Der Fahrplan Ausflug

The Road Most Traveled

Hallo! Title says it all: "The Schedule Trip" -or, at least that's what I think it says. Either way, we've spent quite a rigorous long day making our way across the pond. That nine hour flight about did it for me. The trip all-in-all took about a good 16 hours (waiting for flights included) to get from Dallas/Fort Worth to Berlin, and then finally into our apartments. I shall spare the details, but I will mention I had the chance to sit next to a full-blooded German American chap who spoke completely fluent German, so I took advantage of the situation to get some things cleared up in trying to learn the language. Other than that the flight went well with few turbulence; London Heathrow Airport was a jazzy place; the security was pretty tight though, It was fun listening to the elderly British couple behind me in line as they complained about the security guards being too rude, they reminded me of some British sitcom I once saw. Eventually though, we made it through and onto our second flight with British Airways to make our way to Berlin!


On to Berlin!

After getting acquainted with our apartments and getting a good night's sleep, we made our way to the meeting spot to get acquainted with the safety rules and learn a few German faux pas and also how to use the transit system. Our first stop was through the Berlin underground to reach an awesome transit station. We arrived at the Hauptbanhof (2006) where a lot of the railways throughout Berlin and Germany at large converge. It is basically an underground shopping mall with many levels above and below.

Der Hauptbahnhof

Hauptbahnhof Model

Hauptbahnhof Model

That was a pretty intense model! And I for sure can appreciate their level of detail; quite impressive!

Next up on my highlight list was the German Chancellery (2001). Quite an impressive view approaching it from the rear as seen below:

German Chancellery

Government in the New Age

The Chancellery was quite the spectacle; the river Spree made for a nice reflecting pool as we made our way around the thing. An ode to architect Louis Kahn? -definitely. This is basically Germany's Washington DC, where the seat of government sits, and indeed where the Chancellor herself makes her decisions. Quite an impressive place considering it is all new. Usually, you'd expect the seat of government to be a bit older in style or at least worn down a bit. But here everything

The Chancellery (North half)

Most of these buildings are barely ten years old, and are housing one of the world's most economically successful countries! Germans must adapt very well.

The Chancellery (South half)

Remnants of a Bygone Era

Ok, so perhaps not remnants so much more as renovated. The Reichstag is on of the (if not THE) oldest German government building still standing. It was burned internally around 1932 I believe and the entire rooftop (as well as many other parts) have been completely reconstructed. However, many improvements were made, and the famed architect Norman Foster designed the new dome atop the central parliamentary room. We didn't arrive until dusk, so my shots are not that 'gut.'

Der Reichstag


The "Dome" (1999)


The "Dome" interior (below)

Quite a spectacular view; the design uses a double heliz spiral to carry guests up to the viewing summit, and then direct them back down again via the other spiral. The central "mirror pillar" as I call it, reminds me of some kind of CIA security mainframe. I'd imagine if all the mirrors were monitors of some sort, then you might have yourself an undulating stem of security floating about you as it might climb up or down, creating something like a torus shape as it would cycle through a database of surveillance. Fun stuff!

The Dome Interior (above)

Pretty view eh? That glass ceiling leads directly down into the government parliamentary room. Anyhow, afterwards, we grouped up below, talked about the events for tomorrow and disbanded.


It Goes Without Saying...

In my spare time, I had a chance to enter a classic German Bier Garten where I had my first taste of some German Bier. This one was called Der Alster. Now, I'm no Beer connoisseur but this beer was quite to my liking. You definitely would not have found any Budweiser here, all locally brewed, or so it seemed. It was quite yummy. I look forward to trying some more, especially some of the lagers!

Der Alster Bier

If you've made it through this entire post I congratulate you, you must have a bit of patience to consider reading all of my idiotic banter; nevertheless, I reward you with an internet happy face:

:-)

Thanks for reading!
-Riven