The Reichstag is the German parliament building. There's too much history to relay here, but it's worth reading up on if you get bored:) Architecturally, it's a pretty cool building.
It's hard not to feel small when standing in front of this massive structure.
"To the German People" - Dem Deutschen Volke
The view from the top of the front steps:
Inside and on top of the Reichstag stands the glass cupola. It rises 155 feet above the ground. There were two ramps going up to the top with a mirror-covered cone gracing the center. 360 mirrors reflect the natural light into the legislative chamber below. It's really bright and beautiful inside the cupola.
My attempt at creativity:
A view from the top of the Reichstag looking toward the TV Tower.
From the top looking down:
The top of the glass cupola is open, allowing sun, rain and snow to enter. People who design structures like this just amaze me. I have almost zero artistic ability, so I really appreciate those who do possess the talent!
After spending some time inside the dome, we made our way back outside. Near the road in front of the building stands yet another memorial. This one is to the Politicians Who Opposed Hitler. The slate stones represent the 96 member of the Reichstag who were murdered because they didn't agree with Hitler. As he was coming into power, he decided to get rid of anyone who could possibly oppose him or lead others in the wrong direction. Each stone slab has the name of the person, his party, and the date and location of where he died.
Such an intimidating, massive building.
Not sure why I'm smiling. While it was so good and amazing to be in Berlin, I was often sick to my stomach after learning yet another horrific piece of information.
Below is actually a picture of a postcard, to give you an idea of how huge the building actually is!
We had originally reserved a tour for the following night, so we were happy to be able to see the Reichstag late Monday afternoon. We packed soooo much into one day, but it was well worth the miles on our shoes and the sweat on our shirts!
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