Here comes the fun!

Who knew that Berlin is also jammed packed with so many fun things as well! Here are some of the highlights of that "fun"! (Granted, Aaron has already blogged on a few of these things, but I hear that repetition is the way to remember right?!- I'm really doing this for you all, so that when you go to Berlin, you'll remember where to go! :) You can thank me later!

First of all- one of the best places on earth... and probably a little bit of heaven...The chocolate store! Hmm... that was a yummy place to go in and smell! As you know (from Aaron), there were tons of sculptures that were all chocolate (and we're guessing a lot of glue was added as well!)

Here's the Titanic. I look a little lost and confused I think! Aaron told me to do the pose "I'm flying Jack" from the movie, but I couldn't figure out how to position myself and not have it be awkward- and then a lot of people came in and the embarrassment factor entered the picture and well....this is what we got! Hmm... not exactly as I planned!

Aaron always seems to find the frogs for me to kiss. What is that supposed to mean?! I don't know what his obsession is, but at least he was willing to fight for me! It got pretty messy there- chocolate was flying everywhere- I mean, I'm surprised that we didn't get kicked out! :) The frog put up a pretty good fight though...

This again is the Reishtag building! When we walked in I knew exactly what it was! I was surprised that for the first time I didn't have to ask him what building it was again! I think that by this time I finally got it! Or maybe it was the chocolaty goodness around it that really got my brain working! :)

I think that heaven will be filled with similar things such as these! The thought of the yummy taste in my mouth was so over powering that I didn't know whether to eat it or just point and stare! I mean huge balls of chocolate just sitting there! I think you only get things like that in heaven- or in maybe also in Willy Wanka's chocolate factory!

And what is this?

Massive Teeter Totters in the middle of Berlin! So much fun! We were kind of goofy as well- but it was fun. The last teeter totter I was on was made of wood in the mountains of Nicaragua! Yeah, its been awhile and my rear was a little sore at the end of it! But boy was it worth it!

We really are just like children eh?!

One day while we were walking around, we sat at a little cafe to enjoy a nice cool treat. I tried many a time to be European during this trip. Don't you think that I totally fit in-- with my "bottled water" and all!

This other picture may at first glance appear to be simply a glass- but it is more! Do you see my relflection? Aaron was always trying to find new ways to photograph me! This one wins the prize!

I'm just going to put this picture in as proof of how restful it was there! I got to sleep in just about every day! And sleep,to me, totally falls under the fun category! I was really grateful that it wasn't go go go go the whole time! yeah, I like my sleep!

While walking around we passed Berlin's Lego land. It was way too expensive to go in- but at least they were kind enough to put a few Lego sculptures outside so that those of us "cheap" people could still kind of enjoy them! Ü It must be a dream come true for the people that build these! I mean- taking Legos and building things- for your job! How fun! Sign me up!

One thing that was fun was always smelling the flowers where-ever we went! I think that Aaron has a super power. He is able to smell flowers at anytime or place. One flower in particular always seemed to be calling his name- and he would search it out until we found it! Its the Lilac. They were beautiful and smelled wonderful! I think that Aaron could have stayed like this forever and would be so happy!

I loved that in the middle of Berlin there were open parks that were green and beautiful. We walked through many of them and had a great time! So many people were out and about riding bikes and walking. No wonder Europeans are in shape- they actually have good weather and nice places outside to exercise

During one of the walks, we passed the back part of the zoo. And you could actually see into it! Aaron, knowing of my love for the movie "Emperors New Groove" had me stand with the llamas! "Llama face!" Here is a picture of a clock that tells time in all parts of the world. I don't know the name of it (and since Aaron didn't blog about it, I can't cheat! :) ) Apparently its famous. I just found it cool that it still works. Then Aaron pointed out that my mission- Managua and his mission Santafe-Bogota were right by each other- Awww...so cute!

