European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 31, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Inside the world famous Pergamo museum one of the stops on the Long bus tour of Berlin. A amps Ron Jensen the eight hour try this for super look at future German capital by Ron Jensen Niernberg Bureau the information tickets  registration office Bills the tour As the super Berlin tour. It is an appropriate boast. For a first timer to Berlin or even for experienced Berlin visitors the eight hour bus ride exposes much of what the once  future capital City of Germany has to offer. Like in any City bus tour time is a cherished commodity. At some stops there is barely time for a glance  a Quick photo but As on any City bus tour the purpose is to acquaint the visitor with possibilities for More leisurely visits. It is up to the visitor to return. And there is much on this tour that will invite a second look. The bus leaves from the it office at the front Gate of Clay Headquarters at 9 . Cost is $14  Heads to the checkpoint Charlie museum. On the Way it passes through the Grunewald or Green Forest a 15-Square-mile Urban Woodland. During world War ii the Forest was denuded by berliners seeking fuel for warmth. It is now thick  Lush  on this autumn morning a Golden carpet of leaves covers its floor. Berliners Call this Forest the Quot lung of  the tour guide an australian named Michael tells us that the oldest written reference to Berlin dates to 1237. The City has a population of 3.8 million  is Home to 1,300 jazz  Rock bands. The bus passes the Schoneberg town Hall. From its Balcony president Kennedy made his famous Ich bin Ein Berliner speech. Through a quirk in the German language the Young president actually identified himself As a Jelly filled pastry. But berliners knew what he meant. And the area below the Balcony is named in his Honor a John f. Kennedy Platz. Checkpoint Charlie museum during the cold War checkpoint Charlie was the most famous of the Wall Crossings. It was Here that american  russian tanks faced each other in one of the cold War s hottest moments. The museum is really a testament to the desire of East berliners to escape the darkness of communism  find the Light of capitalism in West Berlin. The tales of adventure  escape Are told in dramatic Black  White photos that cover the Walls of the museum s Many tiny rooms. Kennedy is Here too quoted As saying a by protecting the Freedom of Berlin we protect the Freedom of Paris London  new York As  in Early 1964, a Tunnel known As Tunnel 57 was begun from an empty bakery shop. In october of that year 28 people crawled through the Tunnel to Freedom. Photos show the fear Quot the work  the Joy. From the museum the bus crosses into what was East Berlin  stops about 300 meters from the Brandenburg Gate. Ten minutes Are allowed for pictures of the Only remaining Gate of the 14 that once marked entry into Berlin. Built from 1 788 to 1 791  modelled after the acropolis of ancient Greece the Gate is enjoying a resurgence of popularity now that it too is freed from the isolation of East Berlin. Michael tells us that the Copper statue of a Chariot team  rider was removed by Napoleon in 1807  taken to Paris. It was returned after Napoleon s defeat but suffered damage in world War ii. It was recast with the original Mold. The bus stops beside a Square on Unter Den Linden the most famous Street of East Berlin. On May 10, 1933, 20,000 books were burned by the nazi government Here at Bebe Platz. The next Stop is museum Island  the world famous Pergamo museum. Pergamo museum one of the most remarkable sights in any museum is the Pergamo altar carried piece by piece from its ancient Home in Turkey to this museum by German archaeologists who uncovered it in the last years of the 19th Century. The altar was built two centuries before the birth of Christ. The friezes that adorn it Are marvelous works of Art. Notice How the characters embroiled in action seem to move upward with the Steps resting a it seems a a foot on a lower step  a knee on a higher one. Through a door a visitor walks into an adjoining room for another thrill. The Market Gateway from Miletus dates from 120 . And is considered one of the Best known examples of roman facade architecture. Towering More than 50 feet above the visitor it hints at the glory that it once displayed. The Gate was uncovered  brought to Berlin shortly after the turn of this Century. The third wonder of this museum is perhaps the most memorable Only because it has retained its color although the processional Way  ishtar Gate of ancient Babylon would be impressive in Blue k  White. The Gold  Blue bricks that form the marching Lions that accompanied Babylon s visitors Are in most cases continued on Page 6 december 31, 1�?~j 2 stripes Magazine 5