Fond memories of Berlin before Germany's reunification in 1990 means it's always interesting to return to see what's changed. Berlin still seems to be growing at a lightning pace. The German capital has always been full of historic intrigue and is well known for it's liberal lifestyle. The urban landscape and historical legacy has made it a popular setting for national and international film productions, in fact more than a thousand TV and film companies have their home here.



The lobby of the delightful Hotel de Rome. One of the better hotels we've had the pleasure to stay in, even though they managed to lose one of my treasured Shangri-La mugs. It always happens once on a tour, either the teapot or a cup goes walkies. I suppose I'll have to put signs on the cups now.



Danny poses in his fabulous Galvin Green jacket in the Babelplatz,this public square which our hotel overlooks is the site of the book burning ceremony held on May 10th 1933 by members of the S.A. ("brownshirts") and Nazi youth groups on the instigation of the Propaganda Minister, Joseph Goebbels. The Nazis burned around 20,000 books, including works Thomas Mann, and Karl Marx. Today a glass plate set into the Bebelplatz, giving a view of empty bookcases, commemorates this event.



The quite spectacular roof structure inside the Velodrome which was designed by French architect Dominique Perrault who also designed the National Library in Paris. The velodrome is almost completely submerged bringing the building into the realm of landscape.

  

Just in case you weren't aware, filming is now forbidden due to the distraction caused to other members of the audience and the band. Still photography is perfectly OK. Even though these signs appeared all around the venue last night and several polite announcements were made, Pete still caught a couple of chaps sneaking a quick film. Please respect..




Following German unification, there were attempts to standardise all traffic signals to the West German forms, leading to calls to save the East German Ampelmännchen. It thus became a kind of mascot for the East German nostalgia movement. The protests were successful, and the Ampelmännchen returned to pedestrian crossings, including some western districts of Berlin. Some western German cities have since adopted the design.