On July 31, 2009 - our five year wedding anniversary(!) - we took off for a two week fabulous European getaway.
Passports? Check.
Our travel bible? Check.
Best travel companion ever? Check.
We. Are. Ready!
We arrived in New York at 7am, pumped for a 12 hour layover and ready to see our really good friend, Jason. We did surprisingly well with the subway, and managed to get to Jason's neighborhood in Brooklyn without getting lost. We also were able to wake Jason up at 7 o'clock in the morning ... which, I can tell you, is no small feat.
Wandering the streets of Brooklyn with Jason and his new friend "Jack"
The view from Jason's rooftop - not bad :)
We had breakfast at the greatest little place. It was called Acqua Santa and I absolutely adored it. Jason knows the owner and he was so sweet to us - as were the rest of the staff.
The place was so cute. It was open air, and there were real grapes growing on the ceiling.
Of course, it didn't hurt that they put champagne in my orange juice either!
At a "beach" in Brooklyn - signs warned us not to go in the water - yikes!
Ending our short trip at a pub in Brooklyn. Sad to have to say goodbye to Jason, but we will be back in November....
Time to get back on the plane - feeling a little silly getting ready for "bed"
My husband says it's always important to take care of your teeth - even when traveling!
Sorry Angela! I just had to...
Berlin, Germany
We only spent two days in Berlin, and wished we had more time. This is a place we will likely return to because the history is so rich and interesting. Our favorite "activity" in Berlin was going to the German History Museum. There was so much in the museum, we couldn't even get to it all (you could spend days in there), but it was just so interesting to see all the stuff revolving around history that is so fresh. World Wars I and II and the history surrounding the Berlin Wall was my favorite because it was not that long ago that it all happened.
Other highlights of Berlin included the Berlin Wall along with Checkpoint Charlie and the Museum of the Wall about the Cold War and the Berlin Wall. I couldn't help getting a little emotional in this museum because it gave so many details about people trying so desperately to get out of Eastern Berlin, and even losing their lives in the process. It was heartbreaking.
And of course there was the beautiful architecture and scenery. It's amazing how much Berlin has changed in so little time.
Our hotel - Pension Peters, right in the heart of Berlin (near the zoo)
Our first meal in Berlin - a hearty German meal of Pig's Knuckle and Dumplings - yummy!
Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church - it was left bombed out by World War II as a memorial to the destruction of Berlin in the war
Brandenburg Gate
In front of Humbolt University with Rick
The German History Museums - no cameras allowed!
In front of the Reichstag - Germany's Parliament Building
The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe - we would later learn that this memorial was designed after the Jewish cemetery in Prague (our next stop in our trip)
What remains of the Berlin Wall
Checkpoint Charlie - where the famous border checkpoint between the American and Soviet sectors once stood
The Museum of the Wall at Checkpoint Charlie. Again, no cameras allowed, but this was a wonderful museum.
Lunch in Gendarmenmarkt square
Berlin's train station was gorgeous.
The Chancelor Building
Beautiful Reichstag. We were so bummed, we waited until the last minute to go up to the top - a fruitless attempt to skip the long lines - and didn't make it in before they closed! :(
Just another reason why we have to go back....
In front of Brandenburg Gate...
1 comment:
Great pics (except for the one - obviously)!
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