Emotionally,
architecturally, and literally, my Seabourn Pride’s Baltic Cruise Shore
Excursion to Berlin was quite a ride!
 |
SEABOURN PRIDE ON HER BALTIC CRUISE |
Our
day in Berlin gave us a taste of its 20th century history with all
its phases and radical changes. We saw how the city confronted its past
and is forging ahead to the future. Architecturally, Berlin is a
smorgasbord of architectural masterpieces, scanning centuries. From the
original Jewish Museum…to Libeskind’s 21st century addition…from
the original Reichstag to Sir Norman Foster’s glass-domed roof…to Frank Gehry’s
space age DZ Bank lobby.
Emotionally,
Jew and Gentile alike were volleyed between the delights of the day in Berlin
and the poignant reminders of the terrible years under the Third Reich.
Our first stop was the Jewish Museum of Berlin, where Daniel Libeskind’s eerie
museum addition culminates with the horrors of Hitler’s persecution and
extermination plans. Sole access into the new addition, created by
Architect Daniel Libeskind, is through the historical 1735 Collegienhaus.
The Libeskind addition has three main corridors: the Axis of Continuity, the
Axis of Emigration, and the Axis of the Holocaust.
The
Axis of Continuity connects the old building with the new addition. The
architect described that axis as the continuation of Berlin’s history from
which the other axes branch off. The Axis of Emigration leads outside to
the Garden of Exile that Libeskind said attempts “to completely disorientate
the visitor. It represents a shipwreck of history.” In the Axis of
the Holocaust, Libeskind stated that the bare concrete Holocaust Tower, with a
narrow slit at the top, “is the space which somehow ends the old history of
Berlin.”
 |
| DANIEL LIBESKIND’S ADDITION TO THE JEWISH MUSEUM |
Next
stop was a delightful lunch at the top of The Reichstag, where Hitler once
reigned supreme. The Reichstag, the seat of Germany’s Parliament,
originally opened in 1894. After the reunification of Germany, the
building was fully restored by internationally renowned architect Sir Norman
Foster. Completed in 1999, the restoration features an iconic large glass
dome that has a 360-degree view of the surrounding cityscape. Lunch at the
top of the Reichstag is overpriced, but worth it just for the view.
Outside of the Reichstag is a memorial to the 96 Reichstag members of
opposition parties killed by the Nazis.
 |
| GLASS DOMED ROOF OF THE REICHSTAG |
Following
lunch, we walked a short distance to Peter Eisenman’s Memorial to the Murdered
Jews of Europe, passing the Hotel Adlon, Hitler’s favorite hotel where he had
planned to hold his victory party.
 |
| THE RENOWNED HOTEL ADLON |
Only
minutes away, is Peter Eisenman’s Memorial to the Murdered Jews of
Europe. The 2,700 concrete pillars of
differing heights are set in a grid pattern and is the country's central place
for remembrance.
 |
| PETER EISENMAN’S MEMORIAL TO THE MURDERED JEWS OF EUROPE |
Nearby
is the Brandenburg Gate (1788-1791), the city’s most famous landmark. The
centerpiece of the Pariser Platz, the Brandenburg Gate is the symbol of
Berlin’s reunification. It is crowned with the 1794 Quadriga statue.
 |
| THE BRANDENBURG GATE |
On
the south side of Pariser Platz, between the Brandenburg gate and the
Hotel Adlon, take a peek inside the DZ Bank headquarters. Here, architect
Frank Gehry constructed a 4-story-high, steel and wood, sculptural shell that
seems as if it is floating in space.
 |
| INTERIOR LOBBY OF DZ BANK HEADQUARTERS |
The
East Side Gallery, a long section of the Berlin Wall near the center of Berlin,
is the largest open-air gallery in the world. Approximately 118
paintings, by artists from 21 countries, cover this memorial for freedom. The
Eastside Gallery is a place where the old Berlin and the new Berlin meet.
 |
| LEONID BREZHNEV & ERICH HONECKER ON SECTION OF BERLIN WALL KNOWN AS THE EAST SIDE GALLERY |
It’s tacky and touristy, but one cannot go to Berlin without taking in the sight known as Checkpoint Charlie. Checkpoint Charlie was the crossing point between East Berlin and West Berlin during the Cold War. It was the crossing point for foreigners, diplomats, and members of the Allied forces. The ersatz guardhouse, with its ersatz soldiers standing guard, is a favorite photo op for tourists. The Checkpoint Charlie Museum is a private commercial venture, but it does have some interesting exhibits such as escape cars, a small submarine, and amazing stories about how some people attempted to escape.
 |
TACKY AND TOURISTY, YET CHECKPOINT CHARLIE AND MUSEUM IS A MUST-SEE |
If,
by now, you are in desperate need of a shopping fix, there are plenty of
schlock souvenirs at the Checkpoint. Nearby you will also find a Galeries
Lafayette and an H&M store.
Enroute
back to the port at Warnemuende, on the outskirts of Berlin, is Charlottenburg
Palace. One of the oldest palaces in Berlin, it was built for Prussian Empress
Sophie Charlotte.
 |
CHARLOTTENBURG PALACE |
Returning
back to Seabourn Pride, after a 12-hour day of touring, was like returning home
after a long vacation. Seabourn’s affable staff was lined up awaiting us with a
Welcome Home sign. The dining staff was serving us hors-d’oeuvres
and drinks before we even reached the steps of the gangway.
 |
| SEABOURN PRIDE’S WELCOME BACK FROM BERLIN |
Way
to go!!!!!
JANET STEINBERG is an award-winning Travel Writer/Editor and International Travel Consultant with THE TRAVEL AUTHORITY in Mariemont, Ohio.
No comments:
Post a Comment