Berlin, Germany

Dear Grace,

After spending the first days in Berlin focusing on Christmas and being together as our little family of three, it was time to check out the city and some of it's history. Enjoy!

Love, Mommy and Daddy

Berlin Wall- Forced by the Communists, it was built in 1961 and was a devastating event for the people in Berlin. Families were torn apart by the concrete wall and more than 100 people were killed over the following 30 years at the border dividing East and West. The fall of the Berlin Wall didn't occur until November 1989. Daddy was 9 years old and I was 6! For the first time in 30 years, Berliners from both sides of the divided city were able to see each other.  Your daddy actually remembers watching the Wall come down on TV, which was covered on all of the major television networks.

The Reichstag is the Parliamentary Building in Berlin and probably the most symbolic of all the buildings. It was built in 1894, destroyed by arson in 1933 and bombed during WWII. In 1996 it was rebuilt into what it is today.

The Brandenburg Gate, located in the Pariser Platz, has been the backdrop for many events in the city's turbulent history such as military parades and demonstrations, and speeches by historic rulers and statesmen. 

Being described as the best known of Berlin's symbols, you know what that means? The perfect tourist trap! We could have paid to take pictures with these gentleman below like everyone else seemed to be doing.

Schloss Charlottenburg is the palace in Berlin, which happened to have an amazing market in the foreground. Perfect place for a lunch and drink break. 

The Jewish Museum in Berlin is the largest Jewish Museum in Europe, providing many artifacts and personal stories of those who suffered through the Holocaust. Reading the stories and entering the Holocaust tower, which is a simulation in honor of those killed during that horrible period in history, left us speechless and feeling sad that this is part of our world's history.  

Checkpoint Charlie was designated as the single crossing point at the Berlin Wall for foreigners and members of the Allied Forces.

Not realizing we could actually get out passports stamped, ours were safely back in our hotel safe. We made sure we went back the following morning before heading toward the airport.  

Yes, Grace.....this is just another page in your ever evolving passport.  

The End