Europe Trip #9: Welcome to Berlin - Fernsehturm

The final adventure for today was a visit to the Fernsehturm or TV Tower. I saw this as I went around the Hop On, Hop Off bus, and this was one of the places I hopped off. The viewing platform is 203 meters up, and the lifts take 40 seconds at up to 6 meters/ second [around a 1000' per minute if my maths is correct?].

On purchasing a ticket, you are given an estimated entry period consisting of a 10 minute timeframe - in my case, around an hour after ticket purchase - and if you miss the allocated time, then tough bikkies.

Despite a little bit of haze in the area, I still gor a great view around the city, and wow, it's big! Following are 4 pictures - the first of the tower itself, the second and third are general photos. The fourth shows the Brandenburg Tor and Siegessäule [blue and red arrows respectively]. Keep in mind that the distance between those arrows is almost 3kms!


As you can tell, it has been a busy first day! Tomorrow I hope to walk to the Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin [German Museum of Technology Berlin]. It should be about a 25 minute walk and it contains several sections, including an aviation section which I am particularly looking forward to.

Europe Trip #6: Welcome to Berlin - Brandenburger Tor

Part of my "day 1" sightseeing was to go to Brandenburger Tor [Brandenburg Gate]. To say that it is impressive would be an understatement. I know that Europe is full of these old buildings and monuments, but this would be one of the more recognisable.

Take a look at the sky - it is blue. Very blue. It was also very hot! I was dressed in my nice new jeans and a shirt that I sister made me buy in London [yeah, Rochelle has more taste than me!], and as I struggled back to my hotel several hours later, I noticed that the temperature gauge was up to 28 deg! Ouch! I rested for a couple of hours in my [non air conditioned but still slightly cooler] hotel room, thinking it would cool down a bit. At 5pm when I went out for dinner, it was 30 deg!! At least it had cooled down somewhat by around 7:30, when it was down to 29 deg :-( Shorts, sandals and t-shirt for me tomorrow!

Anyway, I'll let the pictures do the talking. The first 2 are different views of the gate, the last as I crossed StraBe des 17. Juni while walking back from the Siegessäule [Victory Column].