Better late than never, right?

My apologies on the lack of updates. Things have been whirlwind (in a good way) and I finally feel like we've been able to wind down. 

On to Berlin:

My favorite thing about the city was easily the history behind it. It was different from Rome in that it was more recent, and therefore, more specific and perhaps even tangible. We took a free walking tour on Saturday morning and our tour guide was incredibly cute and interesting. 

I found the Berlin Wall simply fascinating - especially the fact that it was built completely by surprise to the people and in one night. Immediately this caused problems - people got stuck on one side even if they lived on the other. It was interesting, and we went to the Checkpoint Charlie museum which had loads of stories surrounding the wall. I enjoyed the different and creative ways that people crossed the border. There was one picture of someone who hid in 2 canoes stacked on top of each other on the top of a car....

We saw the former site of Hitler's bunker. The actual bunker has been filled with cement (i believe) and the ground level has now been turned into a parking lot. As our tour guide put it, "It is now a place where people take their dogs for a poo."

There was also an incredibly interesting memorial to the victims of the holocaust as well as a very moving museum. This museum had actual letters and postcards sent to families and friends from camps and ghettos, and highlighted different families and stories. I have never seen a museum better arranged and organized. And it was free - so if you ever find yourself in Berlin, you have no excuse not to go. 

Overall, Berlin was a great city, and we enjoyed it very much. 

The infamous "michael jackson balcony" hotel

In the Holocaust Memorial

Bears like this were placed all over Berlin. Katie loved them all, I particularly liked this Euro-bear.

These cobblestones mark the former location of the wall.

Original statues on a rebuilt bridge.

Touristy shot at Checkpoint Charlie

Part of the wall

Paris Square

one of the largest chunks of the wall still intact. Apparently this summer, the artists will come back and re-do the original artwork which has now been covered with graffiti.