Berlin, Germany

The Berliner Dom

Brandenburg Gate

We got to see many old friends of Charles. This man was a brother to a friend of Charles. He did not know a word of English, but loved children. He spoke to Abby and Sam in German and they seemed to understand him. He would tell them to pick flowers and take them to me and they would. It was quite amazing to see them with him. They called him their friend. They followed him all over this huge garden all afternoon.

Abby and Sammy in front of our ART Hotel with an upside-down Berlin bear. We stayed there once before. The rooms were really funky.

The second day we were there, we took the train to Frankfurt Odeur about an hour outside Berlin.

We walked across the border (the bridge) to Poland. This is looking out from the bridge.

The bridge to Poland

Sammy standing by an official Polish border marker

Walking in a Polish town called Slubice.

Slubice, Poland

Poland

Standing on the river banks on the Polish side looking back at Germany.

Returning to Germany

The premier for "Hancock" the movie with Will Smith in Berlin

The Holocaust Memorial in Berlin. All of the markers are symbolic of the coffins of the Holocaust victims. There are 2,711 concrete slabs. It is like visiting a graveyard with nameless tombstones.

As you walk into the memorial, the markers get taller and it becomes maze-like. People pop in and out from around the markers and you can't really see anyone unless they are in front of you. It is quite frightening when you are on your own but even more frightening trying to keep track of small children who are running about. It is quite an experience of fear, loneliness, and insecurity - definitely symbolic of the Holocaust.

Where is Charles?

Istanbul and Croatia pictures still to come...