I'm sitting on the plane over the Atlantic Ocean. We left the hotel at 7:00 this morning and drove to the Berlin airport. This has to be the strangest airport I've ever been to... You checkin and go through security all right outside your gate. We had to stand in like for a long time. It was fun, and the airport was very hot.
The flight took off on time and we landed in Frankfurt with no problem. Our connection was tight so we had to get through the airport quickly. Thankfully we were all seated close together again!
However... We left 2 hours late because they were waiting on a delivery for the plane, the there was only 1 runway open at the airport due to high winds. Let me tell you.... It really STINKS sitting on the plane for 2 hours before an 8+ hour flight.
According to a Germany time it's 5:30-- so we have already been up for 12 hours. (No wonder why I am tired!!). At home it's 12:30. According to the monitor we are 4 1/2 hours to our destination. UGH... we aren't even half way there. I'm already on my 2nd movie, taken a nap and had lunch. Now what to do for another 4 and a half hours...
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Friday, April 19, 2013
"The final solution to the Jewish Problem" : the Wansee House
For our last full day in Germany we went to the Wansee house. This is where the Nazi officially decided to commit genocide. Minutes were taken at this meeting (notes) and there was a movie created based in those minutes. I've seen the movie twice, which was actually filmed here, so it was creepy being here on so many levels.
Wansee is just outside of Berlin and is a gorgeous lake side community. The houses are large and almost everyone has a best in the lake. It's so sad to think that such horrible choices were made in such a beautiful place.
Inside the house there is a museum exhibit, which was very interesting. I was also able to walk the grounds. It was a lot cooler today than it has been but the sun was still warm. I sat outside on the lake for at least a half hour reflecting on all that I saw this week.
When we returned to the city I packed up most of my things. At 3:00 Amy and I were meeting a friend of a friend at the Holocaust Memorial. Michael, who we were meeting is... Now follow me here because it gets confusing... My day's best friend from high school, cousins, former co-worker. He's been living in Berlin since August and was going to show us around a bit after the museum.
We were in the Holocaust Museum for close to an hour. I think this was my favorite museum we have gone to. The audio guide was excellent and it was very well put together. The museum is below the memorial and it reflects what is above,this was definitely my favorite place we went and I will be doing my museum review for my portfolio on this museum.
We had to wait to get in to the Holocaust Museum so we were running short on time. We decided to get a cab instead of public transportation. Michael took Amy and I over to the last remaining section of the Berlin Wall at the East Side Gallery. The wall is painted by many different artists and was really cool. We followed the wall then crossed the river into a different part of the city. This area was very cool- it was very artsy with lots of graffiti. Amy and I were very excited to see such a different part of the city.
From there Amy and I said bye to Michael because we were meeting the rest of the group for one final dinner together. We ate outside and it was a lot of fun to all eat together on our last night. Here is Janet and I!
I can't believe the week is over and we leave tomorrow. The wake up call is at 5:30am... I better get to bed!!!
:-)
This is the actual room where the meeting took place.
Jen and I out back of the house waiting for the group.
Wansee is just outside of Berlin and is a gorgeous lake side community. The houses are large and almost everyone has a best in the lake. It's so sad to think that such horrible choices were made in such a beautiful place.
Inside the house there is a museum exhibit, which was very interesting. I was also able to walk the grounds. It was a lot cooler today than it has been but the sun was still warm. I sat outside on the lake for at least a half hour reflecting on all that I saw this week.
When we returned to the city I packed up most of my things. At 3:00 Amy and I were meeting a friend of a friend at the Holocaust Memorial. Michael, who we were meeting is... Now follow me here because it gets confusing... My day's best friend from high school, cousins, former co-worker. He's been living in Berlin since August and was going to show us around a bit after the museum.
We were in the Holocaust Museum for close to an hour. I think this was my favorite museum we have gone to. The audio guide was excellent and it was very well put together. The museum is below the memorial and it reflects what is above,this was definitely my favorite place we went and I will be doing my museum review for my portfolio on this museum.
From there Amy and I said bye to Michael because we were meeting the rest of the group for one final dinner together. We ate outside and it was a lot of fun to all eat together on our last night. Here is Janet and I!
I can't believe the week is over and we leave tomorrow. The wake up call is at 5:30am... I better get to bed!!!
