Berlin Neues Museum

We slept late and started out at noon to see the Neues Museum which houses a collection of Egyptian art and archaeological finds from Europe and Asia from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages. 

The objects brought back from the 19^th century excavation of Troy were fascinating not only because of their diversity and beauty, but because of the history surrounding their discovery. The objects reveal the development, ability, and artistry of people who lived through the stone, bronze, and iron ages.

German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann discovered the artifacts — mostly gold, copper shields and weapons — in Anatolia 1837 and named them for Priam, king of Troy. Schliemann illegally smuggled the loot to Berlin, convinced he had found evidence of the Iliad's famed ancient city.  Schliemann's reputation has left some doubts as to the authenticity of the artefacts that he ‘discovered' on the site.

Soviet soldiers removed the treasures from Berlin during the waning days of World War II.  Signs in the museum explained that the artifacts remain in Russia.  Russia ignores the 1990 treaty obliging it to return the pilfered art to Germany.

Tired after an hour or so, we sat down on a stone bench to rest; a few seconds later a guard told us to get up. We never knew why Tired after an hour or so, we sat down on a stone bench to rest; a we could not sit there; no signs forbade it and it was not an artefact.  Still tired, we resumed our visit.

We spent the rest of the afternoon walking, mostly on the Kurfürstendamm, Berlin's promenade.  The sidewalks were wide, lined with shops and beautiful buildings.

It was a pleasure to be outside among people after so much time looking at objects.

We ended our evening at a small Italian restaurant in Kreuzberg, called Pasta Bar, recommended by a friend.