This morning I took care of the
final piece of research at the Postdamer Platz location of the Berlin State
Library. I had viewed the façade of the
building and the surrounding area on Google maps so I knew I was near when I
saw the steeple of St. Matthäus Kirche, built in the mid-1800’s ahead of
me.
If I had timed it right I would have stayed to listen to an organ concert and, of course, visit
the graves of Wilhelm and Jakob Grimm.
There’s still time and I’ll likely return during my free days at the end
of this week.
Once I finished my library
business I headed back toward the train station and I was stopped by a couple ladies who needed directions. They were asking me - HA! Amazingly, though, I knew where the Kulturforum is (near St. Matthäus Kirche)
and I was able to help the ladies.
This evening our entire group
traveled to Reichstag, the imposing German Parliamentary building. To get there we walked through the
Brandenburg Gate, the last of the original 14 gates of Berlin’s old city wall;
it is topped by the goddess of peace.
The Reichstag is the seat of
Germany’s Bundestag and the building is a combination of historic and modern
times expressed through its architecture.
Its exterior reflects the original late 19th century design
while its very core, where parliament meets, is covered by the environmentally
friendly glass dome designed by architect Norman Foster. This amazing dome functions to reflect natural
light into the legislative chamber and also ventilate it.
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| Can you pick out Angela Merkel's seat? |