:-)
Thursday, April 18, 2013
A full day in Berlin
Our first full day in Berlin was just that... FULL!! Jenn, Amy, Mike and I got up early to do a few things before we met the rest of the group at the Jewish Museum at 10:00. We walked across the city from our hotel to the Tiergarten. The Tiergarten is a large park/garden in central Berlin. Think central park in NYC. While on the way there we came across a marked ate where the Berlin Wall used to stand. After that we continued on our way to the Tiergarten where we walked around a bit.
At 9:00 the Gedenkstatte Deutscher Widerstand opened. This was an exhibit on German Nazi resistance. What's cool is the exhibit is located in the offices where a plot was created to assassinate Hitler. Unfortunately, it was unsuccessful. There is a memorial in the courtyard where the conspirators were killed. (There is also a movie about this with Tom Cruise.)
From there we walked to meet the rest of the group at the Jewish Museum. The Jewish Museum chronicles the history of the Jewish Religion. There is a new special exhibition that we all wanted to see, but it didn't start until 2:00. Most of us decided to come back later for this.
Instead, we walked down the street to the Topography of Terror Museum. This museum was very interesting and sits on the location of the former Gestapo headquarters. The building is gone and in its place is a very unique building. I really liked this museum. It was a lit,of reading but it was very interesting.
From there we walked to Checkpoint Charlie. Checkpoint Charlie is where you used to be able to cross between east and West Berlin from 1961-1990. During the Cold War Berlin was separated in to East and West and if you wanted to cross over this is one of the locations. By now it was time for lunch, so we grabbed something quick to east before heading back to the Jewish Museum.
We got back to the Jewish Museum and went through it fairly quickly. The museum was not my favorite. It was very disorienting and I found it to be very confusing. The special exhibit was interesting. It was titled "everything you wanted to know about the Jews,". The exhibit has caused some controversy because it feature a Jewish person in a box. No, I'm not kidding and I literally mean in a box. She is there and can answer questions. (See why we wanted to be there for 2:00?). I would best describe my reaction to this museum as puzzled. I still don't know how I feel about it or what I think about it.
From there we got a taxi to cross the city to see the synagogue. Jenn's great aunt was married there and she wanted to see it. The girls I was with took a can back to the hotel and I decided to walk back and do some shopping. It was a gorgeous day and I wanted to be outside!!
Tonight for dinner we went back to the same restaurant we went last night, but with a bigger group. We wanted to take Janet Applefield out to dinner. (Remember Janet?) It was a really great evening with friends and new friends. Janet shared some amazing stories and letter with us tonight.
Today was a busy day... I can't believe tomorrow is our last day then we'll be in our way home!!
We'll be back at school before you know it!!!
:-)
These are on the ground outside of homes of Jewish families that were forced from their homes. Each marker represents one person. This was located next to our hotel.
Marker from the Berlin Wall
Amy, Mike, & Jenn taking a picture of where the wall was.
A piece of the wall.
The Tiergarten. (Berlin's version of Central Park.)
At 9:00 the Gedenkstatte Deutscher Widerstand opened. This was an exhibit on German Nazi resistance. What's cool is the exhibit is located in the offices where a plot was created to assassinate Hitler. Unfortunately, it was unsuccessful. There is a memorial in the courtyard where the conspirators were killed. (There is also a movie about this with Tom Cruise.)
From there we walked to meet the rest of the group at the Jewish Museum. The Jewish Museum chronicles the history of the Jewish Religion. There is a new special exhibition that we all wanted to see, but it didn't start until 2:00. Most of us decided to come back later for this.
Instead, we walked down the street to the Topography of Terror Museum. This museum was very interesting and sits on the location of the former Gestapo headquarters. The building is gone and in its place is a very unique building. I really liked this museum. It was a lit,of reading but it was very interesting.
Topography of Terror
From there we walked to Checkpoint Charlie. Checkpoint Charlie is where you used to be able to cross between east and West Berlin from 1961-1990. During the Cold War Berlin was separated in to East and West and if you wanted to cross over this is one of the locations. By now it was time for lunch, so we grabbed something quick to east before heading back to the Jewish Museum.
