3rd Time - Berlin, Deutschland

I don't believe there is anything in the whole earth that you can't learn in Berlin except the German language. 

- Mark Twain's Notebook




Berlin has long been one of my favorite cities. Why, is hard to explain. The city infrastructure can often been seen as dirty, gritty, grimy with graffiti and bits of fireworks. It can been seen as oppressive from its history, unwelcoming by the people, and where you can't find a decent American hot dog. 

I love Berlin. I love the history, how its steeped into each corner. Some buildings have charred brick, others bullet holes, some are modern and new, and a few older than the original American Colonies. A yellow brick line snakes through the better part of the city, showing were the wall once stood. Pieces of the wall still stand; the thick concrete and barbed wire barrier crumbling in front of the church, or the small artistically graffiti pieces standing tall in Potsdamer Platz, underneath the shopping mall. 

favorite part of the Berlin wall, taken on my first trip to Germany in 2009

I love Berlin. The food is unique to the city, the curry wurst is a must. The peppered sausage from the street vendors, the doner (a turkish food that is fantastic, lamb and salad wrapped in a pita like bread), the Berliner, a jelly filled doughnut. 

(Fun fact, when JFK gave his famous speech at the base of the Berlin wall, he stated, "Ich bin ein Berliner," he meant to say, "I am a Berliner (citizen)", what he actually said, was "I am a Berliner (as in the jelly doughnut)". The correct way would of been, "Ich bin Berliner." dropping the article all together.)

Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburger Gate) Iconic landmark of Berlin, built in 1791, the site of JFKs speech, and the symbol of the "door" to East or West Berlin

I love how the American embassy sits a block away from the Parliament building, across the street from the Tiergarden (Berlin's Central Park equivalent), and just steps away from where Tom Cruise tried to film a poignant scene for Valkyrie, but was shot down as Germany doesn't recognize Scientology as a religion and thought it would be bad PR to have a cult member on one of the cities major historical sites. (The historical site in question is the courtyard where members of the "20th of July Plot" were executed. The plot was one of the failed attempts to assassinate Hitler.)

Berliner Dom, (Berlin Cathedral) Built in 1454, first as a Catholic church, now it is Protestant. During WWII, a bomb fell right through the glass dome, through the church, and into the crypt damaging many coffins of German and Prussian royalty. 

I love Berlin. I love the history the city has for its country, for itself, for the world, and for me. This is a foreign city I have now visited three times (all during the winter actually). I have spent new years (called "Silvester") twice in Berlin. I have fallen in love, realized I was in love, and have learned a few words of Russian, all while in Berlin. 

Despite the grit and grime, the graffiti and thick accent, I love Berlin. It is one of the few foreign places I have felt at home. I get it. Or I think I do. But what I do know for sure, is that Berlin gets me. 

A Lock of Love on a bridge in front of the Berlin Cathedral. Very common in Europe to place locks on bridges to symbolize love. 

to see more photos of my time in Berlin, check out my photo blog: http://wanderersanonymous.tumblr.com

London Called, It Would Like Its Accent Back

And that's the wonderful thing about family travel:  it provides you with experiences that will remain locked forever in the scar tissue of your mind.  

~Dave Barry

My father is often right. Ask him to detail Lewis and Clark's exhibition, and he will almost nail it. Hand him a list of trigonometry problems, and he will gleefully not use a calculator. Ask him how to change a tire, and he will just do it for you. 

Just never ask him to speak in a British accent. 

So, really, never let him watch an episode of Julia Child, or take him to London. 

But, as most of you already know, we went to London. 

The famous Big Ben

London did not rain (until we left and Amanda and I were caught in a monsoon like deal as we sprinted from the taxi to the airport door). London was full of tourists. London was expensive. London had lots of shopping, lots of pubs, lots of places to eat fish and chips with peas, and from what I saw, no royalty. 

I mean, I realize its the holiday and they are out in the countryside hunting with fox hounds or whatever it is they do, but there was a reason we stayed only blocks away from William and Kate's current residence (or as dad called them, "Bill and Katie"). 

Kensington Palace, current resident of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and as well as a bunch of the Queen's cousins. Former residence of Lady Diana, and first residence of Queen Victoria (she grew up here). Picture taken from Kensington Gardens

Other than the numerous books I have read on British Monarchs, and the few tidbits my dear friend Isabel has mentioned, I really didn't know anything about England, or London. From the books, I pictured palaces and town houses housing royalty and ladies in waiting at every corner. From Isabel I pictured lovely looking men. 

What I found was this:

1. People get confused when you ask for ranch with fries (I didn't ask, a sister did)

2. Walking Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park in the morning. A bit chilly, but absolutely lovely and you will meet more locals, and more local pugs. 

3. Stumbling across Peter Pan was quite magical. 

4. Seeing Platform 9 3/4 was not. 

5. You can find first edition, British edition, Harry Potter books for super cheap if you don't mind a small rip in the corner. 

6. Lovely food. 

7. Quite nice taxi drivers. 

8. Small hotels with cramped rooms have the best service. 

9. Traffic. 

10. I can't believe anyone ever actually lived in the Tower of London. Talk about fifty million winding staircases and super short entry ways. 

London was wonderful, and so was seeing the family. I was handed more chocolate and DVDs and books for presents, and it was like I was home. Mom got to shop on Notting Hill, Amanda got her bloody picture next to the Harry Potter landmark in Kings Cross, Anna took some wonderful shots with her fancy camera, Dad hit his head on many a stone that King Henry VIII probably was too short to reach, and I found a city that seemed magical, foreign, historical, and spoke ENGLISH. 

 London Tower Bridge, Thames River, Ship, Buildings

 Tower of London 

London Eye

Amanda and I then flew off to Berlin, one of my favorite cities in the world. 

to see more photos of our time in London, check out my photo blog: http://wanderersanonymous.tumblr.com 

Photos: Where to Find Them

So I suddenly realized that those people who don't use Facebook (such as my parents) may not be able to see all my photos. So, in stealing the idea from Julia and Max, friends who just back packed around Europe for a few months, I have set up a Tumblr photo blog. For those of you who don't know what Tumblr is, thats ok, you don't need too. On the photo blog, I will post pictures of all the neat things I see. And then you can live vicariously through my fabulous life. 

Photo Blog: http://wanderersanonymous.tumblr.com

Also I have Instagram: lila_in_blue