Berlin

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 * Berlin**


Berlin is the capital and the largest city within Germany. Unusually, Berlin is actually both a state as well as a city (both the state and city share the same borders). Berlin is less than 800 years old. It has approximately 3.5 million people in it and expands over 889 square kilometers (343.3 square miles). The time zone for Berlin is in Central European time zone. Therefore, the time in Berlin is 6 hours ahead of the time in Illinois, so if it is 1:00 P.M. our time then it is 7:00 P.M. in Berlin. In 1945 Berlin was divided into four sectors the east (which belonged to Berlin) as well as the west divided to three parts, one for each Allied Power (Great Britain, France, United States). Then in 1948-1949 Berlin was divided to two sectors, the east which still remained in the Soviet power, and the west, which was controlled entirely by the United States (this would explain the Berlin Wall). Now, though, Berlin consists of 12 neighborhoods.


 In general, Berlin is known to have a very wide range of architectural works. Having a place in Europe for hundreds of years, Berlin has been ruled by many leaders that involved culture into their architectural works. Because of this there are many different styles of work in the city. Modernly, the city is known for its fantastic nightlife which influences the new buildings coming in place, but Berlin is also filled with many buildings prior to WWII (even though many building were destroyed because of fighting). Because of Berlin's long history and change of hands the city has a wide and beautiful variety of architecture
 * Architecture**


 * New Parliamentary Building**- The building, as you can see, has a very modern architectural scheme to it.


 * Reichstag**- The Reichstag building was constructed between 1884 and 1894 and funded mostly by wartime reparations. Which is the former home of German democracy, was set fire in 1933 and even further damaged by allied bombers.

**The Brandenburg Gate**- This was commissioned by Friedrich Wilhelm II and constructed in 1791. The gate was used as part of the Berlin Wall during the Communist rule of Germany. The gate is one of the most well known attractions in Germany because it stands for the reunification of the two sides of Berlin as well as the end of the cold war.

**Kurfürstendamm**- It is most popular boulevards within Berlin. It has many department stores, specialist shops, boutiques, travel agencies, and restaurants.

**The Remains of the Berlin Wall**- They are, as the name says, what is left of the wall built during the post-WWII Germany.

**Checkpoint Charlie**- This was the most famous crossing point of the Berlin Wall. The Haus am Checkpoint Charlie museum stands as a memorial to the Cold War.




 * Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (//Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas)//****-** This Holocaust memorial is covered with 2,711 concrete slabs arranged to create an uneasy, confusing atmosphere. An underground "Place of Information" includes the names of all known Jewish Holocaust victims.




 * Berlin Zoological Garden-** This is the oldest and best-known zoo in Germany. It is also the most visited zoo in Europe, with over 3 million visitors annually.




Berlin is said to be unlike any other place in Germany when speaking of food. Some general meals in Berlin are as follows; sausages, bread rolls, bread, cabbage, asparagus, and schnitzel (a type of pork). Some specialties within Berlin are, Curried Sausages, veal sausage with mustard, Bretzel (a type of pretzel), smoked herring, and knuckle of pork. Common desserts are Stollen (a type of cake), and Black Forest Cherry Cake. Berliners and Amerikaners are also extremely popular in Berlin. A Berliner is a type of jelly doughnut with powdered sugar sprinkled on top. So, when John F. Kennedy said to a crowd of cheering Berliners, "Ich bin ein Berliner," he quite literally said, "I am a jelly doughnut," An Amerikaner is also a type of pastry. However, it isn't too complimentary towards Americans. An Amerikaner is a pastry with a sweet exterior, but a salty interior, symbolizing Germans' views of Americans: nice on the outside, but bitter on the inside. As you can see lots of the food in germany consists of fatty meats, this should not be too alarming because the fatty meat actually carries more flavor than lean meat.

The temperature in Berlin during the summer time can often exceed 86 F (30 C) especially in July and August. The summer months’ weather is often unpredictable and can change from sun to clouds. Rainfall is usually all year around and the wettest months are June and August (pack a rain jacket).



Neighborhoods
 Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf  Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg Lictenberg Marzahn-Hellersdorf Mitte Neukölln Pankow  Reinickendorf Spandau <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Steglitz-Zehlendorf Tempelhof-Schöneberg Treptow-Köpenick
 * This is the wealthiest and most densely commercialized district of western Berlin
 * This is one of the poorer and most over-crowded Berlin districts, and hosts many guest-workers from eastern Europe.
 * The Lictenberg station is one of the most popular stations in Berlin.
 * Marzahn-Hellersdorf holds Bockhind Mühle marzah, the first instance of a working windmill used to grind flour.
 * Mitte is famous for its architectural and artistic monuments created prior to the Communist regime. Famous squares in Mitte include Pariser Platz (adjacent to Brandenberg Gate), Potsdamer Platz, and Alexanderplatz.
 * This neighborhood includes the historic village of Rixdorf, which was first mentioned in 1360. Today it hosts many immigrants of Turkish and Arab descent.
 * Between 1945 and 1950 this area was home to many of the soviet officials of East Berlin.
 * This neighborhood holds Both Lübars and Schloss Tegel which are two medieval areas of the neighborhood.
 * Spandau is famous for its intact Altstadt, or old city, which contains a great deal of medieval architecture.
 * This neighborhood is home to many residential areas as well as the philological library.
 * Tempelhof-Schöneberg was made the seventh borough (Berlin federal state) when a merge between Temelhof and Schöneberg occoured.
 * Of all of Berlin's boroughs it has the highest land area but the lowest population density (aka: lots of rural area)

Movies
Some English-language films shot in Berlin include:
 * //Around the World in 80 Days//
 * //The Bourne Supremacy//
 * //Cabaret//
 * //The Pianist//
 * //Night Crossing//
 * //Spy Game//
 * //The Spy Who Came in from the Cold//
 * //Torn Curtain//
 * //V for Vendetta//

Potsdam
The extension trip from Berlin will be to Potsdam.
 * Potsdam is the capital city of Brandenburg which is the German federal state that surrounds Berlin.
 * It is located on the Havel river and about 25 kilometers southwest of Berlin.
 * Before 1918, it was home to many Prussian kings.
 * It was the meeting place of the victorious Allied leaders, Harry S. Truman, Winston Churchill, Clement Attlee, and Joseph Stalin, who mapped out the future of postwar Europe at the Potsdam Conference from July 17 to August 2, 1945 at the Cecilienhof Palace. The conference resulted in the Potsdam Agreement and the Potsdam Declaration.



Sights:

 * Old Market Square


 * Sanssouci Park and Palace


 * Roman Baths
 * Chinese Tea House - combines Chinese and rococo styles
 * Babelsberg Park