A New City---Berlin

Hey all,

Sorry about Thursday's blog.  I'm not sure what happened.  I had it set to go before I left, but for some reason it didn't post the text.  Just the title.  Sometimes I think Blogger hates me.  *sigh*

Not only that, the whole post disappeared.  Poof!  Right into cyberspace somewhere, so I get to start over.

**Double sigh**

Anyway, at the bottom of the post I'll announce the winner of the Castle Trip Contest and everyone who entered should receive a postcard sometime in the next month.  Depending on the mail.  LOL

But today's blog isn't about the trip.  I'll redo THAT one on a later date.  Today's blog is about my new city.  Berlin, Germany.  I've been out a couple of times since we've been here. (Been getting unpacked and I had edits on a plus size novel to work on.)  But so far, the area where we're staying is very close to most of the museums and beautiful churches and buildings that I want to visit. 

I walked around on Thursday a bit, just to clear my head, and I found some beautiful things.  The university is set in a building that looks like an old palace--have to do some research on that.  Then there is the Museum Island complex.  Five museums all in one area.  Beautiful buildings and area.

The Deutscher Dom--a big cathedral, and the smaller St. Hedwigs were two churches I wandered by.  There are more, but I forced myself to stay in the neighborhood for my first walk.  I did see the Christmas markets all being built.  Most of them open on Monday, so I'm champing at the bit to go see those.

Monuments are everywhere.  The Neue Wache (New Guard) memorial has the graves of the Unknown Soldier AND the Unknown Concentration Camp Prisoner.  It looks a bit like a smaller version of the Lincoln Memorial.  

What I found really interesting is there are placards stating information about the buildings in the area.  What they were used for throughout the years--even info about what the Nazis used them for.  At first I was a bit put off by that, but once I thought about it, I realized they weren't editorializing or commemorating that time of history, they were just reporting the facts.  So people could know and learn.  That I appreciated.

From our apartment window, we can see the dome of the Berliner Dom and the Funkturm Radio Tower on the right and the Tiergarten (big gianormus park) and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe to the left.  Around the block is the Brandenburg Tor--once a gate between West and East Germany.

And on Thanksgiving night, after we ate our dinner, we walked the remains of part of the Berlin wall and talked about what we could be thankful for and the freedom we so often take for granted.

I've only been here a few days and I'm looking forward to seeing what the city offers.  I can't wait to see the East Side Gallery, Checkpoint Charlie and the Topography of Terror Museum.  The Second World War and that part of history is more Jonathon's forte, so I'm curious as to what I can learn about that time, not to mention the other attractions the city has to offer.  The churches, parks, zoo and theatres.  

But for now, I'm off to finish up some paperwork, then I may go out again and wander.  It's a gloomy day, but it's late November.  If I wait for sunshine, I'll be in San Paulo Brazil before that happens!

See you on Thursday with a rant and a smile!!!  And don't forget to scroll down to find the name of the winner of the contest!!!

Hugs,

CJ England

Follow Your Dreams

http://cjengland.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/

Thanks to everyone who entered.   I loved all the comments!!!!

 The Grand prize winner is.....

<<<Jennifer Mathis>>>

Runner Up and winner of a

<<<Phylis>>>

Congratulations, ladies.  Please send an email to womanofthwind1@yahoo.com to give me your snail mail address, as well as the address you want your free book sent to.