Some things I like...and a little Berlin

I thought I would start my series of things I like and don't like about Germany, just so you could get a taste of the differences between Deutschland and the USA.  True to form, I decided to start with the glass half full.  (I am writing this post just after learning of Clemson's loss to Georgia Tech, so I am in need of a glass half full!  Although, for the record, our season is already BETTER than I expected.  So, there's your glass half full for that!)  Things I like, in no particular order:


1.  Recycling system.  Sure, it's a pain to separate my trash into 5 different groups (compost, paper, plastic/green dot, trash, bottles for $$).  But we really have significantly less trash than in the States.  In addition, everyone here recycles those plastic bottles because they pay a deposit on them.  They have 2 kinds of plastic bottles - ones they reuse and wash (15 cents back) and ones they shred in these machines in the groceries stores (25 cents back).  Oh, and we haven't returned our glass bottles yet - but we get money back on those, too.  Let's face it, when you have paid that extra money, you are more likely to recycle to get it back.  Also, apparently, if you don't sort your house trash appropriately, they will let you know with a little pink slip and a fine eventually.  Money really is incentive at times to do the right thing.  


2.  Rule Following.  So, the Germans like to follow the rules.  They walk when the sign says to walk, they don't when it doesn't say it.  Even if no cars are coming.  They really yield to bicycles and pedestrians, they recycle appropriately, they don't cut in line (for the most part), etc.  This is mostly good.  If you know the rules, you know the expectations, and how to avoid being yelled at, doing the wrong thing, etc.  Most crime involves petty theft or graffiti (which, let's face it, is sometimes good art - so then it doesn't seem as bad - but still against the rules!)  However...(the remainder of this thought will fit more appropriately in what I don't like)


3.  No stores open on Sunday.  I thought I wouldn't like this.  How inconvenient, I need eggs!  Oh no, I don't have the appropriate stuff for Luke to finish his project - to Wal-Mart! Wait.  Turns out, if you plan well (for dinner on Sunday - whether that is eating out or cooking in), for school projects, for spontaneous baking, etc, it is nice to spend Sunday as a true Sabbath.  To really have nothing to do except attend services and AWANA, spend time with the family (no sports on Sunday, either, at least at the younger ages), chilling at home.  It is nice.  It is a day to breathe.  


4.  Public transportation.  It is actually easier to go into town via the tram than it is with the car and attempt to find parking.  And I like not driving and stressing out about parking here, or side-swiping the car (not that anything like that has happened yet, I mean, well, maybe) in the impossibly tiny parking spots.  And it is affordable.  YEAH!


5.  Bakeries.  Fresh yummy bread - sweet, savory, nutty, you name it, every day.  


I am stopping at 5, because I don't want this post to be all words.  But there are more thing I like (and of course, don't like).  I will share more at a later date.  On to the pictures!!

Fresh-squeezed orange juice stand in Berlin.  We stayed in what was formerly East Berlin.  Pretty cool.

Berliner Dom - held by a Protestant congregation at this time.

On the bus tour - they look thrilled. :)

Mesmerized.  He enjoyed listening to the tour in English.

Reichstag building.  The quote "Dem Deutscher Volke" means "to the German people" or "for the German people."  On this day, the German people were on the lawn, sprawled out, sunbathing, eating, making out, you name it.  

These are some of the "donut" choices at Dunkin' Donuts in Berlin.

Siegessäule - Berlin Victory Column
It has a pretty neat story, how each war added height to the column, the cannons are captured from the enemy, and how there are no cannons at the top portion - because they didn't win that war.  Hitler added the final column prematurely, confident of a victory.  The French wanted to destroy it (too many bad memories and wars lost - Franco-Prussian being one of them), but the British-American contention fought to keep it.  

Top of the Victory Column

Zechariah gives the organ grinder some coins.  They outlawed the use of real monkeys here, but Stuart says they have them in Prague!

So cute - both of them!

At the Brandenburg Gate.  Especially crowded this weekend because it was the weekend of the Day of German Unity Holiday.  It commemorates the anniversary of German Reunification that occurred in 1990.  Do you feel old yet?  I am older than the reunited country of Germany.

With the Original Tiger Rag

Zee is getting bored with the picture taking.

View of Berlin and the Reichstag from the Ferris Wheel.

Handsome men - everyone thought we were Dutch with all our orange!

Silas framed this shot with the Reichstag in the background while we were moving - nice work!

Per usual - hamming it up!

I have a LOT more pictures of Berlin, and of course, haven't even touched on Amsterdam, things I don't like, or our shiny red minivan!  But I will get to those soon enough!  By the time I have time for another post, we will be only a month away from seeing everyone in the States!  A definite cause for rejoicing!  :)