History...With a side of Gluhwein

As you may have noticed, I perhaps do not often focus on things of historical significance as we make our way through Europe.  I feel that I am absorbing things by some osmosis- like process and expanding my horizons just by being present.  Plus, I have a short attention span and get really bored on tours, especially if they involve buses and other people, so there goes that.  But on our recent visit to Berlin the story really had my attention. 

Maybe it's because the history of Berlin wasn't so much history when we were growing up as it was a Current Event (remember those? And you actually had to cut out a newspaper article instead of looking it up on cnn.com?).  Although I was mostly busy trying to get my hair spiral permed and cut the shoulders out of my sweatshirts so I looked like Jennifer Beals in Flashdance, even I remember President Reagan's challenge " Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" 

I won't bore you with retelling the story of the Berlin Wall - partly because most of you were probably paying better attention and know it already.  And those of you who don't really aren't that interested.  But Berlin is an amazing city - the story, while concluded, is still very much present and permeates the city in architecture,  attitude, and emotion.  

This picture is at the East Side Gallery, which is a 1.3 km section of the wall that still stands, and artists have painted murals on large sections to create a continuous work of art.  

I just find it stunning that only 24 years ago on very spot people risked their lives and in many cases died trying to get from one side of this man made wall to another.   And today, our sweet little four year old buddy Brooklynn is having a great time jumping in the puddles, running back and forth from one side of the wall to the other. 

The line where the wall stood between East and West Berlin was directly in front of our hotel.  Here are the chickens in both East and West!  And check out some new faces to the blog!  Behind Miss Caroline is the lovely Miss Abby Rose, then Brooklynn, then Georgia and Jackson.  Their parents are Skip and Marianne, and they are most EXCELLENT travelling companions, and the kids get along like a house on fire! 

Of course, with 5 kids in tow the allotted time for history is short.  Must...find...entertainment......losing...will...to....live.....

TAH DAH! Check it out kids.  Christmas Market with the largest tubing hill in Europe!  They went down that about...oh, 55 times. 

This was our first trip to the German Christmas Markets!

One beautiful German tradition is the Weihnachtspyramide. Which simply translates to Christmas Pyramid.  It's basically a multi-level carousel that rotates and usually depicts the nativity. 

There are definitely some things that are uniquely German.  The food, for one.  The only thing I got from this was the word "mit", which is "with".  Other than that it was dealer's choice.

And then there was this.  I tell you, in the world's contest for who can make the longest word, Germany totally takes it by a landslide.

This one we figured out and queued up immediately.  I have decided that things that are called "ballen" or "ballchen" are universally good (Remember Bitterballen in Austria? AKA Fried Gravy?).  Inevitably it is a fried ball of something, and when is that ever bad?  In this case - it is FANTASTIC because it is a fried ball of  fluffy donut heaven, served hot with powdered sugar.  

And keeping in theme, there is also Schneeball - a ball of shortcrust pasty.  

 And of course, the gluhwein.  There is definitely a learning curve on the drink business.  In Germany the gluhwein is commonly served mit rum, in which they heat a copper cup of rum over an open fire before pouring it into mulled wine.  Mmmmm.....wine with hot rum......

Hot tip for future Christmas Market visitors.  German Gluhwein should NOT be confused with Icelandic Gluhwein. Icelandic Gluhwein tastes like moose wee wee.  I'm sorry to any Icelandic readers, but it totally does. 

And really, what trip to Germany would be complete without giant slabs of meat?  There were nackensteak in the markets (essentially a hot slab of grilled pork on a roll)...

Rahmbrot, which is a warm bread with an herb cream cheese like topping and ham bits.  

And then there was this.  Really, there are no words.

Special note:  Four years ago when we left America Caroline would only eat foods that were white.  Let's take a moment and reflect on the fact that she ate ALL of these foods.  Amen.

The Christmas Markets over Thanksgiving has been one of our favorite new traditions.  But we are looking forward to Thanksgiving that involves turkey instead of pig knuckle next year!  We'll bring the ballen!

We are thankful for all of you!  Have a wonderful holiday!