June 14, 2016-Berlin

*WARNING SAPPY BEGINNING*

A year ago today, I married my best friend, we are blessed to be able to spend our first anniversary in Berlin. Our trip has given me a better appreciation for not only our relationship as husband and wife, but how much we have grown just having solid quality time together. Each day I have grown more and more in love with Luke and the amazing man, and husband that he is. We have always been best friends and had great conversation, but there is nothing like being away and not having to worry about work, or school, conversation changes and the stress is lifted. This day last year he protected me from a bird during pictures, and he continues to protect me daily from birds of all sizes. He is my partner in crime, my best friend, and I can't wait to see where our journey of life takes us together.

 

Today we spent our anniversary exploring Berlin. We walked from our home through a beautiful park, to the Brandenburg gate. Berlin is a unique city. It has a big city feel, and has more concrete buildings then other cities seem to have. But it is an interesting city because it has so much of its own history. It was pretty much flattened in world war 2 so much of the city is still 'new' in the sense that it is 60 years old compared to the hundreds of years some buildings are elsewhere. Gives us an appreciation as we look at the finer things that Berlin has to offer. 

When we arrived at Brandenbug gate we saw a large screen and many Coca Cola signs as well as many booths lining the street. Turns out they have a little carnival as well as a few streets completely blocked off with a screen for the Euro cup. I must say this definitely took away from seeing the gate as a whole but still get the picture.

 

We had began a walking tour by Rick so we began to listen to this. Google lied to us as there was a 10 minute period of rain fall, and very loud thunder. Cuddling up under the umbrella and under a tree, we listened to what Rick had to say. I think this is the only time that I have actually been standing outside for a thunder storm. Luckily I had Luke holding me, but still I wouldn't do it again. We headed to find some food, some good German food, sausages and French fries. The fries continues to not dissappoint which is great, and the sausage was delicious. We also found ourselves at the Reichstag building, which is their parliament, a grand building just feet away from where the wall once stood.

 

Our day was full of history. We went to the Memorial of the Murdered Jews of Europe. This is apparently quite a controversial memorial for a number of reasons. For starters it is the first time that the German government has paid for a momument in memory, as well as the use of the word murdered admitting that that is what the Holocaust really was. The other reason it is controversial is because it is for the Jews, when there were others that were killed as well. It is a different memorial as the it is suppose to be tombs stone coffins. But the height doesn't have a meaning, nor does the number of coffins there. So that was a little bizarre, but you do get to walk in between them and that is quite unique. We went through the exhibition and read different stories and read the progression of how it started. It is shocking to see some of these things up close and personnel. Can't put into words all that was read and seen, we all know the tragedy, there is always something more to learned about it.

 

When we walked through the park we came across what we think to be their memorial for the soldiers. A very large monument that makes you stop and think. Berlin has such history of many things that happened specifically right here. The Berlin Wall for instance. There are parts of the wall that still remain, and where there is no longer wall, there is a cobblestone path tracing exactly where the wall once stood. We learned that there was a large trench type of thing referred to as nomads land that was before the wall. So even though it wasn't overly large, there was a large space ensuring that people stayed away. In that space there would be silent alarms, barbed wire, and other things causing the guards into the tower to know when someone was there. The wall was up for 28 years. We heard an interview of someone who grew up in East Berlin, he said that it was normal life for them. Of coarse you knew you weren't supposed to go near but that was life. It is crazy to think that it is dividing a city, a very large city, but the wall clearly is separating a city. We also on the walking tour saw where Hitlers bunker once was. There was a tour guide behind us that said originally there was no sign there, but Berliners were tired of getting asked continually where the parking lot that Hitlers bunker was under was located that they eventually put up a sign marking its place. She also mentioned that the best part is that the locals take their dogs there so relieve themselves, and that seemed to make her very happy. Berlin is definitely very cautious with how they phrase things. They do not want to glorify what Hitler did and they certainly aren't proud of it. That being said, they have many opportunities for you to be educated in this area, but again the are careful how they go about it.

 

This is a part of the wall not to far from check point Charlie. Also where the Topography of Terror is, which talks about the secret police and the more political spect of what happened and how it came to be, where the SS met, and the progression of everything but coming from a spin of more political from 1933-1945 so not just the war. Luke can be seen here eating an apple on both the west and east side. In the bottom right corner is check point Charlie. Where people who had got special permission from the police could cross.

 

Berlin also has some very cool street art. Along the way Rick told us that whenever they are putting anything into the ground they have a lot of pipes that they use to drain the water. This can be seen on any number of streets and sometimes can be quite extensive. We also came across a building that has the train running through it, which we thought was quite unique. But decided that it would suck to live above it, although it looks cool. The bear seems to be their symbol. It can be seen all over town painted differently, and posing holing different hing above it sometimes, I guess slightly similar to the cows back home.

 

We always seem to find ourselves experiencing new things. On our walk home today we found ourselves walking amounts to many street walkers. Approaching men, and just pacing a certain area. We couldn't help but laugh how we seemed to find the street with the hat on it.  Awkwardly walking past them all hand in hand, we ended up making it back home.

We had a great day together reminiscing on our wedding day, and just enjoying each other's company as we always do. We just love, love. We also just love each other, and for us just being on a trip together and enjoying the day sitting in the park or wherever we ended up.

And so the adventure continues...