To me, I had to have a bratwurst from Germany! So one day while waiting for the S-Baun (basically the train) we finally got one!My first thought "Wo! Um..excuse me, I think you're missing half of the bread!" I guess that Germans use the bread to hold to hot dog. Ultimately the bread is eaten, but its purpose isn't to cover the whole thing-Just to protect your fingers. I think that it was one of my most favorite things that my taste buds have ever come in contact with! yumm!!! (except that I don't know what my face is doing! Just know that my insides were very happy! :) Train stations were really fun to me. So different than really anything that I had done before in the states. Here is the train station is London. This picture is with Maria who let us stay with her- THANKS AGAIN!!! She was wonderful! These other pictures were at train stations in Germany. Aaron thought that I looked so European because I was all in black. So I tried to act it as well and not smile. Yeah, I don't think I'll be getting the next modeling or acting contract! It was really hard to do it without smiling! So after the serious face wasn't working... I decided that "goofy" was the next best thing! How European do I look now?!

In one of the subways there was this picture on an ad- I don't necessarily think that it is "fun"- more like FREAKY! but it still made me laugh after awhile! And last but certainly not least...drum roll... The Temple! This is technically in Freiberg not Berlin though. Randomly I have a high school friend that lives over there with her family now. We met up at the temple and then went to lunch. It was great. The temple was little but I loved it! It was very beautiful!

So as you can see...during all the history lessons- there is still time for fun as well- And much fun was surly had! Now onto the palaces!!!

Remembering the hard times

Like I said and as all of you know, Berlin and it's people have been through A LOT! And there are a lot of reminders around to help people not forget what happened- I think they are there in order to remember those who died, but also remember how horrible war is!

The Berlin wall:

I remember very clearly when the Berlin Wall came down. "How?!" You ask. "When you were only 8 years old when that happened?" Well, here is the deal. I was a very avid watcher of the TV show Mr. Belvedere. And apparently loved it very much! We were getting ready for dinner and my mom was going to turn the channel to watch the exciting news events happening in Germany. I remember her saying to me "Jill- You will always remember when the Berlin Wall came down!" My rebuttal? "No I wont! But I'll always remember when THIS (pointing to the TV) happened on Mr. Belvedere!" Luckily- my mom- realizing the importance of the Wall and not Mr. Belvedere- changed it over...and I watched the people jumping up on the wall, dancing and smiling. I think I was still pouting (since I did that often! Sorry mom and dad!) but its a memory that I have very clearly and I am thankful for that!

There are pieces of the Berlin wall through areas of the city. But in places where the actual wall is not still standing, there are the bricks side by side in the road, in the exact place that it was. It was surreal to think that today we just walk back and forth and cars drive over it without thinking anything of it, when not 20 years ago- no one could pass so easily across.
In this section of the wall, they had pictures placed in between to teach you different things about what happened during those horrible times.

I thought this one interesting. People heard about the wall going up and grabbed what they could and took off running to the border.

Here is a picture of the Berlin wall in front of the Brandenburg gate. (Which we shall discuss later! :) )

And here it is today- with the bricks lining the street instead of the wall- as a reminder. Crazy!!!

One day Aaron took me to a part where they kept up a big chunk of the wall up.

It really was pretty eerie walking right past it with no resistance from anyone! It is sad and heart breaking to think of the many who tried to do the same not long ago--and lost their lives.

"Creepy Church"
The first night back from London we got into Berlin around 10 PM. We got off the train and headed for the subway- but Aaron wanted to show me something first. We turned a corner and this is what I saw...

Aaron explained to me that it was the 'Emperor Wilhelm Memorial Church' (I'm a cheater! I had to look at his blog to get the exact name of it! Thanks for that!! :) ) After WWII most of Berlin looked like this. Broken buildings...just about everything was devastated and blown up. Most of them were restored, but they left this one as a reminder of how bad war is.

As I looked at it- it kinda gave me the shivers. I thought of how it must have looked before and how many people probably suffered and died around it. So in being honest- I said "Man that's creepy!" Of course not meaning any offense by that. But look at it!
I think Aaron laughed (probably more out of shock than anything!) and the name stuck!

