Opening day of the new Berlin wall memorial, fully funded by the owner of a local musuem. This 1.5 acre exhibit is adjacent to the former Check Point Charlie, and you can see the new, mock Wall in white on the right. The exhibit honors every life who perished trying to escape from the Russian regime

Click to enlarge

Swivelled glass upon pilings. Would Corbusier love it or be reeling?

Potsdamer Platz-formerly Europe's busiest square until WWII, the area was occupied by the Wall and death strip until reunification. Now, it is entirely privately owned by Daimler-Chrysler (Mercedes) and Sony, who stepped in as big investors to rebuild the former 'no-man's land.' The buildings were designed by Arata Isozaki, Helmut Jahn, Renzo Piano, and Rafael Moneo. Helmut has done several buildings in Chicago, including the massive State of Illinois structure, which this winged dome reminded me of, and the coloring of the square below

Charlie and Jutka, our wonderful hosts!

The new, and quite massive, Jewish Memorial. This has been under construction for 2 years and takes up an entire city block. Bets are on for when the first person dies in here-whether from kids jumping from block to block, someone tripping and smashing their head open on a sharp corner, or undesirables doing dark and malicious things in the dark of the night... Charlie, ever the optimist, gives it 6 days after opening.

The Brandenburg Gate, where Napolean stole and the Prussians stormed west and stole it back awhile later.

Not sure who designed this...but this isn't your average British Embassy?! (Note: per one Erik Barr, "Here is the answer to the question of who designed the British Embassy in Berlin.'The exciting design by Michael Wilford respects the urban values ofBerlin's past while taking a bold leap into the future.'" Indeed. Though a bit of a pastelly future.