We spent most of the day exploring the Jewish Musuem, which takes at least 3-4 hours if you want to really see everything. The new building, seen below was designed in 2000 by Daniel Libeskind, an American architect of Polish-Jewish decent. When you enter the museum you actually enter through the old building, and make your way down stairs to the new building. The architecture is all about intersecting lines with small empty spaces that represent the absence of Jewish people who were taken by the Holocaust. The museum gives a History dating back to the Middle Ages. Some parts may prove a bit difficult for children or the squeamish, but overall it is an incredibly enlightening and educational exhibition for all ages.
One of my favorite exhibits, which I did not photograph, was a tree with built in stairs. You could climb up and place a written wish you had for the world. While in the tree, you can see other wishes written in diverse world languages, varying from light and silly to immensely heartfelt. I thought about photographing it, but out of respect to it's contributors and the spirit of the piece, I felt a photo would not have been the right means to capture the work.
One of the many historical symbols of Berlin, the Brandenburger Tor (Gate), was built in 1788-1791 as a sign of peace and victory. The gate was so greatly admired, it was once taken by Napoleon for Paris, and even survived WWII where it was used as an icon for the Nazi party. It has since been refurbished, but is still original. The top of the gate has the Quadriga which is a symbol for victory. Below is a photo of the gate in the distance with the Holocaust Memorial in the foreground.
Kelly, I really enjoyed Berlin when I was there in 2003. These pictures make me want to return and see what new challenges have taken place. Thanks for inspiring me!
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