembled, as it was being excavated, into over 500 packing crates and shipped to Berlin. This exhibit is worth the price of admission, just to be able to wonder at it - magnificent! Passing into the next room is also worth the money.
Here is a reconstructed Roman Building - The Market Gate of Miletus, a huge undertaking. Unfortunately it is not until you get the next floor that the remaining marvel is found. 
Behind a sealed barrier is The Aleppo Room; seven walls (three are shown in the pic) of an antechamber, that would have led into a receiving room of a wealthy Merchant during the Ottoman period. Having checked out all of the Pergamon, not much to look at after the sights mentioned, we left for the next planned sight - the Berlin Cathedral.
The Berlin Cathedral is another reconstruction, but done very well and took many years. Completed in 1963 it is now the main Church of Berlin, the Crypt contains the coffins of the Royals and famous people of Germany. Not built in a traditional design there is no Nave but four lines of pews arranged in the four stations of the Compass under the huge and ornate Dome. The Altar lines up North, congregants face North. An interesting and novel design for a Church.Leaving the Church and getting to the train back we had to use the SBahn - a surface train that also travels underground. Back to the hotel and there is still an afternoon left. Fred napped and Doreen shopped, she had spotted a bargain yesterday and had to go back today when the stores were open. Sunday shopping is non-existent in Berlin (maybe Germany as well). And a return trip to the Restaurant Elefant, where the waiter amazed us all by not only remembering who we were but also what we had ordered. Again all the meals were large and excellent. Back in the room we watched the World Cup and managed to stay awake to watch the winning goal of the Belgium/Japan scored in the last minute of the game.
Travel day:Up early, to make sure we were not rushed because of the commuters. But being surprised by the lack of commuters we arrived at the Hbf with an hour to spare. Which gave us plenty of time to explore the place.
Another impressive feat of architecture and engineering, this place was five storeys of station and a few more on top for offices. On platform 3 the next piece of the puzzle was where to stand so that we lined up with our reserved seats. By luck or design the railcar 225 ended up just where we were standing. Our seats were found, in a crowded car, and our travelling companions, in adjacent seats, were a couple of 'utes' who were travelling to Bratislava to have a biking/camping holiday.Alighting from the railcar we headed to the rendezvous spot for the hotel pickup - "stand outside Burger King" we did and still managed to miss each other. Hailing a taxi got us to to the Hotel and we nipped out for lunch!
After that we fought the crowds and took in a quick spot of sightseeing,
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