Berlin Day 1

Our first full day in Berlin began on Museum Island.

The first museum that we visited was Neues Museum ("New Museum").  This museum includes the Egyptian, Prehistory and Early History collections.  The artifacts it houses include the iconic bust of the Egyptian queen Nefertiti.

The next museum we visited was the Pergamon Museum, constructed in 1930.  It houses the Pergamon Altar from Turkey.

After these two museums we walk and ate lunch.  Next was the Holocaust memorial and museum.

The experiences here were very personal and moving...such that I am not going to try to capture it with words.   Just reflective silence.

We finished the day with a tour of the German Bundestag, the national Parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany.

The building's most recent renovation were meant to make the building more transparent and inviting.  One of the many features is that it is capped by a glass dome that you can walk through.  Since the renovations the building is visited by 15,000 people daily and 25,000 people during the summer months, 365 days a year from 8am to midnight!

The dome is located above the meeting hall and when seated in the meeting room one can see the people walking above.  This is meant to serve as a reminder of the people that you are representing.

The walk through the dome provides incredible views of the city.

The very center of the dome acts as a rain water collector.  

The water collected is used to wash the glass of the building.  Additionally, the center "spike" is covered in mirrors...reflecting the sunlight and illuminate the meeting room, reducing the amount of electricity consumed.

One final feature of the dome is that the top is open acting as a venturi...expelling "old" air and bringing in fresh air.

This pic is for Aaron and Jonah...

Today we are off to the Zoo and Aquarium!