European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 7, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tie restored Reich Stag remains the Symbol of a United Germany although it served Only sporadically As a True parliament. Byjoe Mapother staff writer West Berlin encompasses More than 185 Square Miles. The City is Large enough to squeeze both Stuttgart and Frankfurt within its boundaries. Walkers May be intimidated by the City s size but Here is a suggested stroll through the downtown tie Garten area that takes about two hours without stops to browse. Because there Are a lot of sights along the Way foregoing a walk in favor of a bicycle ride is a Way to save time for museum visits and shopping. The area has Well developed Bike routes. The numerous potential stops easily can make this tour an All Day event for bikers or pedestrians. By Bike or foot the logical starting Points Are the Bellevue a Bahn subway station at the North end of the route or the Koc Strasse a Bahn station to the South at checkpoint Charlie. If you re trying to navigate this route or any part of the City for the first time without a map Don t. The Bellevue Stop is named after Schloss Bellevue a Castle in the classical style that is the Berlin residence of the Federal president of West Germany. The residence is a Quick walk from the station. Turn right coming out of the subway station and left along the spree River Bank. The residence is on the right just five minutes away. A few minutes walk past the residence along the spree Weg is the siege Saule the Victory Monument completed in 1873 to Honor prussian victories Over France Denmark and Austria. A winding staircase reaches More than 200 feet to the top. Fifteen minutes farther along to the left Down the Strasse Des 17. Juni Are the russian War memorial and the Brandenburg Gate but a More interesting route runs through the tie Garten on the spree River Side of the wide Boulevard. The tie Garten goes Back three centuries and was painstakingly restored after its destruction in world War ii. The first of the wide streets Laid through the greenery connected the emperor s Palace in present Day East Berlin to his Hunting Lodge. As Berlin grew the tie Garten or animal Garden got Tamer. Ten minutes from the siege Saule through the Park is the futuristic Brown and White Congress Hall. Known As the pregnant Oyster to berliners the building was a German american project. It was intended among other uses to be a Home for the German parliament after it was dedicated in 1958. The West German parliament did hold a few sessions there amid the screaming of Low flying soviet migs that tried to disrupt proceedings during the cold War. In May 1980, a combination of faulty construction and inadequate design brought a portion of the roof Down killing one person. After repairs the building was rededicatedin1983. Boat Tours of West Berlin s Waterways leave from piers behind the Congress Hall three times daily. A three hour tour leaves at 9 45 a.m., a two hour tour at 1 45 . And a four hour tour at 3 45. . Prices Range from 8 Marks to 10 Marks about $4.50 to $5.60 per person. Children from 6 to 12 pay half Price. The Reich Stag visible from the Congress Hall is another five minutes walk. It remains the Symbol of a United Germany although it served Only sporadically As. A True parliament. Conceived after Berlin became the capital of a United Germany in 1871, the building was completed in 1894 it was devastated during the final Days of the Battle for Berlin in 1945. The restored version lacks its former cupola but plans Are afoot to rebuild that As Well. An exhibition on the development of Germany occupies the Reich Stag Interior. It is free but the exhibits Are explained in German. An excellent 471 Page guide in English Sells for 6 Marks about $3.40. The exhibit Entrance is on the North Side of the building and a 40-Yard Jaunt past the Entrance to the Wall is worthwhile because it offers a View up the spree into East Berlin. Eleven crosses memorialize fatal escape attempts in the area and remind visitors that fleeing East Berlin at that Point is not As easy As it looks. An East German patrol boat permanently stationed there reinforces that impression. Probably the most Well known Symbol of a divided Germany the Brandenburg Gate stands a few minutes walk South of the Reich Stag. It dates from the late 18th Century and is one of the old entrances to the City. The nazis marched through it in Triumph in 1933 when Adolf Hitler was named Chancellor the russians marched triumphantly through it in 1945 but nobody has marched through it since 1961, when the Wall was built. A 10-minute walk along the Wall going South leads to potsdamer Platz. The Triangle that once jutted into West Berlin Between the two Points on City maps no longer exists a result of an Exchange of property earlier this year. However squatters protesting possible development of the Triangle have taken Over and the area is closed to tourists. Potsdamer Platz is a Standard Stop for Berlin visitors. But few can remember the roaring twenties in Berlin when the Square was the bustling heart of one of Europe s leading cities. Nor were Many in Berlin at the end of the War when Hitler s nearby Fuhre Bunker the remains of which were recently excavated by the East germans reverberated to the booms of soviet Cannon. Perhaps a few will remember the jeering crowds of East German workers in 1953 who stoned soviet tanks that charged into the crowd then turned circles in an Armor plated attempt to break up the horde. It is estimated that 8 stripes Magazine july 7, 1988