Here are three photos of Potsdamer Platz today. The photos don't do it justice. Inside the domed area is full of life, with a fountain, cafes, a movie theater, and more. There is a shopping arcade, tall impressive buildings. It's a very modern and interestingly built hub of activity. I first visited Potsdamer Platz in 1989 and it was literally no mans land. It was in the area near the wall patrolled by East German guards, full of barbed wire and security. When the wall came down, Berliners wanted to reclaim what was once the bustling center of their city, and suddenly no man's land became prime real estate. The hidden blessing about the wall was that right in the center of Berlin there were suddenly acres of land that could be developed in a very modern style, giving the city the chance to create its image, have contests to see who could design the best buildings and plazas, and as you see in the third photo, that work continues. I have been back to Potsdamer Platz many times, and every time I'm amazed by how fast and stunning the building effort has been. Traditionalists might not like the modern design, but it's well done and provides Berlin the type of dynamic and distinctive center this city on the Spree river deserves.