Visiting Berlin

This past summer Jason, Lucas and I were able to take a trip to Berlin and some other small nearby towns.  Berlin was an amazing city and we had a fabulous time.  Jason had to work while we were there but Lucas and I had fun spending some time exploring on our own on the days that Jason couldn't join us. 


Berlin has two very different sides. The historic part of the city that everyone pictures when they think of the war and its destruction and all of its museums and churches.  The buildings that are left (which isn't many) are riddled with machine gun bullet holes and so much war damage.  Seeing the wall and the many memorials is very sobering.  Berliners are very careful to not forget what atrocities happened in WWII and how far they have come since the end of the Cold War.  There is also a whole other post-war side that is a funky, modern city full of little communities all different in their own right.


The thing I love about Europe whenever I visit is that all the countries feel "European" but they are all so very unique at the same time and Berlin didn't disappoint.  Lucas and I felt very safe even when we were off the beaten path and in some slightly sketchy areas.  The hardest part was not knowing very much of the German language.  Berliners were very friendly for the most part, exceptionally so in the small towns we visited.

I feel like there is so much more to experience in Germany, I would love to go back and see other areas like Bavaria.  It would also be amazing for Lucas and Jason to visit where Jason's family is from in Cologne, there are still relatives living here that we have never met. 

Maybe one day.  So many places, so little time!