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Berlin- City of Refuge
After traveling for 22 hours we arrived in Berlin. Could not sleep on plane and have found landings have become problematic for my ears.
Poor Audrey was turning as she got into her seat in Singapore and may have torn a tendon in her shoulder. She is in a lot of pain- but typically doesn't like anyone to fuss so is trying to put a brave face on it. Ok... Now that I have our medical ailments out of the way..
Woke up this morning about 5:30am and was doing the whole jet lagged dehydrated thing ( just because it is the thing to do)
After a breakfast we headed out and walked (around the corner from our apartment) to the Brandenburg gate. The color of things, the light and everything just feels so much like we are in Berlin.
And we went to the reichstag - just incredible architecture and history all around. Anja got tickets for us and we went In. Great way to start your stay in Berlin - walking around the dome at top with full 360 degree view of Berlin with an audio tour of history and important landmarks.
Then lunch at Standige Vertretung - right on the banks of the rivet Spree. I had Rhenish Sauerbraten served on raisin and pumpernickel sauce with potato dumplings and apple compote - heaven.
Then over to Berlin Friedrichstrasse - the old station that was a major crossing point between east and west Berlin. We caught the train to Alexander platz - a huge plaza where the east would hold all their official ceremonies and public functions - all soviet architecture. Had Lauren stand beneath the world clock - under Sydney time and I wanted her to do a homesick face. What an actress!!! She did an instant chin wobble and all the Germans around handed her tissues and wanted to know what was wrong. One of her finest performances so far on the tour.
Next - back on the train to Ostbahnhof and walked down to East Side Gallery - this is a 2.5km section of the wall that has been kept up and turned into a public art space. Spectacular.
Ok - impression follows ... The wall seems to feature throughout this city. The fact of it and it's horror will not be forgotten . There are unofficial but very prominent memorials all over. There are stenciled words of protest about unfair laws on footpaths- there are stones embedded in roads and footpaths where the wall once stood. The feeling I get is the people here know that many of them were not free, but now they are , and it is the people who will ensure this never happens again.
I love Berlin. I want mein whole family to come here.
- comments
Anja Robert, a great idea to tour around Berlin with your whole family!!!! I'd love to show you more of it!