Page 10 - AAA Schuylkill County - AAA Now! March/April 2015

TRAVE
Berlin, Germany: A City Transformed
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For more than 20 years, modern Germany has been reinventing its image. Virtually no city could be more fitting as the capital of this country than Berlin. The year 2014 marked the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall; it was a momentous occasion, full of symbolism and emotion.
Since the dismantling of the wall, Berlin
has undergone a dramatic urban and social transformation, and is, once again, one of the most exciting cities in Europe – on the cutting edge for architecture, culture, entertainment, shopping
and nightlife. With scores of exceptional museums, grand monuments and memorials, it should be on everyone’s list of must-see cities.
One of the most visited attractions in Berlin is Museum Island. The island is a magnificent work of art in itself, involving five world-renowned museums, including Bode-Museum, which houses an extensive collection of sculptures and treasures of the Museum of Byzantine Art and the Numismatic Collection.
Covering 60 square miles, Berlin is one of the largest cities in the world, and getting around can be daunting. With an intricate network of rivers, canals and lakes (and five times as many bridges as Venice), a boat excursion is one of the best ways to
enjoy Berlin’s attractions. The city offers numerous boat tours as well as guided walking tours.
Berlin also takes great pride in its expansive green areas, designed for the enjoyment of cafes, shopping, beer gardens and elegant restaurants. Be sure to make some time for strolling through the 630-acre Tiergarten, a quiet oasis with 14 miles of footpaths and meadows. The inner park’s 6 1/2 acres of lakes and ponds were landscaped by garden architect Joseph Peter Lenne in the mid-1800s. Tiergarten’s eastern border ends at the
Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag (Parliament) building, both popular tourist attractions. The grand boulevard called Unter den Linden, which starts at the Brandenburg Gate and extends east, is lined with 18th- and 19th-century palaces and monuments.
Berlin’s harrowing history and spirit of determination has laid the foundation for a perpetually intriguing city that continues to reinvent itself, and continues to draw fascinated visitors from around the world.
The Magnificent Cities of Central and Eastern Europe Tour
n Berlin n Prague n Vienna
n Budapest n Krakow n Warsaw
September 12-25, 2015
This AAA escorted tour includes bus transportation from Pottsville; round-trip air, taxes and fees; 18 meals; and much more!
Call AAA travel agent Cathy Baldigo for more information and a tour brochure.
Pottsville (570) 622-4991 1-800-666-7262
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MARCH/APRIL 2015
Now!