Very lovely river view from our hotel room at the Melia Berlin

Neue Synagauge is one of the most important locations for Jewish life in Berlin.

The foundation stone of the reconstructed building was laid on 9 November 1988, exactly 50 years after the "Night of Broken Glass", and the New Synagogue was rededicated in 1995. The actual synagogue chamber was not reconstructed.

Entranceway of the temple was guarded by several security guards

This day it was closed so we couldn't go inside, since it was Shabbat.

Another view thru the tree of the synagauge

The TV tower and the St. Mariene Church

Alexanderplatz -- one of the central squares

Jason's first bite of a real German Wiener Dog!

Where are we sweetie!?!?

The River Spree with the Berliner Dom Cathedral in the background

Child having fun on the Botero Sculpture

I feel like a thin super model next to this Botero sculpture

Berliner Dom Cathedral with Botero sculptures in the foreground

Funny story -- we didn't realize these Botero sculptures was a special temporary exhibit.  BY complete and utter coincidence a story on BBC later the day showcased the world renowned Fernando Botero, and we recognized his artwork.  We then looked up what it was we had just viewed, and put it together he was showcasing his work here in Berlin just for a couple months.

The Reichstag or German Parliamentary Building

The Brandenburger Gate leading to the Tiergarten (Berlin's largest park)

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

Grid pattern of 2,711 concrete stelae leaves visitors to find their own way out

Jason thought they looked like graves, which they were in the shape of

Inside the museum section of the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

The temperature felt like it dropped about 5 degrees as we walked thru the park

The Siegessaule (Berlin Victory Column) located in the park

Site of gorgeous leaves changing colors all over the enormous Tiergarten park

Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

Highly symbolic church, dating back to 1891-95, with two completely new buildings aside the ruins of the World War II.

Incredible sunset over the city, with the glass dome of the Reichstag

Checkpoint Charlie

This was the name given by the Western Allies to a crossing point between East Berlin and West Berlin during the Cold War.

Checkpoint Charlie as tourist attraction.

Viewed from what was the American sector, the ersatz cabin has been decorated with an image of a Soviet soldier. The reverse side shows an American soldier.

The building of the Jewish Museum -- very modern design

One of the Holocaust Memorial pieces that was meant to be walked on

The metal pieces clanked together as you walked on them, making a horrendous sound.  Also, the figures were in the shape of faces which felt very strange to be walking ontop of.

Getting our 5 eurocent in the shape of a Mendelson coin - not sure why we did it

Christmas tree inside the Jewish museum

This represented how often times, secular Jews in Berlin in the early parts of the 1900's used to have Hannukah bushes, like their neighbors who had Christmas trees.  Jason has always wanted one!

I think he looks kind of handsome with a mustache!

View of the Berlin wall with graphiti on it -- note the word "Madness"

img_7292.jpg

img_7294.jpg