Checkpoint Charlie
We got back to the Jewish Museum and went through it fairly quickly. The museum was not my favorite. It was very disorienting and I found it to be very confusing. The special exhibit was interesting. It was titled "everything you wanted to know about the Jews,". The exhibit has caused some controversy because it feature a Jewish person in a box. No, I'm not kidding and I literally mean in a box. She is there and can answer questions. (See why we wanted to be there for 2:00?). I would best describe my reaction to this museum as puzzled. I still don't know how I feel about it or what I think about it.
Jenn speaking to the woman in the box.
From there we got a taxi to cross the city to see the synagogue. Jenn's great aunt was married there and she wanted to see it. The girls I was with took a can back to the hotel and I decided to walk back and do some shopping. It was a gorgeous day and I wanted to be outside!!
Tonight for dinner we went back to the same restaurant we went last night, but with a bigger group. We wanted to take Janet Applefield out to dinner. (Remember Janet?) It was a really great evening with friends and new friends. Janet shared some amazing stories and letter with us tonight.
Today was a busy day... I can't believe tomorrow is our last day then we'll be in our way home!!
We'll be back at school before you know it!!!
:-)
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Welcome to Berlin!!
6+ hours later... We finally made it to Berlin!! It was a long ride on the bus and we were happy to arrive.
After checking in to the hotel we took a ride into the city center to see a few things. The first thing we saw was a war memorial to the Soviets. (Picture 1). The Soviet War Memorial is a memorial to the 5000 Soviet soldiers killed at the Battle of Berlin. After that we walked down to the Brandenburg Gate. Besides being pretty cool to look at... The Brandenburg Gate is a symbol of a unified Germany and is inspired after the Acropolis in Athens. (What type of columns do you see?!). My friend Jenn also met a few "soldiers" there, too! (2nd to Last picture.)
We also saw a piece of the Berlin Wall- the wall that used to separate east and West Berlin. (Picture 3). Guess what else they have in Berlin... DUNKIN DONUTS!!!! (Picture 4). We also saw the Holocaust Memorial. Pictures 6-9. As I mentioned in class it took 17 years to decide on how to commemorate the Holocaust here. The memorial didn't open until May of 2005 when it was dedicated. The area is the size of a football field and there are 2711 of the rectangular boxes. You can walk between them, and the size changes, as well as the ground level. It was very moving.
Then we took a 20 minute walk to go to the DDR Museum. The DDR museum is an interactive museum the explains east and West Berlin- I didn't know much about this and I learned a lot.
Finally, we ended the night at a really great restaurant. (Last picture). The place is called Zur Letzten Instanz and was so yummy. The restaurant opened in 1621 and has served people like Napoleon and Beethoven!!! We liked it so much we are considering going there again tomorrow night.
Tomorrow some of us are getting up early to do a few things before our official tour at the Jewish Museum. There is A TON to do in Berlin so we want to squeeze in as much as possible. I wasn't sure if I was going to like Berlin because of how much I LOVED Nuremberg... But so far I'm liking it!!
No gelato today... So that means I have to make up for it tomorrow and have TWO!!!! Two more full days and I'll be on my way home. I can't believe vacation is already half over.
:-) <3 data-blogger-escaped-br="">
After checking in to the hotel we took a ride into the city center to see a few things. The first thing we saw was a war memorial to the Soviets. (Picture 1). The Soviet War Memorial is a memorial to the 5000 Soviet soldiers killed at the Battle of Berlin. After that we walked down to the Brandenburg Gate. Besides being pretty cool to look at... The Brandenburg Gate is a symbol of a unified Germany and is inspired after the Acropolis in Athens. (What type of columns do you see?!). My friend Jenn also met a few "soldiers" there, too! (2nd to Last picture.)
We also saw a piece of the Berlin Wall- the wall that used to separate east and West Berlin. (Picture 3). Guess what else they have in Berlin... DUNKIN DONUTS!!!! (Picture 4). We also saw the Holocaust Memorial. Pictures 6-9. As I mentioned in class it took 17 years to decide on how to commemorate the Holocaust here. The memorial didn't open until May of 2005 when it was dedicated. The area is the size of a football field and there are 2711 of the rectangular boxes. You can walk between them, and the size changes, as well as the ground level. It was very moving.
