First Full Day in Berlin

Monday was our first full day in Berlin and since Guy is such a great travel planning guide, he knew right where to go to get bus passes for all of us to take a bus tour of Berlin.:)  I managed to take a few pictures of the city...

Jeremy seeing the Berlin Wall for the first time.

Swanky shopping we will return to later.:)

Enjoying some German sausage.:)

Trampolines in the plaza!

Jeremy and Elizabeth were crazy about the Buddy Bears.  You can read more about them here. There are different painted bears all over the city!:)   Berlin's symbol is also the bear.  The origin is a bit fuzzy on how exactly the bear became Berlin's symbol, but you can read more about it here.

Oh, Look! A Buddy Bear!!:)

Picture in front of the TV tower (which is in the clouds):)

Humboldt University - The oldest University in Berlin

War Memorial

One of the many palaces in Berlin

Another Buddy bear:)

The famous Brandenburg Gate

The columns are huge!:)

You can read more about The Brandenburg Gate here.:)

Picture of the roadway of where many parades started to end up at the Brandenburg Gate

The picture on the bottom is what the gate looked like after bombings during WW2

We went to the Reichstag Building (where the German Parliament meets).  Right outside that building is a Memorial to the Murdered Members of the Reichstag. It commemorates the 96 members of parliament who died unnaturally (murdered) for opposing Hitler's regime.  It was very humbling to see all the names of the people who were killed.  Knowing the outcome and the total number of people murdered during WWII because of Hitler is chilling...

Jeremy standing in front of the memorial.

The Reichstag building has a very interesting history.  You can read more about it here.  It was used as a place to promote propaganda before WWII and then for military purposes during WW2.

Reichstag Buidling- where Germany's parliament meets

Before the Berlin wall was built, the Soviet Union blocked off railways and canal ways to areas of Berlin occupied by the Western Allies.  On September 9, 1948, the people of  West Berlin gathered at the Reichstag building and the mayor, Ernst Reuter, gave a famous speech.  It was playing when we visited...

Speech was playing through a speaker. It was in German but had an English translation.

Another palace:)

And of course, I had to have schnitzel while I was in Germany.:)

It was a great second day in Berlin planned out by one of the best travel guides I know.:)   Danke, Guy for a great tour so far!:)

Road Trip to Berlin

On Sunday, we headed on our first European road trip to Berlin.  The kids have a Fall break (which I LOVE!!!)  It is so nice to have a break from early mornings to school, packing lunches and after school activities.  We headed out bright and early...

pic of the sunrise leaving Groningen to Berlin

 Guy and Jeremy were so excited when we got to Germany and on to the autobahn!  We actually did go about 220 KM/H (137 MPH)!!!! Elizabeth was a bit nervous, and I really had never gone that fast before!

 We arrived in Berlin about 3 p.m. and went out to walk around the neighborhood we were staying in.  We stayed in the western part of the city near the Zoo Station...

I LOVED these walk lights.  They were kept from pre WW2 times...

 Here is a church which was bombed during WW2. The city of Berlin decided to leave it like this as a reminder of the horror of war...

Tried to take my YNO sisters to the wine house but it was closed...

I know...we are immature!!! LOL!

 We are so excited to explore this great city!!!

A Silent Reminder

Each night, I have a ritual of taking the trash to the community trash bin (more on that in a later post), I have walked down the sidewalk almost each day since we have lived here, and I never saw this...

I actually probably would never have even have known it was there until we had our neighbor over for dinner a few weeks ago.  He is Dutch and explained to us what this small silent marker meant.

 Right here, a few houses down from the one we are living in, a woman by the name of Lea Rosenbaum was deported in 1943 during World War II.  The marker is placed right outside the front door of her home...

Ms. Rosenbaum was born in 1873 and deported in 1943 and murdered on March 20, 1943.

