Our next stop as we wandered through Europe was Germany. Normally folks ask "why Germany", I usually explain to them that I have an almost unhealthy thirst for learning about ww2. I am simply fascinated by it all still to this day. The whole Hitler leadership, to the amount of countries that forged together as well as apart to have a hand in the war is just really interesting to me. Being Jewish the Holocaust is of course something I really like to have knowledge about as I teach my children the History of the Jewish culture. The division of Germany post WW2 is also very fascinating.
So Berlin to me was very important to see, we also decided to do a two part trip and go out to Donny's high school friends place as well, we got to travel down the Rhine river to their location. That's part 2, back to Berlin.
We arrived to Berlin at 11:50 pm, again crazy I realize. But the cheap flights were the evening flights. We left Stockholm in the evening and arrived in Berlin pretty late. With having to wait for Donny's backpack and our stroller at the baggage claim, by the time we got out of terminal it was closer to 12:20 ish. We decided to get a cab to our hostel (a splurge! We were planning on a train.)we got to our Hostel pretty tired and it was cracking! There were several schools doing their senior trips staying in the hostel. There were also families and older couples just traveling. The kitchen was giant. Our room was giant (compared to Stockholm). It was an amazing place, they even had a pack in play for the little so we were in heaven.
Day 1: We set out to get groceries and to get our bearings, our hostel was in the Moabit district of Berlin. We decided to go to the Berlin Zoo for the girls after lunch and naps. It was walking distance from our hostel which was also amazing. The zoo was amazing and also had a whole separate aquarium reptile exhibit (you have to pay more for it but it's worth it). Our favorite part was the hippopotamus and her baby we got to see. We have never seen a hippo. The saddest part was the polar bear, he looked very sick and since polar bears are my oldest daughters favorite it hurt her heart to see. They do an amazing job, all the animals have these hilariously themed dwellings to their country of origin. The animals live in very chic houses I must say. The zoo is a must see.
To be honest we had an amazing time walking around Berlin, we were in the downtown area so we got to see many churches and beautiful Gothic buildings along the way. We would walk to a bus station and be next to an amazing church with ww2 bombing scars, just the sort of things ya don't see everyday.
Church literally next door to the Hostel!
The landscaping just about everywhere!
The parks in Berlin were also outstanding, they are all wood made. There was literally no plastic. It was all amazing wood carved fun fixtures and silly things for the girls to climb. They really promote imagination and moving with these amazing areas. My girls fell in love with the playgrounds.
Orli enjoying a Merry Go Round, this park is located across the street of the Charlottenburg Palace.
We ate breakfast and lunch at our hostel (I cooked in an amazing kitchen) and did our standard dinner out. The area of downtown we happen to be staying in was blocks away from the Muslim community. So although we feasted on sauerkraut and delicious German food, we also had our share of falafel and Baklava. Berlin to me had the most beautiful monuments just about everywhere you look.
Day 2: We decided to see the nearest palace. We took a bus and a city commuter train to Charlottenburg Palace, costing us about 8 Euro for all 5 of us for the transportation.
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| Charlottenburg Palace |
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| The grounds behind the palace, acres of gardens. |
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| Mausoleum |
Charlottenburg is the largest and most important palace complex in Berlin of the former Brandenburg electors, Prussian kings and German emperors. This palace is out of this world with it's amazing architecture, the gardens, the Crown Treasure and Silver Vault are a special highlight at Charlottenburg Palace, and there is also an orchard and an on ground mausoleum. There was some restoration construction going on so some of the views were not the best. But all in all this is a must see treat in Berlin. My favorite part was the tomb, the interior was completely composed of marble.
Day 3: It was all about the historical buildings and landmarks. We got a cab down to the main row of attractions, it was a nice walk which we could have done but we figured we would walk back. We ended up at the victory column and we went to walk through the Brandenburg Gate.
Victory Column
The victory column is wonderful, designed by Heinrich Strack, after 1864 to commemorate the Prussian victory in the Danish-Prussian War. It stands super high so you can see it from many main stretches of Berlin.
Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate is the almost entry way to an old world Berlin. The buildings in Berlin literally have to this day markings of WW2! The Brandenburg Gate is included in the historical buildings that were damaged in Ww2. Throughout its existence, the Brandenburg Gate was often a site for major historical events and is today considered not only as a symbol of the tumultuous history of Europe and Germany, but also of European unity and peace. It is one of Berlins most popular landmarks, so it is pretty much always busy.
The afternoon we went it had just stopped raining so I think folks were still on their way out to it when we got there. Beyond the gate is amazing views of Unter den Linden avenue (tell your cab driver Unter den Linden and you will get were you need to be) with many other landmarks such as Bebelplatz, the Reichstag building (German parliament) a must see, as well as the check point Charlie and the Berlin cathedral church.
The Holocaust memorial is also in that area so it really is a whole day of sights.
Day 4: We saved the Holocaust memorial for the last day. We came back to the area but this time by bus and took a nice long non rushed look at the memorial. I think it is absolutely beautiful and sad at the same time. Seeing my daughters walk among it was an amazing experience.
Berlin Holocaust Memorial
The a memorial is from Berlin to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, designed by architect Peter Eisenman and engineer Buro Happold. It consists of a 4.7-acre site covered with 2,711 concrete slabs arranged in a grid pattern on a sloping field. The slabs are 7 ft 10 in long, by 3 ft 1 in wide and vary in height. They are organized in rows, 54 of them going north–south, and 87 heading east–west at right angles but set slightly askew. An attached underground "Place of Information" holds the names of approximately 3 million Jewish Holocaust victims, obtained from the Israeli museum Yad Vashem. It is something to be seen.
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| To cheer them up, a little Madame Tussauds |
The Berlin Wall or what remains is such an inspiration to see as well. The Berlin Wall was one of the most powerful and iconic symbols of the Cold War. In June 1963, were Kennedy gave his famous speech in front of the Wall, celebrating the city as a symbol of freedom and democracy in its resistance to tyranny and oppression. This landmark is a chore to get to but very much worth it.
Day 5: Travel~ We took a train the next morning to visit friends in Binsfeld Germany which houses a US Air Force base. That will be a part 2 of Germany still to come.
Not pictured is Mommy pushing a stroller with 2 more backpacks, our travel snack and fun bag and of course my pack on my back. Still amazed that each person literally had a backpack and we had a stroller and that is it.... Well of course we had the help of our trusty Tula toddler carrier as well.... Check em out pals.... Link to the right!
Here are the places to go things to see as well as where to stay and shop in Berlin.
We stayed at the Amstel House.
For Groceries within walking distance.
Kaiser's
The Berlin Zoo
Charolettenburg Palace
Victory Monument
Location:
Groberstern round about.
Brandenburg Gate
Location:
Pariser Platz square
Babelplatz
Location:
Unter den Linden, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Reichstag
Location:
Platz der Republik 1, 11011 Berlin, Germany
Berlin cathedral church
Location:
Am Lustgarten, 10178 Berlin, Germany
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| Berlin Wall |
Location:
Bernauer Str. 119, 13355
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| Holocaust Memorial |
Location:
Cora-Berliner-Straße 1, 10117
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| Highlights |
If I forgot anything I will update.
I personally fell in love with Germany period. It all started in Berlin. I can not wait to visit Berlin again when our youngest can be enriched as much as her older sisters. Berlin was an amazing start to our time in Germany, the history, the culture, it all works for me. Part 2 coming soon.
Tread Lightly,
Mel
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