Then we took a 20 minute walk to go to the DDR Museum. The DDR museum is an interactive museum the explains east and West Berlin- I didn't know much about this and I learned a lot.
Finally, we ended the night at a really great restaurant. (Last picture). The place is called Zur Letzten Instanz and was so yummy. The restaurant opened in 1621 and has served people like Napoleon and Beethoven!!! We liked it so much we are considering going there again tomorrow night.
Tomorrow some of us are getting up early to do a few things before our official tour at the Jewish Museum. There is A TON to do in Berlin so we want to squeeze in as much as possible. I wasn't sure if I was going to like Berlin because of how much I LOVED Nuremberg... But so far I'm liking it!!
No gelato today... So that means I have to make up for it tomorrow and have TWO!!!! Two more full days and I'll be on my way home. I can't believe vacation is already half over.
:-) <3 data-blogger-escaped-br="">
Brandenburg Gate
A piece of the Berlin Wall
Rally Ground Pictures
Picture 1- outside of Nazi Documentation Center
Picture 2- one of the unfinished buildings at the rally grounds- was going to be an inside gathering place--- it's HUGE.
Picture 3- where the Nazi's held huge rally's.
picture 4 & 5- back in Nuremberg
Picture 2- one of the unfinished buildings at the rally grounds- was going to be an inside gathering place--- it's HUGE.
Picture 3- where the Nazi's held huge rally's.
picture 4 & 5- back in Nuremberg
Nuremberg Rally Grounds
Well I'm sitting on a bus again. This time we have a 5 hour bus ride to get from Nuremberg to Berlin. We were all sad to leave Nuremberg. It is a beautiful city. Most of the streets were pedestrian only, cobblestone and just so pretty. Our hotel was much closer to the city so we could walk anywhere. I loved it here.
Yesterday (Tuesday) we went to the Nazi Documentation Center and the Nuremberg Rally Grounds. The Documentation center is a museum filled with lots of evidence and information about Germany under Nazi control. It was very interesting. We had audio tours again... They still aren't my favorite. But I learned a lot.
After spending a few hours in the museum we walked over to the rally the grounds. hitler loved Nuremberg and took the nicest part of the city to build areas to hold rally's for his supporters. I'll have to find a picture to post of what it looked like with all the people here... Because there were SO MANY PEOPLE that would come to the rally grounds. The area is huge. (No pictures today- I wasn't able to send them over from my phone in time.). Anyway... The rally grounds are huge. Some of the structure are still there- we stood where Hitler stood and have his speeches. But most of the area is falling apart and is now being used as soccer fields, race tracks, etc. it was kind of strange. Part of the debate is what to do with this area- it costs a lots of money to maintain it and it needs about €70 million worth of work. That's a ton of money. Should it even stay because of what it represents? (The Nazi's). As someone who is interested in studying the Holocaust and Nazi Germany I am glad I was able to see it.
After the rally grounds we went back in to the city. Everyone wanted to do different things so we all split up. My friend Jenn and I went shopping. It was a relaxing afternoon... And I got a few great things! Everyone met back up for dinner and 8 of us had dinner... At a Mexican restaurant!!! (I am not a fan of the meats that are a part of the German diet. I do t even do chicken wings at home, and am horrified at what I've seen served on some plates!!)
Like I said before we are headed to Berlin. It's a long ride but I already took a 2 hour nap and we must be half way there now. I do enjoy the rides because it allows you to see more of the country. We just crossed the border of what used to be east and west Germany.
As a side note... Remember all my worrying about snow? The weather s been gorgeous!!! I didn't bring enlighten short sleeve shirts!!!
I'll try and post some pictures later today. The Internet at the last hotel was annoying and slow-- you all know how I love slow Internet.
:-) <3
Yesterday (Tuesday) we went to the Nazi Documentation Center and the Nuremberg Rally Grounds. The Documentation center is a museum filled with lots of evidence and information about Germany under Nazi control. It was very interesting. We had audio tours again... They still aren't my favorite. But I learned a lot.
