Berlin has long been part of our "Top 10" places to see in Europe. Last weekend we had our chance. June 2 marks "Hemelvaartsdag" in Holland (Ascension Day) which also means bank holiday! (There are many in Europe -- especially in May & June.) We took the opportunity to not only visit Berlin but also Leipzig and a small medieval town on the way.
Our trip began late Wednesday afternoon and the first leg was a small medieval town near Hannover called Goslar. It was supposed to be about 4 - 5 hours by car ... but took us about 7. Ugh. Apparently the rest of the Netherlands decided to leave at the same time ... and it was also holiday in Germany. Our plans for a nice dinner in Goslar gave way to the reality of Dutch traffic jams and a McDonald's on the border. Kids were happy ... Mom & Dad, not so much. Heads hit pillows in our hotel around 11 p.m. We expected Thursday to be a busy day. It was.
Goslar is a beautiful town and recommended in a European travel guide we picked up. We could see why. It is known for its iron (plus silver and copper and other metals) ore mines that were in continuous operation for over 1,000 years. The city center is a typical medieval city center with a fountain in the middle and lots of summertime visitors. It is still pre-peak season so the market square wasn't too crowded -- which makes it harder for an American family to blend in. But we're used to that by now.
The mine for which Goslar is famous is only a few kilometers from the city center. I had read you could take tours but didn't realize how "close" you could really get. First order is to find a hard hat ... easier said than done w/ little heads. Our tour guide gave Helen a bicycle helmet which worked perfect.
We descended into several 100 feet into the 1,000 year old mine and had an incredible experience. I wondered if my claustrophobia would flare up (it didn't) or if any of the kids might panic. Quite the opposite -- they loved it. I worried Helen would be afraid, especially in some of the dark areas, but she giggled the whole time. Jillian slept almost the entire 90 minute journey.
When we came back up the tour took us through the changing room where we saw a very interesting old locker room. The way it worked is each mine worker had a station; at the beginning of their shift they lowered they gear stored above, changed and then put their streetclothes in the basket and back up it went. Pretty clever use of space and makes for a pretty cool -- if not a little eery -- photo years later.
Thursday evening we arrived in Berlin and did a little sight-seeing. However, we decided to drive up to Sachsenhausen known for one of the more infamous concentration camps during WWII. It was here that the Nazis experimented with different torture & gas chamber experiments that were later exported to the more well-known camps across Germany & Poland.
The sign below greeted all who entered w/ a sadly ironic & ominous message: "Work makes you free."
Forget about trying to escape ...
Forget about trying to escape ...
And if you tried, you would likely meet the end of a firing squad. There is a memorial to 100 Dutch resistance fighters that were brought -- and died -- here.
So much history. So much I have read and know the story -- at least what you learn in school. But it is so different to see it in person ... very humbling. Our kids are too small to understand ... and I wouldn't expect them to. When asked, their most memorable experience in Berlin was the tram ride into the city.
Our last stop was Leipzig -- the home & now a living memorial to J.S. Bach. We toured the home of family friends he used to visit; we sat in the church in which he played the organ; we saw where he was buried. Very cool. (At least I thought so ...)
So much history. So much I have read and know the story -- at least what you learn in school. But it is so different to see it in person ... very humbling. Our kids are too small to understand ... and I wouldn't expect them to. When asked, their most memorable experience in Berlin was the tram ride into the city.
Part of the history of Berlin that you could still touch & feel (and we all did, literally) was the Berlin Wall. There is a fairly long piece still intact in front of where the Nazi Gestapo building used to stand (now a pile of rubble, partly excavated & open-air public museum). It is not far from the one of the more famous American tourist traps -- Checkpoint Charlie. I learned why it has that name; apparently there were 3 checkpoints -- A, B (which we saw from the highway while entering Berlin from the west) and C (Charlie) -- into the western sectors.
Our last stop was Leipzig -- the home & now a living memorial to J.S. Bach. We toured the home of family friends he used to visit; we sat in the church in which he played the organ; we saw where he was buried. Very cool. (At least I thought so ...)
And then the long, long car ride back to Hilversum.
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