Shenanigans Crossing Borders

A new day, a new adventure.

Today we visit the legendary Botanischer Garten. Even though our children believe we were born before Great Grandpa Kurt (GGK) worked here nearly 100 years ago, it just goes to show we have aged well. 

Our guess is GGK would have been thrilled to see how this Garten is thriving. Especially with how beautiful and calm it is, even in the winter.  It is home to an almost completely extinct palm tree. So many wonderful plants and flowers to see, smell, and learn about. They even had a waterfall, banana and coffee bean trees, trees that have gourds that can explode and project their (insert promiscuous word about asexual reproduction here) over 100 feet. No doubt, GGK would be proud to know the family has some “roots” in this place.

(Photos mostly by Vered)

If I could walk 500 hundred miles, I absolutely would not ever consider doing it with these little human beings. OH MY GAWD. They never stop whining about the cold, their feet, their ears, the next book they want to read, some statement about 6/7, or who they’d rather meet, Olivia Rodrigo or Taylor Swift. GAHHHH

By now, if you hadn’t guessed, we  were walking again, but this time we had a non-tourist activity planned. Yup, we’re not on vacation, we actually need to eventually buy shoes, underwear, hats, coats, socks, etc. Thank the spirits we found a mall near the Garten that had children’s shoes. A1 & A2 got some new sneakers, and on the way out, we (JP as usual) was overly excited because they have a public piano in the mall!

Elyce was humored as the sign on the piano reads:

As Elyce often does, whenever JP sees a piano, she surveyed the room, people watching while he played. Elyce is an incredible people-watcher. If there were a sport for people-watching, she would take platinum (she’s that good). And for those who don’t know, JP’s been playing the piano for approximately 40 years (remember, according to our children, he’s already over 100). And with a degree in piano performance, and piano at home on a  bluetooth remote controlled drivable platform, you know JP loves to perform. So here we are, sitting in an open eating area. A few people saw him go to the piano and slightly tensed up, expecting someone who can barely play. 

To be fair, JP isn’t small, walks like a lumbering bear looking for a tree to scratch his back on, and wears a hat that everyone thinks he stole from Indiana Jones. 

Oh, how wrong they were…

One woman visibly relaxed, slowed down her lunch, and seeminlgy enjoyed the performance. After a few scales, JP jumped right in, and the whole environment of the room warmed up immediately. 

Were the girls bored? Who cares!

Elyce loves hearing JP play the piano, and JP loves playing the piano. For us, that’s a win! We’ll definitely look for other free pianos to play.

A fun little addition to our trip is all the open air markets we keep finding. Back home we’d call them Chrikindlmarkts. It’s like asking Chinese people what they call their food at home…Here, folks just call them the Markt. Gluehwein, roasted walnuts, farmer’s stands, clothes, silly tchotchkes, etc. We got some fresh fruits and veggies, then headed home for work and school.

While we toiled away, Elyce made her most delicious ever latkes, and some incredibly tasting challah.

Our next day’s lesson: CIRCLES! Specifically, how to walk in them. 

We stepped into a lovely Markt outside of Bahnhof Potsdam Station, and right across the street are remnants of the Berlin Wall. 

The girls had never really heard much about the Berlin Wall, so this was a great way to learn about the division, history, and causes.

And most of the remaining wall pieces are covered in chewing gum. Used chewing gum…gross!

Leaving the wall, we met a 2.25M tall bär,

and then walked to the Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe. 

This monument is a bit disorienting. It looks like just large blocks of concrete. Hundreds of them. In rows and columns. Evenly spaced. But when you walk into them, you notice that the ground isn’t level, and the further in you go, the taller the blocks become. After a while, you are completely below the street line, no sunlight, no wind, just blocks. Rows and rows of blocks.

The sensation is intense, the feeling somber. Most people are very serious. Most people take this solemnity, and walk quietly. 

Then there’s JP (as usual) making light of a dark situation, by helping A1 & A2 to stay occupied and use up some energy. They played a little, trying to get around each other. Thankfully Elyce and V walked away.

We did get in line for the museum entrance, but were told by the folks that work there, the exhibit was very graphic, and probably not for anyone under the age of 13. 

Even so, everyone gained some level of respect for the horrific history.

Of course, nothing helps a dispirited group more than food!

We promised the girls we would go to the vegan donut shop our random solo-travelling Portland friend told us about. Turns out they are kosher as well! 

AND delicious! (Elyce procured a 2nd one just for herself for later)

To find this place, we had to backtrack back from the memorial to the Berlin Wall remnants. We walked past a spy museum, the upside down museum, and a few other odds and ends, before it.

Talk about a circular economy! because from the donut shop, we wanted to see the Reichstag Building (Parliament), which was, you guessed it, back past the memorial.

However, another motto of Elyce’s, “When in the capital of a state/country, one MUST stop to see the capital building!” The girls noticed that Germany’s capital building also has a round top just like many of the capitals in the USA. But what’s cool is Germany’s has a glass domed top, and it looks like you can walk through it.

Leaving the Reichstag, we visited another playground, this time in the Tiergarten. Again, another zipline. This time JP rode it as well! 

Another full day, but the week was not done!

The Jawas and Elyce headed to the Berlin Zoo and Aquarium. 

During this lovely visit, 2 animals cemented their place in our list of favorites (see the photos):

1. Heavyweight Unicorns 
2. Pandas

There were loads of other wonderful, vibrantly colored birds and animals to be seen. 

While the aquarium was cute, we didn’t spend as much time there, instead focusing on the zoo and its list of animals. 

(Photos mostly by Vered)

And what’s more amazing than visiting another city, is finding a 4th cousin of Elyce’s that she is pretty sure no one in her (immediate) family has met before. Cousin Amos and his family were wonderful, warm, welcoming and such a joy to spend time with. What a wonderful hanukkah celebration, indeed!

The children all got along and had a great time, despite language barriers. Everyone was sad when we had to leave. Hopefully we can continue to build a relationship with our newly re-found relatives over many more years. Thank you for welcoming us to your home! 

(I forgot to ask if adults faces could be seen, so until permission is granted, you get some fruit!)

On Friday, we made a stop at the Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market). 

Ok, guilty, you figured us out. 

We have visited a few, and hope to visit a few more, before they close for the season. This one was near Alexanderplatz and had a Ferris wheel and a carousel. Roasted peanuts, walnuts and churros were enjoyed. 

And, who’d’ve thunk it? Elyce was actually convinced, somehow, by the great G-d almight (and  a bit of coaxing from our girls), to ride the Ferris Wheel (IYKYK).

Back to the previous mention of playgrounds built to help children gain quick lessons in fortitude and fall avoidance planning. We found trampolines built into the sidewalk. Of course we had to try them, but there was not as much bounce per ounce as one would expect.

Oh well, back home for the super earliest Shabbos of the entire year: 15:35!