Ms.Rosenbaun was deported to Westerbork Dentention Camp. You can read more about it here https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westerbork_transit_camp. Westerbork is the same detention camp Anne Frank was sent to during World War II.  It is such a silent reminder, I may have missed it.  Our neighbor told us that there are many markers outside of doors all through Groningen where people were taken from their homes and deported during the war, and many were never seen again.  For myself, as an American, it is something I cannot fathom.  As a human being, I cannot comprehend it. I remember visiting the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam in 2009.  You can click here to see my post about it.  I remember not being able even start to understand how human beings could do such vicious things to other human beings...

It has been more than 70 years, and the wounds may not be as visible, but the scars from this war are still there if you look very closely...

It's (Really) Fall Y'all!

The temperatures are dipping here in Holland.  As a matter of fact, it was 2 degrees Celsius (about 35 degrees Fahrenheit) this morning on our bike ride to school.  The leaves here are changing colors and it really feels like the seasons are changing.  I have lived in California, Louisiana, Texas, Nigeria and back to Texas again since Guy and I were married.  For almost 20 years, I have not gotten to experience the changing of seasons, and I am so excited that we can experience a "real fall".:)

 We are getting ready for one of the most loved times of year for both of my children....Halloween!!!

We are the ONLY people on our street decorating for Halloween!:)

So, I have learned that most people do not really do Halloween here as we know it in the U.S. In Holland, there is a similar holiday where the children carry paper lanterns and sing songs about Saint Martin, and go door to door in hopes for some candy or a small treat, but it is on Nov. 11. And,  it is called Saint Martin's Day.  Remember my post about Martini Tower?  Yes, I am talking about that same Saint Martin.  You can read more information on this Dutch tradition here.:) It didn't stop Jeremy and Elizabeth from wanting to put up our Halloween decorations.:)  So much for blending in with the Dutch!:)

I even managed to get two large pumpkins home from the market on my bike without either of them (or myself) falling off the bike!:)

I hope you are enjoying whatever season your country is experiencing around the globe from wherever you may be reading this.  Thanks for joining me!  I am thoroughly enjoying the change in seasons....ask me in a few months, in the dead of winter, and I may have something very different to say!:)

Until next time!

Doei!:)

A Step Back in Time

On this chilly Fall morning, after I dropped the kids off at school, and made a failed attempt at  registering here with a dentist (more about that in another post...remember how I talked about in my first post that living in a different country is altogether different than visiting one? That is the kind of week I have had.)  I decided to take a bike ride to the Groningen Train Station.  I had heard from several people (including Guy, who takes the train to work everyday) how truly beautiful it is.  After a bit of a disappointing morning, I thought I should go and check it out for myself.:)  After passing the rows upon rows of bikes from commuters...

I came upon the train station.  It was actually completed in 1896 by Izaak Gosschalk, and it is built in the Neo- Gothic and Neo-Renaissance style of architecture.  You can read more about the history of the train station here.

Groningen train station

Other half.:)  I couldn't fit the whole station in my picture.:)

The train station is bustling with commuters going from here to there and back again.  But, one charming thing I noticed about the station is the piano which is sitting out for anyone to stop and play.  Today, there was a woman passing through who sat right down and "tickled the ivories".  It was pretty neat to see (and hear).:)

Main hall of the station. Can you see the Starbuck's sign??:)

The woman playing the piano in the train station.:)

And, of course, when I saw Starbuck's, I had to stop on in.  A neighbor of ours has told us it has the reputation of having the best ambience in all of Europe.  It is pretty amazing when you walk in to the wooden paneling and the stained glass, you do feel a bit like you are entering into the turn of the century Europe.  It is interesting for me to think about all the people over the years who have come and gone through the station.

