Berlin 6/21/18

On Wednesday morning our train from Leipzig arrived in Berlin just one minute late, typical for German efficiency. After leaving our bags at the hotel, we walked to the grandiose "Dom," or cathedral, an example of late 19th century historicism. We both climbed the 276 steps to the dome, rewarded by spectacular city views. Also on Museum Island (a UNESCO Site,) we toured the elegant Old National Gallery, where we enjoyed seeing paintings by Bocklin, Manet, Hans Marees and others. After a marvelous lunch at the Haeckescher Hof Restaurant, we returned to our hotel to finally get our room following a slight tussle with the staff over the unacceptable delay in the availability of the room. We took a break then rallied to make a visit to the German Technical Museum, to see many large locomotives, passenger cars and related items all displayed in the twin engine roundhouses at the site. Surprisingly, the museum even included trains and photographs from the WWII era; usually Nazis are never shown in German museums. Dinner was at another high quality restaurant, "Oxymoron," located in the Haeckescher Court, a courtyard decorated with very distinctive Art Nouveau period tile work that covers all of the tall walls. - Dan