This is worth seeing to marvel at how quickly things can change in the new Berlin. Of course, the architecture is top-rate modern and though some areas have the feel of an upscale mall, it exudes a sense of whimsical and sophistication.

The Info Box building (see my entry in this journal) is the logical first stop. There are exhibits, architectural models, and a special mail box to send your postcards with a special Info Box postmark. Once you understand the development that has taken place (and continues to this day), walk over to the complex where Sony, Deutsche Bahn, and Daimler-Chrysler have a strong physical presence. There are restaurants, shops, cinemas, and a man-made lake. It comes complete with its own Cinestar multiplex and an interactive museum.

In reality, this is a man-made environment and a commercial area. But the atmosphere is fun and the energy level high. There are many corporations and apartment complexes here, an urban oasis for living and working. It reminded me of Times Square in New York, but on a much larger scale and with brand new high caliber buildings.

I recommend this as a must-see to fully comprehend the changes Berlin has made in the past few years. Potsdamer Platz is well-covered in many travel articles about the city and it is worth spending a short afternoon here.

Potsdamer Platz encompasses several buildings worth taking a close look at. There is the Preussischer Landtag, formerly housing the Prussian parliament, then the official residence of the East German prime minister, and these days serving as the seat of Berlin's regional parliament. If you like contemporary art, stop by the Martin-Gropius-Bau on the square, where exhibits reflecting Berliner art from the 19th century to the present take place. The Sony Center is worth a walk-around just for its sleekly dazzling exteriors. A true sign of the times as you walk from one location to the next around Potsdamer Platz: the outdoor vendors with their tables of communist era medals, weaponry, uniforms and other military kitsch, now only the collectibles of another of Germany's periods finally overcome.

Inside this bright red building (you can't miss it), there are exhibits, some interactive and computerized, to show the history of the site and the process leading up to the new construction. Most of the explanations were bilingual. On the top floor, there are many beautiful models of the urban planning of the area. To reach the roof (called the Observation Platform) you need to pay DM2. I found the view from the lower terrace sufficient. There was a hot-air balloon a short distance away that took viewers up for a couple of minutes. It looked like fun but I would imagine the roof view would be easier to get to and cheaper!

There is also a small gift shop with postcards, books and various small items for sale. You can buy a stamp at the cashier and drop your postcard in the special mail box. It will have a special postmark from the Info Box.