 And, of course, I had to order a chocolate croissant for my YNO sisters to share.:)  Thanks for joining me, girls!:)

 And, I HAD to order a cappuccino for myself.  I think it may have been the best cup of coffee I have had in my entire life.  And, okay...I ate the croissant.  It was taking the YNO girls a bit too long to finish it.:)

Awesome cappucino:)

The main bar where you place your order.:)

 It is a great place to sit and have a great cup of coffee and people watch.  Not to mention, you can enjoy the beautiful architecture of a gorgeous building.  Thanks for joining me today.:)  Until next time!
Doei!:)

My HEMA

When I was living in Lagos, believe it or not, I met some really fun Dutch people there.:)  Before we took our trip in 2009 to Amsterdam, they told me I had to check out the HEMA store.  I remember thinking, "What could be so interesting about this store that I hadn't already seen in the U.S. ?" When we landed in Holland then, I remember going into Hema and thinking I had hit the jackpot!  I don't know if it was because I had been living in a third world country and everything looked so much more shiny and pretty there or if HEMA was really that good....

I can now say that , yes, it is indeed that good.  After living in the U.S. and coming back over to Holland,  HEMA is my favorite go -to store:

Make-up- HEMA
wrapping paper-HEMA
school supplies-HEMA
hats, gloves, mittens- HEMA
pick up a quick bottle of wine- HEMA
underwear, socks, undershirts for the family-HEMA
anything you can't live without-HEMA:)

 I have actually started telling the kids if we can't find it at HEMA, we probably don't need it.:)  I know to my American friends it may sound like a Wal- Mart.  But, it isn't like that...it doesn't have masses of items piled on the shelves.  Everything in the store seems to be thoughtfully placed and subtly advertised.  I LOVE it!:)

 I remember a Dutch friend telling me while I lived in Lagos that many Dutch women will say," Don't forget my HEMA."  I now know what they mean.:)

My Flat YNO sisters went with me to HEMA last week:)

a peek inside the bottom floor ( it has 3 floors)

The cafe on the top floor.:)

I love seeing all the Dutch characters and various items I haven't seen before.  Jip and Janneke is a children's book series.  Since some of my very good friends know I love to hoard children's books (what kindergarten teacher doesn't?), these will be on my list to purchase while here in Holland.  The books are written in simple language for children to read, and they are about two children from Holland as you can see below.:)  I haven't seen any in English yet, but I see that I can purchase them in English from this site and also this site.

Jip and Janneke merchandise at HEMA.:)

Rammelaar Muis

Cafe on the top floor of the HEMA:)

I found this great website which talks about alot of things I have also observed in the Dutch culture.  I am finding out that I am much more Dutch than I realized...who doesn't love something sweet in the morning for breakfast?  You'll have to go to the link above to understand what I mean.:)

The Groninger Koek is delicious as you can see by almost none of it left! Yes, it is specific only to Groningen and you can read more about it here.

Ok, now I am getting a bit off track.  But if you do read the link I pasted in the post, you will understand why the people of Holland LOVE their HEMA and so many other things that make The Netherlands such a wonderful country.  Thanks for stopping by!  Now I am off to put on a sweater...after not living in a place with real seasons for almost 20 years, this warm climate girl is slowly getting used to the dipping temps!  I'll post more about that soon!:)

Doei!

Saint Josef"s Kathedral

I thought today I would share a place we visit each week here in Groningen, Saint Josef's Kathedral. It is named after Saint Josef, the patron saint of workers, and built in the Neo-Gothic style.  It is dedicated to all the workers who helped build it.  It was built between 1885 and 1887, and you can read more about its history by clicking here.  It is part of the Groningen-Leeuwarden diocese here in The Netherlands.  You can read more about the diocese by clicking here.  There are several masses offered during the week in Dutch.  Since our Dutch is not so good, we attend the only mass in English on Saturday evenings.:)  I'll let the pictures of this beautiful church speak for themselves...

Outside view of Saint Josef's Kathedral

altar inside Saint Josef's 

Side chapel 

Upper balcony and pipe organ

(Just a side note, I did wait until after Mass to take the pictures.:))We are truly privileged to have such a beautiful church to visit each week. I think I notice a new detail inside the church stained glass windows, statues and carvings each week during mass.  I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday.  I know we are enjoying a "real" fall here in The Netherlands.:)  More on that later this week.:)

Doei!