Showing posts with label Germany. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Germany. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 1

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).

Fernsehturm

Rotes Rathaus (I think)

Fernsehturm

The MAGNIFICENT Berliner Dom



Organ Pipes


One of the views from the top of the Berliner Dom



At the end of a very long couple of days

Courtyard in front of the Berliner Dom




The last picture is of no real significance, I just thought it was super cool!!

One man Hot Dog Stand !!


Soon (or at least lets hope so) post from our recent trips to Luxembourg and our one year anniversary trip to Switzerland.  Stay tuned. 

Tuesday, May 31

Dresden

I suck.  I know.  Its been over a month since we've gone on this vacation/extended weekend.   So here's to the short and sweet version .....

Here's a little background about Dresden (per Wikipedia) ....

Dresden has a long history as the capital and royal residence fot the Electors and Kings of Saxony, who for centures furnished the city with cultural and artistic splendor.  The main reason why people (in my opinion) have heard of Dresden is because of WWII.  On the night of 13/14 February 1945, Allied troops mounted a vast carpet-bombing raid on the city.  (Per wiki ...) In four raids, altogether 3,600 planes (which 1,300 were heavy bombers), dropped as many as 650,000 incendriaries, together with 8,000 lb. high explosive bombs and hundreds of 4,000-pounders.   After a pounding like that its needless to say that the city was pretty much destroyed.


Outside of the Neues Rathaus (city hall)

Frauenkirche - the Lutheran church that was so magnificent on the inside.    Unfortunately for y'all we weren't allowed to take pictures.



I honestly have no idea what this church is ...

We heard the best views of the city were from across the river so, that's where we went





That's Todd


That's Todd too


One of my faves.












The buildings were eclipsed - yes, we are dorks. 


One of the places that we had to visit while we were there is the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden (translation Dresden State Art Collections).  Within this, there were 2 different museums we went to - the Gemaldegalerie Alte Meister and the Neues Grunes Gewolbe (New Green Vault).   We went to the Neues Grunes Gewolbe first.   It has a lot of different things that have come from all over Europe, but the thing that I was most impressed by was the Dresden Green Diamond.  I believe its the world's largest naturally green diamond at a whopping 41 CARATS!!!!   Unfortunately for us (and y'all) they wouldn't allow any pictures inside the museum (either museum for that matter).   It housed more than 4,000 precious objects.   Another impressive piece was the a piece done by master goldsmith Johann Melchior - it is a miniature recreation of the court of an Indian mogul ruler consisiting of more than 130 golden figures with nearly 5,000 diamond.

The Gemaldegalerie Alte Meister contains what is considered to be one of Europe's best art collections.  The piece that I was the most familiar with was the Sistine Madonna.

To prove that we were there

Sachsische Staatsoper with the statue of the Saxon King Johann in front of it


Our last stop was The Zwinger Palace.   It was constructed to connect all the buildings that were already present.  Inside is a huge courtyard.  The Zwinger is home to many different museums (including the Gemaldegalerie Alte Meister).







Nymphenbad - a fountain located within the Zwinger