Berlin was pretty amazing. Going into the trip I wasn't sure what I would think of it, and I was especially unsure how the kids would react to it. I knew I would enjoy all its history, but I wasn't sure if it would be too dark and depressing (especially for the kids.) To my surprise, we all really enjoyed our visit. There's lots of things to do in the city, and we found the people very easy to get along with. The kids enjoyed Berlin as well. I doubt Ben and Megan were able to comprehend all the war history, what the Cold War was, and what exactly was East Germany...but overall they liked everything we did. The city and its people are all acutely aware of its dark past. They remember it, they acknowledge it, and they learn from it. Nowadays Berlin is a city that is progressive and open, and it has completely gone against all its old mindsets. Also, much of the city is new and fresh, since much of it was bombed during the war. In some areas I felt like I was in a city back in America, with all the high rise glass buildings everywhere. And speaking of America...Berlin loves its capitalism. We saw more American restaurants and shops in Berlin than probably anywhere else in Europe. I also noticed English is widely spoken and written. It's not surprising considering that the largest US military base in Europe is in Germany.
Anyway, I found Berlin fascinating. It's been about a week now since our trip and I still find myself thinking about everything I learned and experienced. I was truly moved, and I would love to go back someday.
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