DAY 3 - Berlin by foot ~ 10 miles of walking

Everyone seemed to be refreshed this morning after sleeping. After breakfast we walked around Berlin to see more of the sights and monuments.

We walked through the Holocaust Memorial, saw the Brandenburg Gate, ate lunch in the Tiergarten, then toured the Reichtag, saw the Tower of Victory, then walked back to our youth hostel for a little bit of free time.

This evening we met for devotions and dinner then took the bus to the TV tower where we went up to the top and saw a 360° view of Berlin. Unfortunately it was cloudy, so we could not see the sunset.  By the end of the day, my fitbit says we walked over 10 miles.

The weather so far has been about 80° and sunny, but there's no humidity. We are thankful the rain has stayed away while we are sightseeing, but there's supposed to be rain tonight and tomorrow.

Holocaust Memorial, Tower of Victory, Russian Memorial, Bell Tower, Brandenburg Gate, Government buildings

Churches, and the TV Tower with view from the top

Reichstag

Info on some Sights:

Checkpoint Charlie - nothing remains of the legendary Checkpoint between the American and Soviet sectors of Berlin thay was once barricaded with barbed wite, barrier, and a watchtower. A replica of the checkpoint booth serves as a reminder of this dreadful past. After the erections of the "Berlin Wall," Checkpoint a Charlie served as a crossing point. On the 25th of October 1961, Russian and American tanks were facing each other on this spot, both sides ready to open fire. A fateful moment that almost brought World War III.

Brandenburg Gate - The Brandenburg Gate, Berlin's only remaining ancient city gate, is the true icon of the city. It's original design from 1794 by Carl Gothard Langham was completed with the addition or ornaments and the Quadra by Johann Gottfried Shadow in 1794. Because it was situates inside the wide area circumscribing the Berlin Wall, the so-called "Death Strip," it also became symbolic of the city's separation. After the "Fall of the Wall", the game reopened on December 22, 199 and, in the course of the reunification, it's edifices shape of the pre-war time was restored.

Reichstag - The Reichstag was built fem 1884 to 1894, reminiscent to the style of Italian high renaissance. It served as Seaton the Parliament in the Kaiser Reich and the "Weimar Republic." The notorious Reichstag fire of 1933 completely destroyed the plenary chamber. The Reichstag fell victim to further heavy damage during World War II. Re-opened in 1999, the Reichstag now functions as seat of the federal German parliament, the Bundestag, and it's glass dome a sight open to the public.

Tiergarten - The Tiergarten called "The Green Lung of Berlin," is situated around the Siegessaule (Victory Column), the Reichtag and the Brandenburg Gate. With a size if 210 hectares, the Tiergarten is the biggest park in Berlin and the second largest urban park in Germany. The "Bellevue Palace," the representative residence of the President of Germany, is situated within the Tiergarten as well as the Carillon, the largest of its kind of Europe - several times a day, this tall tower sounds it's chime of 68 resonant bells. Visitors also enjoy taking a stroll along the open air gas lamp museum.

Siegessaule - The "Victory Column" was designed in 1864 by Heinrich Strack for the square facing the Reichstag. In 1873 it was completed with a golden figure of Victory by Fried rich Drake, which locals refer to as Goldelse , "Golden Lizzy." The glass mosaics behind the Tuscan columns of its pediment were created by Anton von Werner. It's shafts is decorated with gilded cannon-barrels captured in war. It was erected as a memorial to the Prussian victories over Denmark (1864), Austria (1866), and France (1870/71). In 1938/39, the monument was moved to its current location at the "Great Star" roundabout.

Berliner Fernsehturm - The "TV Tower," Berlin's landmark, counts up to 368 meters from the ground up and is this the highest building in Germany. On a cloudless day, the breathtaking view from the platform at 203 meters can reach up to 40 km into the surrounding area. A little imagination and a squinting eye may reveal the sun's reflection in the tiled stainless steel dome appear on the form of a crucifix. Berlin's call it the "Pope' Revenge," in ironic reference to the costly measures undertaken by the former East-Germany government to prevent this phenomenon unfit for atheistic Socialism.