Memorial

There is a really nice and interesting memorial for all the European Jews that died in the war. Its simply pieces of concrete (that at first glance look like caskets) but they get bigger and taller and you can walk down inside them. The interpretation for what the memorial means is left up to the individual person! Then you can go underground and there are about 4-5 rooms that talk about Jewish families individually and what happened to them. There are a lot of sad pictures to see as well. It was a good experience, but kinda left us with a heavy feeling as we left .

They had a memorial concert while we were there. Where people played music from inside the walk-ways.

As Aaron I would be walking around, you could see on buildings, walls and even the statues- bullet holes from the war. Each time it was such a reminder to me of what happened in this place- not too long ago- and really left a sad feeling in me.

This is called a Traibi

I learned (from my tour guide Aaron) that it was such a symbol of East Berlin. This is what you "got" to drive. (I know- super stylin!) But you had to wait 18 years to get one! Aaron told me that when your kids were born, you put their names on a waiting list! I wonder if you got to pick out the color that you wanted- and maybe they would give you a sun roof as well! :)

I loved learning all of these things while I was there! I learned about where the wall was(and that it wasn't only a straight line! that was en eye opener for me!- That was kind of a "civil war" moment mom! :) ) , what conditions were like in East and West Berlin, and even went to where Hitler's bunker was (which is also where he died).

I really feel thankful that these people can now live in a place with more freedom and really hope they don't have to endure such things again!

I realize that this was more of an educational post and kind of a downer- so you can look forward to more of the "fun" things that Berlin has to offer as well!

A little taste of Berlin

So where to begin?! That is the question! Two weeks in Berlin! Well we might as well just jump in and get started!

Berlin is so full of History! I thought I knew things about WWII and the cold war. However, after being in Berlin for about a day-I am beginning to believe that I may have actually been asleep during most my history classes! The solution? Send all history classes on a field trip to Berlin- it might open the eyes a little more of the students- and they definitely wouldn't fall asleep!

So in all our walking around we passed many a tour group! They were in many languages- Chinese, Spanish, Italian... but I think I hit the jack pot! I had my own personal tour guide! He knew all the places and facts that the other guys knew- so why follow them around?

Isn't he cute?!

By the way...Its is his birthday tomorrow! Happy Birthday Aaron!

I loved walking around and seeing the many sights and sounds!

We saw the Reischtag building-
Lots of history here- This is the Parliament building- burned down, blown up and restored! Poor building! Its been through a lot! For those interested in a bit more of the detailed history- you can either look it up on Wikipedia or I'm sure Aaron would absolutely love to explain it to you as well! :) hehe



Anywho- It is a beautiful building. The funny thing was that the first day that we went to it, we came up to it from the front. So I had in my mind what the Reischtag looked like. Then, many times as we walked around Berlin throughout the week, we would come up to a building- from either the back or the side and I would be like- "Wow! This building is beautiful! Whats it called?!" And with so much patience, Aaron would reply- "Its the Reichtag again, but this time from a different angle!" Oops! :)


One day Aaron took me up to the roof to see the beautiful view. It was about a half an hour wait in line. However, I enjoyed it (except for the sun beating down on our backs!) because we had this cute Spanish tour group in front of us! It was fun to understand what they were saying- and hear the Spain accent! After going through the whole security check point and up the elevator- we got to see the beautiful view of Berlin! Really it is so green! Who knew!




As we walked around one day, we went to a memorial for the many Russian soldiers that died. We noticed that there were flowers on the steps in front. Then the light bulb in my intelligent tour guides brain went on- We were there on the anniversary of the end of WWII! Did we time that good or what?!

Little did we know that we would be celebrating another anniversary while we were there as well. Aaron took me to see a few cathedrals and we realized there was a party going on! So of course we checked it out! We are not people to step down from a party! Then Aaron again (I think that my brain was just happy to be in a party!) remembered that it was Israels 60th anniversary! Now- that's cool in itself- but lets just think this out a little- In Germany- a celebration of Jewish heritage! That is amazing! I was really happy to see that! I also really enjoyed seeing the German flag side by side with the Jewish flag! (yeah, I kinda stole these pictures from Aaron! Thanks! :) )

And yes- the police were there as well! Thanks Polizei! For keeping us safe!

Stayed tuned! Theres plenty more where that came from! :)