What's the Deal with the Beales?: Berlin

Because its taken me so dang long to finally get this post up, I obviously have forgotten most of the cool details of our trip. Therefore this is pretty much going to be a slideshow for your viewing pleasure.

Our first and most important thing to do while in Berlin was to find a local bakery that made Berliners. I believe they originated in Berlin (hints the name). This was my first time ever having one and I thought it was delicious!!!

Cinnamon Roll and Berliner

Our first sightseeing stop was to the Gedachtniskirche or Kaiser Wilhelm Church. This church was almost competely destroyed by the April 1945 air raids. The west tower has remained standing as a ruin and is named the "hollow tooth" because it is literally an empty husk. The inside looks pretty incredible, its made up of over 20,000 panels of stained glass to make up the new modern walls.

Pretty awesome!

Next came the Holocaust Denkmal - or the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Its a large lot filled with dark grey steles of various heights that represent the 6 million Jews and others killed by the Nazi concentration camps between 1933 to 1945.

The Holocaust Denkmal

The Brandenberg Tor came next. This was used as a city gate for Germany while the Berlin Wall was still up. When Germany reunified the Brandenberg Tor became a symbol for Berlin's new unity. Its one of Europe's most well known landmarks.

The Reichstag was constructed to hold the parliment of the German Empire. We wanted to take a tour, but turns out you have to book them weeks in advance and considering we planned our trip in two days that was out of the question.

People can walk all the way up to the dome

Waiting for our next train

Checkpoint Charlie is the best known border crossing from the Cold War era. Between 1961 and 1990, it was the only crossing for foreigners between East and West Berlin. The sign says YOU ARE NOW LEAVING THE AMERICAN SECTOR.

Currywurst, & Pommes Frit, another thing on our German must eat list

Next up came the Judisches Museum. I wasn't really impressed with this museum, actually I was quite bored. It wasn't at all what I was expecting it to be which was to learn more about the Jews during more recent years and during the World Wars. Turns out it was the Jewish history from what seemed like the beginning of time. I did learn that Levi Strauss jeans were made by a jewish person.

Outside the Judisches Museum - the outside design is supposed to be the Star of David all out of sorts

Its supposed to signify all the Jews that were killed. I did think this exhibit was kinda cool (until some person started walking all over the faces. I thought that was kind of disrespectful. Sorry for the tangent.)

Lastly we hit up the Alexander platz area. This is a very touristy and busy place. Once we were there we checked out the Fernsehturm, a tv tower which happens to be the tallest structure in Berlin. We also viewed the Berliner Dom, which was gorgeous (which you should have expected).