"Berlin - The Ever Pulsing City -... " a Berlin Travel Page by whvcebu

John F. Kennedy assured the permanent help by the Americans for this city. It was at this this "Brandenburger Tor" (Berlin Gate) when it was unreachable for West Berliners behind the fallen Berlin Wall, where he said: "Ich bin ein Berliner!" (I am a Berliner).

Take a trip with me through this fascinating city.

There were about 14 city gates, but only the Brandenburg Gate at the Pariser Platz remains. The sandstone structure was built between 1788 and 1791 by Carl Gotthard Langhans for King Friedrich Wilhelm II. It was supposed to reflect the Prussion Kingdom.

The quadriga, the sculptural ensemble on top, was designed by Gottfried von Schadow. The chariot with the Greek goddess Eirene originally symbolized the victory of peace. It was almost completedly destroyed during WW II, but reconstructed in 1950. In recent imes there were attempts to rename the figure the goddess of peace, but she has remaind Victoria who returning from the battlefield heralds times of peace and prosperity.

After the big New Year's Eve party in 1989/1990 (unification) with thousands of jubilant revellers dancing around the Brandenburg Gate it had to be renovated once more. This magnificent monument has made history both in the past and present and belongs exclusi vely to Berlin.

The longest fan mile during the World Soccer games 2006 started nat the Brandenburg Gate.

In 1999 the Reichstag has again become the seat of the German Parliament. Visitors can walk up the new glass dome designed by archtict Norman Foster. Today a long spiral ramp leads up to the visitor'splatform. The Reichstag, near Ptsdamer Platz, sysmbolizes German history more than anything: built under the Kaiser (imperor) it saw the Weimarer Republic vanish, it was the scene of nthe notorios arson that served a a pretext for assumption of power.

Now back "To the German People" of the Federal Republik Of Germany