Christmas in Berlin

 


Christmas in Berlin, Germany is super fun.  
Everyone here gets excited for the holiday and 
there are decorations in every window and in the shops.



We put up this little tree that we found in our "Keller" which
is the basement storage of our apartment complex. 


We have our own Elder and Sister stockings!


This is our Christmas Village....


This is a throwback to our Christmas Zone Conference
which was last week.


Jason and Carolyn came to Germany to visit.  They
brought us some things from home that we LOVE.


Brown sugar, chocolate chips, and Almond Joy Bars...


We visited the Charlottenburg Palace.
This ornament has the "S C" inscription and
it reminded us of our granddaughter Sophi whose 
full name is Sophi Carolyn (SC).  
In the palace, it was built for Sophie Charlotte.  


Official China of the Prussian Empire


We call this the "six - seven" statue.  
If you are a teenager, you know what this refers to.  


This ring has the inscription of a crown above the name
Louise


Gary


We took Jason and Carolyn to Potsdam which is
about 45 minutes outside of Berlin.  We walked across 
the Glienicker Brucke (bridge).


Jason and Carolyn with the bridge in the background.


The Glienicke Bridge was built in 1907 and was called 
"The bridge of unity".  It was completely destroyed during
WWII.  After construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961, the bridge 
could only be crossed by Allied military personnel and diplomats.
It was a restricted border crossing.  The above picture
shows the line that could not be crossed.  

In 1962, some famous spy exchanges took place between the US and
Soviet powers.  This event was made famous by Steven Spielberg's
film, "The Bridge of Spies".  


This statue is found on the bridge and is a Centaur-
a legendary being from Greek mythology with the upper body of a human 
and the lower body of a horse.  This one
is holding a fish...


Louise and Carolyn on the Bridge of Spies!


We took Jason and Carolyn to our favorite Italian Restaurant.  


Crepes - yummy


One of the many Christmas Markets we visited!


This is a miniature of the statue that sits atop the 
Victory Column.

Eternal Glory
To the heroes who fell in battle to the
Germans  -  dedicated to the freedom and
independence of the Soviet Union.  


Brandenburg Gate


On pathway - "Tear down this wall"


Part of the Berlin Wall



Some of the ruins of an area where prisoners were held.



Gendarmenmarkt - one of the best Christmas Markets!

DRESDEN


Zwingerhof or Zwinger Palace
This is a Baroque building with a garden, porcelain collection and exhibits.
The grounds are sprawling and magnificent.




Hofkirche - The most important Catholic Church in the
city of Dresden.  It is famous for its 78 statues of saints and the
crypt that houses the heart of King Augustus the Strong.


Courtyard statue


Opera House - Semperoper
This building has been rebuilt several times.


Catholic Church




Catholic Cathedral


Unique interior is all white and no stained glass


Wall Mural
Princes' Procession - a 100 metre long porcelain mural made of 25,000 tiles.






Terrace Walk overlooking the Dresden Valley.
This is the Bruhl Terrace (The Balcony of Europe)
This 500 meter walk along the Elbe river offers a unique
view of the city.  


These buildings are even more magnificent when you
stop to realize that 90% of Dresden was leveled in
WWII and all had to be rebuilt.


Frauenkirche (Our Lady's Church)
this Lutheran Church is famous for its dome.  
It was rebuilt and reopened in 2005.



The interior of the Lutheran/Protestant Church is ornate.



Martin Luther statue









































































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