After spending a few hours in the museum we walked over to the rally the grounds. hitler loved Nuremberg and took the nicest part of the city to build areas to hold rally's for his supporters. I'll have to find a picture to post of what it looked like with all the people here... Because there were SO MANY PEOPLE that would come to the rally grounds. The area is huge. (No pictures today- I wasn't able to send them over from my phone in time.). Anyway... The rally grounds are huge. Some of the structure are still there- we stood where Hitler stood and have his speeches. But most of the area is falling apart and is now being used as soccer fields, race tracks, etc. it was kind of strange. Part of the debate is what to do with this area- it costs a lots of money to maintain it and it needs about €70 million worth of work. That's a ton of money. Should it even stay because of what it represents? (The Nazi's). As someone who is interested in studying the Holocaust and Nazi Germany I am glad I was able to see it.
After the rally grounds we went back in to the city. Everyone wanted to do different things so we all split up. My friend Jenn and I went shopping. It was a relaxing afternoon... And I got a few great things! Everyone met back up for dinner and 8 of us had dinner... At a Mexican restaurant!!! (I am not a fan of the meats that are a part of the German diet. I do t even do chicken wings at home, and am horrified at what I've seen served on some plates!!)
Like I said before we are headed to Berlin. It's a long ride but I already took a 2 hour nap and we must be half way there now. I do enjoy the rides because it allows you to see more of the country. We just crossed the border of what used to be east and west Germany.
As a side note... Remember all my worrying about snow? The weather s been gorgeous!!! I didn't bring enlighten short sleeve shirts!!!
I'll try and post some pictures later today. The Internet at the last hotel was annoying and slow-- you all know how I love slow Internet.
:-) <3
Monday, April 15, 2013
Nuremberg Trials
Today we arrived in Nuremberg, no we have all fallen in love. Nuremberg is a beautiful, beautiful city. It's a walkable city filled with cobblestone streets and beautiful buildings. We had some time to explore and get lunch when we arrived before we had to be at the Palace of Justice. We walked around a bit then went to a crepe place. Mmm yumm. I got a caprese crepe, tomato and mozzarella. We even got to do a little shopping.
At 2:00 we went to the Palace of Justice. (Picture 1). The palace of Justice is where after the war people were held accountable for their actions. This is where some justice was served for the Holocaust and actions taken during the war. It melt good sitting in the courtroom where this happened. There was also a museum here where we had another audio tour. The museum was very informative and I learned a ton.
After leaving the palace of Justice and checking in to the hotel we went to explore the city some more. It's so beautiful!! We went to an Italian resultant for dinner and I had a really yummy salad and spaghetti--- Italy in Germany!!!
After dinner we continued exploring... Walking up the big hill to the castle. It was so pretty up there!! (Pictures 2-8). We <3 Nuremberg!!!
And of course... (picture 9) to end the night... More gelato!!!!
We got a little lost on the way home to the hotel but I was able to get us back. We took the scenic route!!
Tomorrow our wake up call isn't until 8:00 so we get to sleep in a little. Tomorrow it's off to the Nuremberg Rally Grounds- a place where Hitler held rally's with tons of people. And we will also go to the Nazi documentation center. It's supposed to rain tomorrow which is disappointing. Today it was sunny and almost 80-- not looking forward to the rain.
Time for bed!!!
:-) <3
At 2:00 we went to the Palace of Justice. (Picture 1). The palace of Justice is where after the war people were held accountable for their actions. This is where some justice was served for the Holocaust and actions taken during the war. It melt good sitting in the courtroom where this happened. There was also a museum here where we had another audio tour. The museum was very informative and I learned a ton.
After leaving the palace of Justice and checking in to the hotel we went to explore the city some more. It's so beautiful!! We went to an Italian resultant for dinner and I had a really yummy salad and spaghetti--- Italy in Germany!!!
After dinner we continued exploring... Walking up the big hill to the castle. It was so pretty up there!! (Pictures 2-8). We <3 Nuremberg!!!
And of course... (picture 9) to end the night... More gelato!!!!
We got a little lost on the way home to the hotel but I was able to get us back. We took the scenic route!!
Tomorrow our wake up call isn't until 8:00 so we get to sleep in a little. Tomorrow it's off to the Nuremberg Rally Grounds- a place where Hitler held rally's with tons of people. And we will also go to the Nazi documentation center. It's supposed to rain tomorrow which is disappointing. Today it was sunny and almost 80-- not looking forward to the rain.
Time for bed!!!
:-) <3
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