Berlin

A week in Berlin

Some great playgrounds just next to our hotel




We were very close to Checkpoint Charlie. This is where the Berlin Wall stood.Everywhere there were gypsies trying to scam people. It's so obviously a scam, but I guess it doesn't need to be so sophisticated in order to make money


Checkpoint Charlie from the nearby McDonaldsFinally, we see the shell game scam. We saw it operating twice in Berlin, both times at Checkpoint Charlie, where there's lots of tourists.


Eating the Berlin specialty of currywurstThe view from the top of the Franz�sische Friedrichstadtkirche


I took this picture to remind me of something unusual that I noticed in Berlin - huge, wide streets, with no pedestrian signaling at all, nor any other signals (stop signs, etc). I believe it was part of a policy to make everyone watch out and not rely on signals. Don't know how effective it was. It felt weird crossing the road.At Checkpoint Charlie


The Jewish Museum


We did a tour at the old airport - Flughafen Tempelhof. The Americans had officer's quarters there after the war, and also the previous incarnation of Lufthansa had some offices there, before the war.The old officer's quarters


The airport terminal hall, closed for years now.




Peter got tired during the guide's long explanationsThis looks very 1930's to me.


In a former film repository, which burned after the war


At Mauerpark - lots of street life, markets and and musicians.


Also lots of litter


These swings were scattered about oddly over a wide area - maybe an old playground?


Remnants of the Berlin Wall


At the AlexanderPlatz


Walking throught the Museum district




A famous chocolate store on the Gendarmenmarkt


At the Holocaust Memorial


A Russian war memorial close to the Tiergarten


The kids had lots of fun trying to make it up these very slippery rocks.The Berlin Wall went right through here as well


Peter and his rock collectionAt the Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin - lots of interesting things, though not very interactive.


An old railroad, from the 1500s


This windmill rotated, and was turned via this long post


Some ruined old buildings next to the museum


In Potsdam. This was my favorite part of our Berlin trip (though it wasn't actually in Berlin)


Old East German era buildings in Potsdam


We spent most of our time in the grounds of the Sanssouci palace. It was lovely.








More rock collections




At the Chinese house




Peter showing off his gun


I never quite figured out exactly what this sundial type thing was




On beautiful little island in the park




Interesting old fence on the perimeter of the park


At the Eastside Gallery - where there's a long stretch of the old Berlin Wall, with all kinds of graffiti on it.


This one is quite famous


No toys? No problem! Just play with rocks!