Our High Points in Berlin

From Berlin

Whenever we visit a new city we first try to get the big picture from a high point.The viewpoint is usually up in a tower of a church or old fortification. In Berlin we visited two view points, the Victory Column (Siegessäule), and the Reichstag (Parliament building).

In our most recent American history, the Victory Column is where Obama had one of the more unusual campaign stops. At the time of completion in 1873 it celebrated three Prussian victories, over the Danes, the Austrians and the French. Not one to forget, when the French had partial control of the city after WWII they had some of the relief work which celebrated the victories removed from the column. Some of these were later returned and restored by François Mitterrand during the 750th anniversary of Berlin in 1987. However, according to the WIKI, several sections remain in France.

The spiral climb up the middle of the Column really had the legs burning, but the view was glorious.

Our other stop that first day was the Reichstag.

From Berlin

We made dinner arrangements early in the day and avoided the long line in the freezing temperature outside. We just went right up to the cupola on top.

From Berlin

There is a spiral walkway to the top that encircles the dome. In the middle there is a reflecting needle, and at the bottom of the needle there is a window where you can look down into the chamber of the Parliament.
The meal was 5 star by the way.

I wish there was someplace high where I could view my life, my past, my present and see the potential for my future. I want the big picture. Sometimes I get a glimpse here in the wintergarten early in the morning, as the room is bathed in a soft and gentle light.

from Shakespeare's Sonnet 33

Full many a glorious morning have I seen
Flatter the mountain-tops with sovereign eye,
Kissing with golden face the meadows green,
Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy;
Anon permit the basest clouds to ride
With ugly rack on his celestial face,
And from the forlorn world his visage hide,
Stealing unseen to west with this disgrace: