May 24: Berlin Mitte

I advanced east along Dorotheenstraße in the heart of Berlin-Mitte.

4249

A look behind the outer glass skin of the glassy part of the Jacob-Kaiser-Haus on Dorotheenstraße.

4250

Some sweet screens, also on the Jacob-Kaiser-Haus.

4253

Tubular! These were water pipes pumping water away from a construction site just south at Unter den Linden, north into the Spree, along Wilhelmstraße. I like the form of the masonry on this side of the... Jacob-Kaiser-Haus.

4257

Check out how the distance the metal frames protrude from the plaster varies from window to window. Are the edges of the frames actually coplanar and the wall just undulates around them like crazy??

4260

Nice proportions and relief.

4263

The good old Bahnhof Friedrichstraße, its dark, fine detailed metal standing out from the clean high-rises surrounding it.

4265

A Straßenbahn train, rather eerily unmarked.

4271

Aw thanks guys.

4272

Spring flower sprays. Glad I don't have allergies!

4273

Longpedestrian is loooooong [via inverse foreshortening].

4275

Why are those windows and doors filled in, but in an asymmetric arrangement?

4276

The Fernsehturm looms closer, dwarfing a Neues Museum statue.

4280

What a cutie!

4283

Subtle scum strata on the Spreekanal.

4298

Hey it's the Altes Museum! Also note the construction cranes in the background, working on the Neues Museum renovation.

4302

Spotted as I started west again along Unter den Linden, here is the Neue Wache ("New Guardhouse"), originally an actual guardhouse but later a war memorial since 1931. My research indicates that I need to take a look inside here next time I get to Berlin.

4304

The Alte Bibliothek under a similarly meta construction shroud as the Helsinki Rautatieasema.

4306

Sankt-Hedwigs-Kathedrale with its impressive #egg-shaped dome.

4308

At the part of Unter den Linden where the lindens actually start, except looking in the other direction. I remember this expansive scene being one of the points along this walk where the city felt desolate under the blank blue sky with few people around.

4309

Ah, there they are! The lindens, that is.

4313

I wonder about these glass-block pads. Are they bringing daylight down into a subterranean realm, such as an U-Bahn station?

4314

Caution! Leprechaun crossing.

4316

A rather Mediterranean-looking brise-soleil.

4321

ARISE, BOLLARDS. THE TIME IS UPON US.