Berlin!

Just back from Berlin and -- hoo boy! -- are we tired. We saw everything ...

the Reichstag,


Checkpoint Charlie,


the Berliner Dom,


the Brandenburg Gate,


and even a dramatic re-enactment of the fall of the Berlin Wall.


And that was just at the Legoland Discovery Center.


It's true. Before we saw any of the major sights of the German capital, we hit Legoland because (1) this trip was planned in part as an early birthday celebration for Garrett, who will be six in two weeks, and (2) it was raining on Saturday.

For those who wonder if our life overseas is as glamorous as it might sound, ponder for a moment spending several hours of a raining Saturday afternoon at Legoland. Anywhere. Barriers of language, political philosophy, and geographic borders are torn down as children universally demonstrate the ability to scream like they're being murdered while having the time of their lives. Oh, the noise, noise, noise, noise.

Our other Saturday treat (and this was a treat for all) was spending time with Ruthie, a good friend of our nephew Jake, who has made an appearance at several family gatherings. Pursuing (at this point) a major in government and a double-minor in German and Spanish, Ruthie is spending a semester in Berlin. We all went to the German Museum of Technology before having lunch at Potsdamer Platz.


Not unlike Bara, Ruthie is loads of fun. Ben and Garrett were psyched to have a willing co-conspirator in the goofy face photo contest. (Although, Ruthie? I've seen your Facebook profile. You can do goofier than this.)



With Legoland out of the way, we settled for discovering the city itself by

mugging for photos at the Brandenburg Gate,


having passports stamped at remains of the Berlin Wall,


orienting ourselves to the city's layout from the observation deck in the TV tower,


absorbing the depths of the Holocaust memorial,


and playing in the dry fountain of the Berliner Dom.


Ask any parent. It's not always easy to travel with kids. They did come in handy at the Reichstag, though.

As we stood on line for what would have been a 60-minute queue to the dome a guard told us that families were welcome to use the handicapped entrance. Actually, it never would have been a 60-minute wait for us. We wouldn't have lasted that long.


The dome was stunning. Such a modern addition to the neo-classical design. Its airiness provides a contrast to the heavy wedding cake effect of the original facade. The central column, a tornado of mirrors, reflects light into the plenary hall of the Bundestag.


Tilted layers of the dome's beehive have gaps at the bottom for ventilation, and at the top of the structure, an opening roughly 20-feet in diameter allows heat to escape. A massive shade rotates throughout the day to reduce the sun's glare.


The tour was very cool and, surprisingly, free.

Speaking of sun, once we put Saturday's rain to bed, we enjoyed ridiculously unseasonable weather -- clear skies and temps in the 60s. Which means, of course, we overpacked by about four sweaters, two turtlenecks, and a bunch of woolen socks.

It also meant that the boys were lucky to experience their first snow of the season -- even if it was man-made -- thanks to a tubing slope erected at Potsdamer Platz. Regardless of what the thermometer said, this was Germany, and winter is coming ... what would the Christmas markets be without snow?


Auf wiedersehen!



Some more pictures for your viewing pleasure, bears included.

At the wall display.

Hot cocoa toast with Olympic bear.

The Berliner Dom (Cathedral)



Reichstag ornamentation


Holocaust Memorial

Statue of Liberty bear, inside US embassy

In the Reichstag dome


Fernsehturm (the TV tower)


Does it look to you as if Garrett's interest in bears is waning?


Yeah, me too.


Berlin Wall display at Potsdamer Platz


Postal bear (the painted birds are delivering stamped envelopes)


Holocaust Memorial

Scuba bear


Brandenburg Gate


Front row on top deck of double decker bus



Ampelmann ("I am happy to be crossing the street in the land of the workers' paradise.")