Alexander Family's Big Adventure: July 2018

Sunday, July 29, 2018

Berlin

Bauhaus style, perhaps? I have no education in architecture,
but this reminds me of the architecture in Tel Aviv.

We left for Berlin a little before noon, and that was a lesson for me. I had wanted to leave at 1000. We couldn't seem to make it out the door. Then we had to stop 50 billion times on the way there, and of course we hit traffic. I think it was 1930 by the time we got there. No sightseeing for us the first night. From now on, it's an early morning departure or it's a bedtime departure, depending on the length of the drive.

We stayed at an adorable AirBnB that was big enough for all of us with no crowding, and I would highly recommend for anyone. The proprietor seemed to be a sweet German lady (see, they do exist!), who had five dogs that the kids just loved. We were outside of the city a bit but close to the bus and train station, so I downloaded the Berlin app (Bus and Bahn) and had no issues getting around.

Checkpoint Charlie was highest on my list, so we went there first. I was quite disappointed by it because there were some German boys dressed up in German and American uniforms and you could pay them to have your picture taken. It ended up being quite corny.

Probably my "favorite" thing we saw (in quotes because of the nature of the subject) was the Topography of Terror. It was a section of the Berlin Wall that was still standing, and below it were photographs with descriptions in a timeline of how things progressed. I could have stayed there long enough to read every word. Of course, not with the kids. But what I saw was a very good exhibit.

And that plus a very quick walk through the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and a stop at a cafe in Berlin was it for the day. Well, we tried to go into the church, but they closed early.

So we went to the church the next day, and then we took the kids to the Berlin Zoo. I'm not usually a fan of zoos, but the Berlin Zoo was one of the best zoos I've ever been to. It didn't make me feel bad for the animals for being caged up too much. It was very nice, and the kids seemed to enjoy it quite a bit. We didn't spend a whole lot of time there because we had to hit the road and get back home, but watching the kids enjoy it has made me decide to check out the Frankfurt zoo, too. Even Lilly kept saying, "Awwww," every time we saw a new animal. Very cute! One thing to note about it though, is that we spent a lot more on our cafeteria-style dinner than we did on the tickets to get in. So don't go in there hungry.

I get a second chance at Berlin, because I'm planning to go there with my friend Melissa when she comes. I can't wait! Just me and her, and we're staying in the city, so it's going to be easy. We're only staying one night because we have other things to do, but I think we'll leave early and come home late. I'm looking forward to it!

After Berlin, we went to the pool that I mentioned in my previous post. Then the next day, I took Michelle to the airport. That was hard and sad. I was already trying to convince her to come again before I leave. Having her here was therapeutic, and I needed her without even realizing it. I miss her so much. But thankfully, three of my good friends are coming to visit me in August, and I'm so excited to see them!

Checkpoint Charlie, with a McDonald's right behind it.

From the Topography of Terror, which was a very interesting exhibit.

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe around 1330.

A concert outside of Brandenburg Gate. Concert was neat.
Couldn't get close to the gate, though.

But, Mom! (I'm so corny but I can't help myself.)

The Berlin Cathedral

Alex and I were breezing through the crypt, and then Alex
noticed this crown on the tomb. Then we went back around
and looked at all of the king's and queen's tombs. He had a sudden
deep interest in it after that. I had to read everyone's names and tell him
how long ago they had lived.

This was not a caged bird at the zoo, but I like the picture, and
these birds have a surprisingly pleasant song.

Bison bison

Rude people

A couple of months ago, I decided I was tired of the rude people of Germany, and the next time someone was rude to me, I was going to give it back. I had my opportunity two times in Berlin. I'm not talking about the general difference between friendly (some may say overly friendly) Americans and the cold politeness (some may say overly cold) of Germans. I'm talking about people who actually go out of their way to be rude. Like the cashier at the hardware store when I first got here who shared a disdainful look with the customer in line behind me because I didn't understand the amount of money I needed to give her. Or the man across the street one time who gave me an absolute scowl after he yelled something in German at me which I couldn't hear and to make my life easier, I yelled back "Ich sprache kein Deutsch."

Two women were downright rude to me and the kids in Berlin, and I gave it back to them both.

Well, honestly, I got that out of my system. It's just not me. And I don't think I need to defend myself against these rude strangers because who are they to me? I'm not going to see them again. I used to date a man who was always rude back to rude people. He said they needed negative reinforcement to stop their bad behavior. Maybe those two ladies will think twice before they're that openly rude to someone they don't know, and so maybe I did the world a favor. I have to admit they both seemed surprised, like they'd been rude like that before and never had an issue. But what was the consequence for me? The consequence was that I actually had to get angry about it. So I felt anger and frustration twice in Berlin, and that's not how I want to spend my days.

So, rude people of Germany, have at it. I might contradict you if you interfere with my kids again, but generally, I guess you can go ahead and show your ugly selves to me, and I won't care. I have under a year left until I go back to the friendly (some would say overly friendly) United States, so I know I'll survive. And I won't become like you. I'll continue to smile at you and say "guten morgen". The nice ones will say it back and smile back. You rude ones will just scowl and look away. No. Big. Deal.

