Our first stop was the Berlin Dom (or Cathedral), a Protestant church located on Museum Island. The cathedral was beautifully decorated with gold and marble, with striking paintings on the ceiling.
Once we finished touring the inside of the cathedral, we were able to climb a seemingly endless amount of stairs to the outdoor catwalk and witness a breathtaking view of the city.
Brandenburg Tor has served as backdrop to much of modern German history. Probably the most famous historical symbol of Berlin, it stood silent witness to the events such asthe Nazis' torchlight parades and the building of the Berlin Wall. This gate was completed in 1791 by King Fredrick William II of Prussia. A top the gate, a statue of Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory, can be seen driving a chariot.
After walking through the Brandenburg Gate, we crossed into the former West Berlin and visited the Soviet Monument dedicated to the Red Army's sacrifices in conquering the city.
This monument was very impressive and contains two T-34 tanks and two pieces of artillery. It sits on top of the remains of some 2,000 Soviet soldiers.
Consisting of series of buildings, including the only skyscrapers in Berlin, the radically designed Sony Center, and a mall, Potsdamer Platz allowed everyone to pick their own meal for night. For some, this meant the trip's first spaghetti ice. The Berlin Wall ran directly though Potsdamer Platz and sections of it are still standing there today.
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