Berlin, Germany ~ Brandenburg Gate

Originally built before the modern state of Germany came into existence, the Brandenburg Gate is a relic of Prussian Berlin and an important historical site in the city. During the early years of the Cold War the gate was a crossing point between East and West Berlin but in 1961 the crossing was closed as the Berlin Wall went up. It wouldn’t be until 1989 that people could again freely pass through Brandenburg Gate. In 1990 the official ceremony to mark the reunification of Germany was held here and since then the gate has been among the city’s most popular spots. For most of the day Brandenburg Gate is swamped with visitors but if you come early in the morning, or at night in the case of today’s photo, there usually aren’t that many people around.