Location Spotlight: The Reichstag

The Bundestag, a day before every other picture,
because there's not way to tell on the internet.

     Hello again!  I apologize for the delay (that no one noticed because my posting schedule isn't announced), but here we are again.  This post marks the first "Location Spotlight," where I will cover some of the history of a notable place I have visited in the past week.  This week's location is the "Reichstag," which is the meeting place for "Bundestag," which is the main governing body of Germany.

The original Reichstag

    The construction of the Reichstag began back in 1884, in order to house the parliament of the (then) recently unified Germany.  The original building (left) stood as it is shown until 1933, when it was burned.  Following World War II, the Reichstag was rebuilt twice, completed in 1961, and again in 1999, with the latter being the Reichstag as it stands today.

The "tour guide" of sorts.

     In the actual meeting room on the Reichstag, when the Bundestag is in session, the average person is able to enter and sit in the balcony area above the delegates (directly over approximately half of them, unlike in the American Senate Gallery, which is set back away from the actual floor), although the amount of time which individuals are allowed to spend in the gallery varies by the type of meeting being held (basically amounting to less time with increased importance of the topic).  The amount of seats assigned to each political party is based on their percentage of the population, with a minimum of 5% needed to be assigned a seat.

Doesn't it look wonderful on camera?

      The Reichstag's dome was reconstructed entirely out of glass, when it was rebuilt in the late 90's, symbolizing the transparency of the German government's operation.  The cone in the middle both reflects light into the chamber in order to reduce the amount of artificial light required within the central chamber, but also works to heat the building through a heat capturing system.

What a view!

   

     After the wonderful (there was humor involved.  I think.  The Germans laughed anyway...) speech by the only standing person in my picture from the gallery, we were able to get on an elevator and go up to the roof (no hats allowed; they said its rude), where you can see the dome, the skyline of Berlin, the dome, as well as the small restaurant which happens to be on the other side of the dome from the elevator.

How the Dome Works:

It is made up of concentric rings of glass panes.

The mirrors, which light the inside of the gallery below.

The best window shade ever.

For your Amusement:

Just a casual drinking game on the Bundestag's lawn.

Just a quick picture before the scary policeman can
decide to come over and say hello.

Casual giant steel structure day.

Proverb of the Day:

The emergency vehicles in other countries look like toys, as do their policemen.

The difference is that the vehicles look like plastic cars, while the police look like soldiers.

*Source links included for stock images.

**The background music is from a personal music project in progress.  Those are whale calls.