SFASU in GermanyMay 2014: 28 May, Reichstagsgebäude und Bundestag

Saturday morning we walked the little more than a mile from our hotel in Berlin Mitte to the Reichstag building, the seat of the German Bundestag, the lower house of parliament. Due to increased security measures undertaken in late 2010, it is no longer possible to approach the building without first signing up for a guided tour, and then waiting in line, following the roped-off, snake-like trail that winds its way toward the security tent. Once ushered into the security area and having passed all inspection points there, we were further ushered through a side entrance into the Reichstags building itself, where we were ordered to wait for our guide.

This is a much different introduction to the building than the veteran travellers in our group had experienced in previous years. Until the increased security measures were put into place, the casual visitor who wished to enter the building and visit the viewing platform in the dome atop the Reichstag building had merely to find her place in line at the front steps of the building and wait. Once in line, there was slow but orderly progress as the visitors ascended the front steps of the building until, in small groups, were allowed to enter the building.

The advantage of our guided tour was that we gained access to parts of the building that in previous years had not been available to the casual visitor. Not only that, our guide offered us insights into the history of the building, and invited us to visit the SPD caucus meeting rooms.