Berlin & DDR Museum

 Our flight back from Istanbul was ten times cheaper to land in Berlin.  So we opted to catch another form of transportation back to Poland from Berlin and save some extra $.  While waiting for our ride we had a half a day to spend in Berlin and while we were there found some fun treasures!

(Left) My Olympic Berlin Bear (see St. Petersburg Post for more Berlin Bear appearances)

(Right) a traveling Octoberfest"ish" Beer Cart where the numerous horses had bells and jingled as if they were hauling Santa's sleigh.

 An adorable little kid shirt (which was way overpriced so we opted NOT to purchase it).

 

We didn't have to travel far from the Airport to make it to our intended destination: DDR Museum.  Michal really wanted to go and was thrilled to be there.  This museum shows what the daily life in East Germany was like in a very "hands on" type of way.  Michal was like a little kid in a candy shop while touring this museum.  I think that we set the world record for spending the most time ever at the DDR Museum.  Here are the treasures in which Michal found. 

 

 Overall, I would have to say it made my heart just melt seeing how happy Michal was.  He wished we had more than a half a day in Berlin so that he could have spent more time there. 

 

(Left Below) Berlin Cathedral (Right Below) Berlin Tower

  (I couldn't pass up this smile as Michal watched his favorite trains go by in the Hauptbanhof).

Wandering back to the train station to catch our ride to Poland, Michal couldn't stop talking about the Museum and what life would have been like during that time. He then told me stories that his mom, Ania, had shared with him about hardships from being under the Soviet Union. Hearing Michal's stories, and visiting this museum, was a real eye opener to how lucky I am that I grew up in the United States. I don't say that casually, but I have such a stronger sense of pride everytime I see my home country's flag, or hear my National Anthem play. Living outside of the United States has been one of the best experiences for me. It has helped me appreciate what I have, but also esteem other cultures for their values and consecrated beliefs. I hope everyone gets the opportunity that I had to voyage beyond the United States and experience culture from a different viewpoint.