A leaf from Vasco Da Gama's diary

The original handwriting of Portugese explorer Vasco de Gama from his diary written during his trip to India is displayed at the German Historical Museum in Berlin.

The diary is part of the exhibition 'Novus Mundos' (New Worlds) about Portuguese history, which was inaugurated on Tuesday by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates.

The exhibition will be open to the public from October 24, 2007 to February 10, 2008.

Photograph: Michael Kappeler/AFP/Getty Images