Of course, not everyone in Germany is rude. At the swimming pool, some boys were pushing past Alex and Griffin at the top of the waterslide, and after the third time, I yelled "Nein" to them. They didn't know what I wanted them to stop doing, so at the bottom, they asked me what again, I was able to get out (in German), "He is first." It wasn't that they were cutting line that was bothering me, though. (From experience, I'm guessing that it's not considered rude to cut lines in Germany.) It was that it appeared unsafe for them to push around my four year old at the top of the water slide.

His Mom heard me yelling and in perfect English told me if I have a problem with her kids, I should take it to her. Well duh! That is exactly my philosophy, too, so I got out and apologized to her and explained that her boys were making me nervous by pushing around my four year old at the top of the slide and that I did not see her before. Then she apologized to me, and talked to her boys, and they apologized to me (also in perfect English), and I told them I knew they were good boys but I didn't know they spoke English so well, and everything was fine. In fact, that woman and her family were just lovely. I think her boys were identical twins, and they were so sweet, after all!

I know that France has a reputation for being rude, but that was not my experience at all, at least not like the Germans, anyway. In fact, the one time Michelle didn't hold our hands taking the train in Paris, when the second train was closed due to construction and I was trying to figure out what to do next, two people stopped to help us. In my opinion, the Germans FAR outdo the French in rudeness. I wonder what I would think if I had a chance to live in France for a year?

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Rhein River cruise

I've been hearing about these Rhein River cruises for a long time now.

It was fabulous. I was quite the dolt at first and had us standing at the bus stop in the wrong direction. As the RIGHT bus drove by, I realized we missed it. Lovely. Fortunately, we had planned to hit the first of two departures for our day cruise, so we were able to go to the 0945 departure. What a great trip! It was nice to have a Radler or two while sitting on the top deck on a beautiful day. With my SISTER! (I'm still so glad she came, even though she's been gone for almost a week already.)

We started in Wiesbaden-Biebrich and went all the way to Boppard. If I do it again (I believe I will with at least one more of my visitors this year), we will start at Biebrich and end at Loreley Rock. (https://www.romantischer-rhein.de/en/what-to-see-and-do/culture/concerts/nature-gardens/the-loreley-rock/)

No need to write so much on this one. Do this someday!!

Here a castle

There a castle

Everywhere a castle

Castle!

This is probably my favorite picture of the day.

Loreley Rock. I'm hoping it's a future destination.

Sunday, July 22, 2018

Strasbourg, France

In Strasbourg, we kept walking into churches. It was so wonderful, because churches are my favorite (you know that already), and I never feel good about walking into the smaller ones when I have all four kids with me. I didn't have to shush Michelle once!

We took the train from Colmar to Strasbourg, which was easy enough, but not quite as cheap as we had hoped. Still good value, though, especially since we were leaving the van at the AirBnB in Colmar for free and wouldn't have to pay for parking (or have that stress--always on my mind!).

If my memory serves, along with having location turned on from my phone, here is where we went:

* Eglise Catholique St Pierre Le Vieux
* Strasbourg Cathedral
* Eglise St Thomas
* Eglise St Louise
* Petite France

It was such a nice little walking tour! If you only take an afternoon in Strasbourg, and you're on your feet, I highly recommend this path. It was great. The only thing I would add to it would be the Museum of Alsace. David and I had done it our first trip there, and it was pretty cute.

Mostly pictures today. I am so far behind on posts because we just did SO MUCH while Michelle was here! Have I mentioned yet that I miss her!?!

Our little walking tour

Eglise St Pierre

Detail

Strasbourg Cathedral

Stained glass from Strasbourg Cathedral

Detail from above window. I would like to understand this image!

Not a very good picture, and I don't understand the "t-shirt", but this is from St. Thomas

Eglise St Louise

Petite France

Trier take two

You may remember that I took the family to Trier one day last year. (If you missed that post, you can read it here: https://onegreendoggy.blogspot.com/2017/11/trier-germany-and-some-other-stuff.html)

I remember that day was pretty drizzly out. Trier had been decorated for Christmas, and that was adorable, but what a difference sunshine and blue sky can make! Also, not to pound this into the ground too much, but what a difference traveling with just the two of us made! When the family went there last year, we didn't go up Porta Nigra, we didn't go in the church, and we barely made it to the amphitheatre. I was still so happy to have gone! But this time, we went up Porta Nigra, we went into the church (the part that was open), we went shopping, we ate, we went to the Roman baths, and we went to the amphitheatre! Incredible! And to top it off, I parked out of the main area for free. We had to walk a bit, but I didn't have to squeeze the van into a tiny old garage and get stressed about scraping it. And I didn't have to pay €20 for parking! Win win!

Going home from Trier was easy enough because as I mentioned earlier, Michelle and I still had another special day together. It was going to be great!