Berlin Photo Gallery  

The Brandenberg Gate is Berlin's most recognized feature, but for several years prior to Germany's hosting of the 2006 World Cup Finals, the Gate and the surrounding Pariser Platz underwent heavy construction.  But rather than just have the Gate under ugly scaffolding, various companies took advantage to use it as a billboard.  As shown here, T-Mobile Germany was all too happy to show their support for the German national side and advertise their services at the same time.

It wasn't just the Germans out celebrating their soccer successes.  Because the country was also home to a large number of expatriate Turks, many of whom are employed in industry, they too showed solidarity for their country.  This World Cup gave Turkey something to cheer about -- a third-place finish.  At various points during Turkey's successful rise, scenes such as the above were quite common (not only in Berlin, but in other cities as well).

The Sony Center was where I attempted to watch the game from, but sadly I was not successful -- by the time I arrived at one hour before game time, the place was overcrowded and the German polizei (police) closed down the entrance.  At least I had to chance to survey the place the day prior.  Just right of center was the big screen, and you can see the flags of the participating nations at right.

Without being able to watch the game with the big crowds, I (and several thousand others) scrambled to find a decent watching spot elsewhere in town.  This was at the Westin Hotel in East Berlin, who had a TV set outside on the patio.  Thank heaven I was born tall!

I titled the above photo "Somewhere there's a message" on my hard drive.  This pond was located across the river from the Ostbahnhof, and was art reflected in three words carved in painted styrofoam -- DU ABER BLEIBST.  This translates to "you, however, remain," perhaps referring to the apartment dwellers who could have left when the wall came down...?  Whatever, I don't get it.

On a more positive and uplifting note, adjacent to the Parisen Platz in East Berlin in 2003 was the above -- a circle of "Buddy Bears".  Artists from 125 different countries were commissioned to each paint one bear sculpture in a manner representing the country.  The intent was to promote mutual understanding and peace, although the representation of Yugoslavia, whose civil war was still fresh in some minds, was unpainted and has chunks taken out of it as if it had been shot up by small arms fire.  ...  Hmmmmmm.... world peace ... yeah, right.

In the areas surrounding the Rathaus district, like elsewhere in the city, significant renovation projects sought to hide the neglect from the many years under Communist rule.  The Berlin Post Office above had just received its facelift by the time this photo was taken in 2003.

Then there were the scenes of war damage that still exist.  For example, this photo shows the damage done to St. Michael's Church in East Berlin.  The entire body of the church has been bombed to a shell, but behind the bricked wall you see lies a makeshift chapel that is still in use.  Yes, this shell is an active church.

This was evidence that the re-integration of former Soviet East Berlin into the civilized West still had a way to go.  Looks like an absolutely beautiful garden, does it not?  It was accompanied by a beautiful walkway that followed along down the left among the mossy-vines and uniform pine trees.  Only one thing was wrong... do you note the gray object in the center of the roses, where one would normally find a sculpture or memorial?  Well, that thing was a dumpster.  Beautiful.

Meanwhile, above was another evidence of Communism's impact on architecture.  Probably as a combination of indifference, laziness, and penny-pinching, pink sewer and water pipes were thrown up overground and overhead through the best parts of East Berlin.  Talk about an eyesore!  Part of Germany's major construction effort was been to put these blasted things underground where they belong, which was thankfully finished long before the 2006 World Cup.