Berlin and Beyond...

I know that I am very behind in keeping you all updated on our journey, and I apologize!  We have been so busy, and our internet access is usually less than reliable (if we have it at all).  So, I am bound and determined to catch you all up (almost, at least!). 

After leaving Prague, we headed back into Germany to Berlin.  Jon works with a very nice lady who has a niece there, and she arranged that we would be able to stay with her and her roommates during our time there.  Luise and her roomies, Franzisca and Jenny, were so hospitable and helpful!  They cooked us dinner on our first night there, which was very welcome as it was cold and rainy and we were tired of eating out.  We were also able to watch a German crime drama show that is apparently all the rage!  I think it was about 90 minutes, and get this... not one commercial!  Later on we headed out to check out the neighborhood and found a fun bar where I got dessert... a FRIED Mars bar.  I now understand the "let's fry everything" mindset.

The next day, we headed into downtown Berlin and took a walking tour.  We had a fun and knowledgable guide who led us on our 3-hour tour (I know you're singing the "Gulligan's Island" theme right now).  We saw the Brandenburg Gate, the World War II memorial, Communist propaganda, Checkpoint Charlie, and parts of what was left from the wall.  We also stood on the area above where Hitler's bunker was.  It was interesting to us that there was no marker or sign that stated this was where Hitler died, but it made sense that the Germans would not want reminders of that man or his regime.  The space is now actually a parking lot.  Later that day, we met up with the girls and treated them to dinner at a delicious Vietnamese restaurant.  We went out for a couple drinks afterwards and had a great time laughing and talking about the girls' hometown.  Franzisca told us what she remembered about the wall coming down (she was about 5) and shared stories about how much Berlin has changed since then.  Berlin is known as an "ever-changing" city.

The next day, we slept in, did laundry, and hung around the apartment.  Finally, it was starting to clear up and warm up outside, so in the afternoon we headed down to the river and saw the East Side Gallery, a small portion of the Berlin Wall that has been painted by artists all over the world.  Later on, we again met up with the girls for falafels and to go to a music festival.  It was held all over the city, on a Tuesday evening of all nights.  We saw lots of fun, interesting bands.  We headed back pretty early as we had an early train to catch the next day.  We were so grateful to our hosts in Berlin and hope we're able to visit them again sometime.

Where the wall once stood, people now walk so freely

Brandenburg Gate

Our new friends Luise and Franzisca, minus Jenny

Part of what's left of the wall, the East Side Gallery

The following morning, we headed to the train station on our way to Amsterdam.  I must say, I was not too excited about visiting this city what with all the stigmas associated with it; however,  I will admit I was pleasantly surprised.  When we arrived, it was rainy and cold (of course), and I was a bit grouchy.  But after finding our hostel, which was very centrally located (and only had 1 mouse from what we saw... ewwww), and a cheap sweatshirt, we were off to explore.

Amsterdam has a unique charm to it.  Dutch architecture was so different than anything else we'd seen, and the canals were gorgeous.  We ended up grabbing dinner and then going to see a comedy show called "Boom Chicago," which features American comedians.  It was all about social media and how obsessed our culture is.  I love how I am writing about this in a blog!  Afterwards, we headed over to the Red Light District.  It sounds seedy, and it is, but it was a lot less "dirty" than I thought it would be.  There were policemen present in the area, lots of people, even families wandering around checking out the sight.  Seeing girls in windows was a bit awkward, but we later learned that this system was a way to get girls off the street and into a safe environment (the police department is connected to alarms that the girls have access to).  Definitely a different environment to experience.

The next day, we walked over to the Anne Frank House in a slight drizzle, and by the time we were there and waiting in the line outside, it was raining cats and dogs.  Oh, and it was FREEZING (again).  We finally made it into the museum, which was a very powerful experience.  To be in the house and rooms that the Frank family hid in during the German occupation of Amsterdam was very humbling indeed.  I had read "Anne Frank's Diary" in middle school, and going to the house made it so much more personal and real.  If you ever get to Amsterdam, this museum is a must-see.  In the afternoon, we did a walking tour, where we learned more about Amsterdam's canals, museums, the Red Light District, and the marijuana culture.  After the tour, we headed over to "The Pancake Bakery" to try out a Dutch pancake.  We shared a ham and cheese pancake, which was really quite similar to an omelette, and we ended up topping it with caramel flavored syrup.  I know it sounds gross, but somehow it actually worked (and who wants a pancake without something sweet on top?).  We had a truly enjoyable time in Amsterdam, but it was time to move on!  Speaking of "moving on," I saw an advertisement in the Amsterdam train station that said "I'm almost happy here.  Let's leave."  That is the story of our life on this trip for cry I!

The movable bookcase that concealed the entrance to the Frank's apartment

A facsimile of Anne's diary (illegally taken photograph courtesy of my hubby)

The next day was truly a day of mishaps, but I will have to share about our Rotterdam/Dirksland trip in another post.  We are 3 weeks into our trip as of today, and still have 2 weeks to go and lots to see and experience.  Wish us luck!