From the Alte Nationalgalerie I walked the long way (very long as it turned out, due to building works) to the Bode Museum – containing mainly sculpture from early Middle Ages to late 18th century. The main attraction for me was a special exhibition in the basement called 'Treasures of Faith': religious artefacts, mainly in gold; fantastic workmanship considering some are 800 years old.
I also wandered around the two floors of the permanent collection – it's not really my thing, yet I stayed for an hour just absorbing it all. Then at last a small and expensive salad and orange juice in their smart and peaceful café; outside on Unter den Linden is not the place for me on a sunny Sunday.
To the Berliner Dom at 15:40. A heavy and not very exciting church, but I wanted to go up to the dome for the views. I eventually found the start of the 270 steps, and was beginning to think the views were only behind glass when after being directed all around the base of the dome there were some more steep steps to the outside platform.
After an hour in the Dom and quite a few photos from the top I went over the road to the Schinkel Museum in the disused Friederichswerdersche church. A superb display of statues, with some information in German about the handsome Karl Friedrich Schinkel (1781-1841) and his work. Free entry. I subsequently twigged that Schinkel designed the church, which is why it looks so good! And why it's called the Schinkel Museum.
In the evening I went in search of Italian restaurant De' Noantri in Görlitzer Straße. Unfortunately I forgot that I'd read ages ago of a festival in the south east of the city today (this is a holiday weekend), so when I came to change trains at Hallesches Tor there were a million people on the platform and much security. And the same on the way back. It was all pretty good natured, but as an older person I felt I ought to eat quickly and not be too late home! A VERY good creme brulée to finish the meal.
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