Currywursts, Glühwein, and Hansel and Gretel

Currywursts, Glühwein, and Hansel and Gretel

We were so happy to be stepping off the plane onto German soil. Not only were we not in Belgium anymore we were now in the land of Kebabs and Bratwursts. We knew we could eat well here and for a good price.

On our first full day in Berlin we decided to go around and see some historic sights. Pretty much all of Berlin is a historic sight. Berlin is a city so rich with history and tragedy that it is a spectacular city to learn from. We ate a currywurst this day. It was my first currywust, but it was definitely not my last while staying in Berlin. This is a sausage with curry sauce. It is absolutely amazing!! And during our historical tour of the city we stopped to warm up with some Glühwein. This is hot mulled wine. So delicious! I am pretty much in love with Germany for their street food alone. That night we soaked up a little more of the German culture and went to a German Opera. Apparently Hansel and Gretel is a popular Christmas time story to be played out. It was amazing to watch a production of Hansel and Gretel in Germany.  

 I'm not actually sure what church this is, but I really loved it a lot. I thought it was gorgeous. 

Statue of Frederick the Great on his horse is a symbol of the once dominant Prussian military power. Frederick III ruled the kingdom from 1740 to 1786 as a strong military leader, trying to turn Berlin into “a new Rome”.

Bebelplatz is a small square of glass on the ground in the middle of the Bebelplatz, a square, providing a window into the library stacks below. It is intentional that all the shelves are empty. It shows the amount of Jewish and other non-approved books and authors that were lost in the massive book burnings in  Nazi Germmany in 1933.

Brangenburger Tor is the only remaining gate leading into Berlin and is one of the most famous symbols in Europe. In was built between 1788-1791. It originally marked the entrance to Unter den Linden, the large street lined with linden trees leading to the Prussian Palace. On top there are 4 horses pulling a chariot with the goddess of peace. Napoleon took this statue and placed it in the Louvre in Paris. When the Prussians finally got it back they renamed her the goddess of victory and it has remained since. The gate was closed on August 14, 1961, when the Berlin Wall was built just west of the gate. The Berlin wall fell on November 9, 1989, but it was not until December 22 that the gate was reopened, signifying the reunification of West and East Berlin.

Reichstag Building was the home to the German Reichstag, or Parliament. The building was constructed  in 1894, but was destroyed by a fire in 1933, supposedly caused by the Dutch communist Marinus van der Lubbe. From 1990-1999 it went under major renovations before looking as it does today. The glass dome on top or the “sunroof” gives a 360 degree view of the city. It also lets light into the parliament  chambers below, but there is an electronic device that tracks the sun and blocks direct sunlight to avoid spotlights. But the more symbolic interpretation of the glass dome is that is allows the German people see the workings of the government and to keep a watchful eye on the leaders to ensure that they do not abuse their power.

Hansel and Gretel the Opera!! It was seriously amazing! I loved it a lot and so did Eric. And it was such an awesome cultural experience most people wouldn't even think about doing. But it is actually really popular for families to go see Hansel and Gretel at Christmas time. It is kind of like the Nutcracker in the U.S.