Thanksgiving in Berlin

We spent Thanksgiving weekend traveling around Berlin and what a history lesson it was. This town is filled with stories from both world wars, the cold war, Hitler, and the wall. We took a walking tour on Friday that lasted 4 hours long. It was the best part of the whole trip. We went to spots that we wouldn't have gone to on our own. Our guide knew so much history and told so many stories to go along with everything. For example... we walked to an old, rundown parking lot. Not too exciting to the usual passer-byer, but he explained that it was the spot where Hitler's bunker had once stood. The city it trying not to remember things about Hitler, so they are leaving it an ugly lot instead of putting up a memorial or something. Definitely wouldn't have known that just by walking by. Some of the other big things we were able to see were the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, the stadium from the 1936 Olympics, and the Holocaust Memorial. We also saw several churches and museums from the outside. Another one of my favorite parts was the Christmas markets. This time of year, nearly every town in German has markets going. I like to explain them as a county fair with a Christmas theme. There are hundreds of booths selling Christmas ornaments, crafts, hats, candy, and lots and lots of food. We ate brats for at least two meals. At the markets that we went to, they also had rides going. That's the bigger towns though, not all will have rides. Walking through all the lights, smelling all of the Christmas smells, hearing Christmas music, and seeing all the booths definitely puts you into the Christmas spirit. All in all, we had a wonderful trip!!

Brandenburg Gate

Reichstag (where the German parliment meets)

Checkpoint Charlie

Holocaust Memorial

The Berlin Wall

Olympic Stadium

A Christmas Market

This is the old parking lot where Hitler's bunker used to be.