I want to see the Reichstag Dome while I am in Berlin. So does everyone else, and online bookings were all taken two weeks ahead. www.bundestag.de mentioned that you can attend an office on Scheidemannstrasse, near the Reichstag, and apply for one of the places they reserve for slackers like me. Sure, which day would you like? I selected Saturday 1:30pm.
After I booked my Reichstag Dome access, I looked up walking tours, found one that started 31 minutes walk away at Hackescher Markt. I walked mainly along the banks of the River Spree, guided by Google maps.
First stop on the walking tour, Museum Island. Guide Jonathon was very impressive with his encyclopedic knowledge of the city, and German History, and history in general. Speaking in just one of at least 3 languages in which he is fluent.
Berlin Cathedral, only 111 years old. Construction instigated by Kaiser Wilhem II in 1893, 21 years before he lit the powder keg in August 1914.
The walk ended in the Gendarmenmarkt, with its near identical French and German churches, and the Concert Hall, at left. The German church was behind me as I took this.
Interesting construction site on the way to the German History Museum. These things spanned the whole site, without support. It seemed that the whole of Berlin was under construction, or reconstruction. Obviously a very rich city now.
I spent nearly 3 hours in the Museum, skipped most of the history, jumped in at 1866, and got only as far as 1923 before it closed at 6pm.
The 12 Apostles Restaurant, where the pizzas are named after the Apostles, mentioned in my Lonely Planet pocket Berlin guide. I was allowed in without a reservation at 6:30pm, for an hour, and had a Paolo, their nearest equivalent to a Capricciosa. Excellent it was, too.
I have to say though, that Berlin seems too grandiose to me. I liked the feel of Munich better, but I have seen hardly anything of Berlin yet. I miss Italy.