UPDATE - Spain beat Germany in the final.
Some of you may know that the Euro Cup is going on in Europe these days - others of you may not. Either way - WE are very much enjoying watching SOCCER almost nightly. It has been great to see German flags flying on almost all cars throughout the country. Germany also has a very large Turkish population, and tonight - Wednesday, June 25 - Deutschland plays Turkey - these are the semifinals - and so whoever wins goes on to the final match. Whoever wins - honking cars will be parading through the streets! GO DEUTSCHLAND!
Sights of Berlin
Berliner Dom
Views of Berlin from on top of the Dom. Tom and Ruth with friend Anne (who lives in Berlin and gave us a personal walking tour) along with Syd and Shane.
Views of Berlin from on top of the Dom. Tom and Ruth with friend Anne (who lives in Berlin and gave us a personal walking tour) along with Syd and Shane.
Berliner Bears
Painted Bears were all over Berlin. It was fun to see them here and there....we opted to only pose for pictures in front of a few of them!
Sights of Berlin
Anhalter Bahnhof
This once was the largest intercity train station in Germany. The sign that Jeremy is reading lists the date and number of Jews that were deported from this station on that date. The Nazi's kept very detailed records. All that is left of this station is bombed out ruins.
The Reichstag
Walking toward the Reichstag, the sign in the front of this picture is another marking of the Berlin Wall, which ran right behind the Reichstag...putting this building in West Berlin. Sydney standing in front of the backside of the Reichstag. Jer and the kids in front of the Reichstag. There is a glass dome on top of the Reichstag in which you can go up for free, however the line was very long - and so we didn't go in...(see the line in the picture)
The Holocaust Memorial
2,711 concrete blocks of varying heights on uneven ground - walking through these blocks left a very erie feeling. They seemed to go on forever, considering each block represents over 2200 Jewish lives murdered.....from the outside edges the blocks look short, but when you walk into the middle, you realize how deep they are, and they end up towering over you, almost suffocate you....quite a moving memorial.
This once was the largest intercity train station in Germany. The sign that Jeremy is reading lists the date and number of Jews that were deported from this station on that date. The Nazi's kept very detailed records. All that is left of this station is bombed out ruins.
The Reichstag
Walking toward the Reichstag, the sign in the front of this picture is another marking of the Berlin Wall, which ran right behind the Reichstag...putting this building in West Berlin. Sydney standing in front of the backside of the Reichstag. Jer and the kids in front of the Reichstag. There is a glass dome on top of the Reichstag in which you can go up for free, however the line was very long - and so we didn't go in...(see the line in the picture)
The Holocaust Memorial
2,711 concrete blocks of varying heights on uneven ground - walking through these blocks left a very erie feeling. They seemed to go on forever, considering each block represents over 2200 Jewish lives murdered.....from the outside edges the blocks look short, but when you walk into the middle, you realize how deep they are, and they end up towering over you, almost suffocate you....quite a moving memorial.
The Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate)
Berlin's most famous landmark. The structure was built between 1788-1793. It is topped by a statue of a chariot and four horses. The columns are huge (see picture to get an idea of how big it is).
Berlin's most famous landmark. The structure was built between 1788-1793. It is topped by a statue of a chariot and four horses. The columns are huge (see picture to get an idea of how big it is).
Berlin
Upon arrival in Berlin on Friday afternoon we first checked into our hotel. Then we got the kids and ourselves a few snacks and prepared to venture out into the city. We remembered to pack our umbrellas - just in case.....lucky we did - because it rained on and off on our walk!
Jewish Museum
Very interesting exterior. We did not go in, but Ruth and Tom thought they might try and come back on Saturday.
The Berliner Mauer (Berlin Wall)
All throughout Berlin where the wall once stood you will see pavers marking its path. Some sections of the wall are still visable, however most of it is gone. Notice the pavers in the middle of the street along the edge....this is where part of the wall once stood. This monument is in memory of Peter Fechter who was shot and left to die at the wall.
Shane is pointing up to a piece of the wall now hanging outside the Checkpoint Charlie Museum. The other parts of the wall we are standing by are at Potsdamer Platz. Syd, standing by a Berlin Mauer plaque marking where the wall once stood.
Checkpoint Charlie
So much history has taken place right here. Its amazing to be standing right there where so much has happened during the Cold War. We didn't make it into the museum, but did read through the outdoor displays documenting the timeline from WWII until the fall of the Wall.
stay tuned - - more to come.....
Jewish Museum
Very interesting exterior. We did not go in, but Ruth and Tom thought they might try and come back on Saturday.
The Berliner Mauer (Berlin Wall)
All throughout Berlin where the wall once stood you will see pavers marking its path. Some sections of the wall are still visable, however most of it is gone. Notice the pavers in the middle of the street along the edge....this is where part of the wall once stood. This monument is in memory of Peter Fechter who was shot and left to die at the wall.
Shane is pointing up to a piece of the wall now hanging outside the Checkpoint Charlie Museum. The other parts of the wall we are standing by are at Potsdamer Platz. Syd, standing by a Berlin Mauer plaque marking where the wall once stood.
Checkpoint Charlie
So much history has taken place right here. Its amazing to be standing right there where so much has happened during the Cold War. We didn't make it into the museum, but did read through the outdoor displays documenting the timeline from WWII until the fall of the Wall.
stay tuned - - more to come.....
Lutherstadt Wittenberg
On Friday, June 13th we headed to Berlin for the weekend. Our first stop was Lutherstadt-Wittenberg which is about 1 hour outside of Berlin.
Silas enjoyed the view too! The twin tower church in the above picture is the Marienkirche where Martin Luther was married and his children baptised and also where he preached. We will walk down there shortly.
The Schlosskirche (castle church). This is where Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses on the church doors back in 1517. Standing by the main entrance doors - the original doors are no longer there.
This would be Jer juggling the balls the kids got from the information office - I wonder if Martin Luther ever did that in the church courtyard!
Due to a wedding - we were unable to go into the church itself, however we could climb the tower....so up, up, up we went. Close to 200 steps to the top!
Due to a wedding - we were unable to go into the church itself, however we could climb the tower....so up, up, up we went. Close to 200 steps to the top!
Silas enjoyed the view too! The twin tower church in the above picture is the Marienkirche where Martin Luther was married and his children baptised and also where he preached. We will walk down there shortly.
The church bells. And going back down....Once we got back down we heard the bells ringing. I'm glad they weren't ringing when we were up there! It would have been very LOUD!
Walking down to the Markt square and Marienkirche. Continue on down the street to Lutherhalle, which is the former residence of Martin Luther and his family.
Notice the dark sky in the last picture. As we were walking back to our van the sky opened up and we got SOAKED! Where were our umbrellas you may ask?? In the van!!!! Another one of those live and learn moments!
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