5 years ago we chose to explore Berlin as our last stop on a 2-week Euro invasion trip.
We'd been to Paris, throughout Italy, and Munich before visiting here.
And when we arrived, we wished we were back in Munich with its cool weather, beautiful beer gardens and lederhosen.
Berlin--- a city with an extensive history that I'm only just beginning to grasp.
Overrun with Nazi soldiers, obliterated by WWII bombs and then caught between two powers, a wall dividing the communist section with the west. Overnight, people who traveled to the west side found themselves unable to reenter to the east, even if that's where their homes and families were located.
For 28 dang years.
This time, we went into it with a better idea of what to expect. We weren't exhausted from a whirlwind of a trip. It's starting to grow on us :)
We took a Fat Tire bike tour that focused on the Cold War, something I admittedly don't know much about. Living in Germany has piqued my curiosity; plus it's history. I'll be doing some 'research,' i.e. seeking historical fiction novels to better my understanding. (That was very teacher-y sounding...)
Best bike name EVER
A slight greeting 'mishap' between two government dignitaries
Can you tell I how much I loved the murals and pop of color throughout the city?
We rode down the "Champ Elysees" of Berlin, where East Germany hoped to show off how good it had. Oh, and to 'bug' the clubs where the elite would frequent, to make sure everyone was in line.
The door below of a gunman's tower that overlooked a sort of 'no-man's land.'
Permission to shoot if movement was detected.
Just a statue of a Russian soldier, rescuing a small child from the Nazis while nonchalantly
slashing a swastika with a giant sword. No big deal.
And, of course, Checkpoint Charlie
Does anyone else find it ironic that there's a Mickey D's right next to the American checkpoint?
This church stood its ground during WWII, but the black stone is from the city burning around it.
Anyways, I've reached my facts quota for the day. The real reason we visited Berlin was for the International Beer Festival... a mile's worth of beer tents set up from all over the world.
Yep.
We made our way down (intact, might I add,) swinging our mugs and swaying in true Bavarian fashion, sampling beers from different areas. We saw many bachelor/bachelorette parties, the rules seemingly being that the group must get shirts made, the one you're celebrating dresses up and has a box of 'things' to sell in order to buy more drinks for the group. Always entertaining.
Hooray for new friends! And beer festivals.
And Sunday, we walked around some more before hopping back onto the train to Frankfurt. Looking forward to bringing Annie in a couple weeks (!!)
Sweet advertising!
(Jewish Monument. Eerie, in a good way)
See you soon, Berlin!
