May 6 - Reichstag Dome and more

  Today was another beautiful day with perfect weather to wander a city.

   We started on the M29 bus to meet Riley Linebaugh, Peter's daughter. She is a Post Doctorate student living with her partner in Berlin. We met at La Maison where we had croissants and cinnamon buns and chatted. Riley is lovely. We walked a bit with her along the canal and then we took the bus back 'home.'

    We ate lunch in our neighborhood at Otito, a Vietnamese restaurant. We each had soup and a summer roll. Mark's slightly hot coconut cream soup was especially tasty.

    Next we took a subway and a bus to the Reichstag where we went up to the fantastic dome. The symbolism that the Germans have used to show their unity and commitment to the democratic process is impressive.To represent the importance of transparency, the legislature meets in front of see-through glass doors so that all can be seen. And, even from the dome, the public can see down. The Reichstag looks old from the facade, but it is just a facade. It had been left stranded in the no-man's land when Berlin was split. The building itself is very modern, green and self-sustaining. It does not use fossil fuels, has many many solar panels and uses the heat generated by the glass dome, too. We walked easily up a gently sloping ramp with an headphones as a guide.  

     We could see in all directions as the day was clear. We could even see 'our' neighborhood because of a landmark building as well as a stationary hot air balloon that goes up by us. 

     There are memorials to the victims of the Nazis in the Tiergarten area. We went into one in memory of the Roma people who were murdered. 

    Then we crossed the street to the very moving Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. It is a labyrinth of 2,700 irregularly shaped pillars in rows. Plaques remind people to keep hushed tones and respect the place. A running soundtrack, which we could not hear as there were a lot of people there, recites the names. It takes a staggering six and a half YEARS to read them all. 

    From there we walked to the Mall of Berlin where Mark got 2 lighter shirts since the weather has been so warm.

    Then we walked back to Friedrichstrasse and at at Seaside, an upscale seafood restaurant where we ate outside. Barbara had delicious fish soup and a green salad with grilled chevre. Mark had fabulous cod from Norway with rosemary potatoes. It was a special meal and our first splurge. (51 Euros, so not as expensive as home)

Every day we have walked about 4 miles, but today we walked 5!