One of the most popular attractions in Berlin is the clear dome over the Parliament building. It was known as the Reichstag when it burned down in 1933 under mysterious circumstances that allowed the Nazis to come to power by blaming Communists for the fire. At the end of World War II it was liberated by Russian troops and the brilliant restoration of the building allows visitors to see the graffiti the solders wrote on the walls.Our RIAS group got the VIP treatment and didn't have to wait in the two-hour line for the elevator to the dome, which symbolizes transparency in government. All political parties can agree here that the views of Berlin are spectacular!
The government complex in Berlin has grown considerably since I was first here in 2001. We met with representatives of the five major parties in a building that looked like a futuristic Star Trek movie set.
