Guten Tag, Germany!

I'm getting behind on my blogging again; I've just been busy with all that needs to be done and seen in my last couple of weeks in the UK. Right now, I'll move on to the Berlin bit of my two-week trip primarily through Eastern Europe. After Athens, I arrived in Berlin. One of the top sights was obviously the Berlin Wall. There are a few sections of the wall visible, but due to time limitations, I only saw the one near Checkpoint Charlie and the Topography of Terrors.

Checkpoint Charlie was one point along the wall, where West Berliners and (rarely and only in exceptional circumstances) East Berliners were allowed to cross to the other side. Today, the East German bit is full of the most expensive shops in Berlin. The West German bit, which was the American sector, now has a McDonalds and a Starbucks...true to its American roots, I suppose!

Near the wall, there was an eerie East German socialist propaganda mural.

While on a walking tour, I learned that Berlin has preserved much of the damage received during World War II as an act of remembrance. This column was one of many damaged during the war.

We also stopped by the Holocaust Memorial.

Berlin offers many museums so it was hard to choose just one. We decided to see the Jewish History museum which focused primarily on the Holocaust, but also of eerily similar persecutions of Jews throughout the centuries. History really does repeat itself, despite all the "progress" society has made. The preservation of the Jews in spite of frequent persecution is remarkable and, as polymath Blaise Pascal pointed out centuries ago, foretold.

After seeing so much of the dark side of Berlin's history, we decided to visit Kathe Wohlfahrt, a Christmas store that opens a stall at the Pittsburgh Christmas market each year. This year, I remarked that I could visit their actual store if I made it to Germany during my travels. Well, I did and it was adorable! (No photos allowed inside though!)

There was still more to see in Berlin, so I will just have to return to Germany again! I will try to have my updates on Amsterdam, UK adventures, and some travelling/study abroad advice in the near future.