At the end of April we celebrated our (10th) wedding anniverary, so leaving the boys in the tender care of their grandparents, we spent a long weekend in Berlin. We'd been to city 13 years previously and it held special memories, plus we wanted to see how much it had changed. Last time we stayed in the old "west", this time in the "east", at the Berlin Hilton (our room marked with an arrow). It's a well placed hotel and did a good weekend rate, plus it's very well equipped and comfortable. Since our last visit the German parliament has moved from Bonn to Berlin, and is now installed in the Reichstag building. Sir Norman Foster's revamp of the building is very impressive, with a massive glass dome topping the structure and giving it both a modern and traditional feel. The surrounding area (the wall used to run past here) has been completely redeveloped with government buildings, many symbolising the former division of the country and its subsequent re-unification. Visitors can go the roof of the Reichstag building (there's a very long queue, so get there early) and can climb inside the dome on walkways. The roof stays open quite late, so you can get night views of the city too. There is also a rooftop restaurant which we went to on Sunday night, with an excellent menu and views to match. Since re-unification a whole new industry of boat cruises on the Spree has opened up. It's a great way to see the city, although the German commentary was not difficult to follow. We were about the first on the river, and that was AFTER visiting the Reichstag building (did I say we got there early?). We were going to stop for coffee first but found the coffee shops and bars didn't open at such an early hour.... Near our hotel were two former cathedrals, both now converted into secular buildings. In the tower of the French cathedral there was an art exhibition consisting of lightweight mirrors fitted in the inward looking windows. The result was a fascinating optical illusion of a huge three dimensional expanse of openings, passageways and stairs. In the photo you can see us in the middle reflected off the mirror opposite, and several other windows and passages. It's typical of Berlin to have old and new side by side in architecture and art. Checkpoint Charlie, one of the main crossing points from east to west is now quite a tourist attraction. A mock-up border post has been built, manned by (presumably) "extras". The original "you are leaving the American sector" sign is still in place (actually, it might be a new one). Nearby is an area of wooden crosses, one for each person killed trying to flee the east. Permanent reminders of the past amongst the new and rebuilt. None of these photos would have been here without the honesty of two Berlin women who found our camera which we had accidentally left in a wine festival we visited one evening. They left their contact details at a nearby hotel, and returned with our camera the next day. To these two we give our heartfelt thanks.