Brandenburg Gate.

Managed to stay awake until the early hours to shoot this famous icon. The Quadriga (chariot) on top of the gate was designed by Schadow.. After the 1806 Prussian defeat at the Battle of Jena-Auerstedt, Napoleon looted the Quadriga and established it in Paris. After Napoleon's defeat in 1814 and the Prussian Parisian occupation the Quadriga was restored to Berlin; and Viktoria's olive wreath was exchanged for the Iron Cross, so that she became Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. Despite surviving all those years the Quadriga was hit and obliterated by bombs and shelling toward the end of World War Two and all that could be found was a single horse's head.. What stands on top of the Brandenburg Gate today is a replica completed in 1958.

Don't know what time I managed to crash out in bed but the Breakfast of Egg Benedict was tasty and well needed.

Managed to find time to photograph the newly completed memorial and tribute to Gay men and lesbians killed by the Nazis. When you look into square black hole you see this. A still of a continuous black and white film of two men kissing. The man with the cig is reflected off the black screen and is watching over the memorial in order to protect it from homohobic attacks.

Also came across this bored looking Armed Guard at the New American Embassy which will be officially opening very shortly.

More Berlin back Blips to follow.. Will add links here later..

Now while I've been away I get the feeling I've missed something in Blipsville.. What"s all this about the ratings system???? Only joking... Must catch up and read all about it..

Babckblip Link = Tuesday...Holocaust Memorial
Wednesday...Quadriga by Day