Friday - Frustrating and Wonderful

Breakfast at our usual nearby location was coffee milk and couscous, yes again, and a zucchini quiche and muesli. It was cool and windy, and we ate indoors. We then made our way to the hotel where Manfred was staying, we believe. When we arrived at Alexanderplatz Karin turned on her Google maps for directions to Manfred's nearby hotel. Intersections were large, and trams and traffic heavy. At the hotel I requested to wrote a note to Manfred suggesting that we meet this afternoon at 3 PM by a large world clock. I requested that someone place the note under Manfred's hotel room door. The person at the desk agreed. I even offered money to have it delivered, but it was refused.

We then left by tram, agreeing we had done what we could to meet Manfred.  Although this was the day we had planned to spend at the very large department store, Ka De We, we postponed our shopping plans in order to meet Manfred. Until that time we returned to the Museumsinsel U Bahn station and visited the German History Museum. I remember that it was an excellent presentation of the history of the German people. Arrows directed us to a very new building; it was next for to the building I remembered. The exhibitions didn't match the description in our Rick Steves guidebook. I asked an attendant if we were in the Germsn History Museum.  He replied that indeed we were in the correct Museum, and he said that the building next door, the huge old structure was being renovated and would be complete in 2026. I was relieved, and we continued viewing exhibitions on what it means to be a citizen with history dating back to the 1700s. It appeared complex. A second exhibition on Karl Marx and his influence here was educational.  Did you know that his parents were Jewish? His father renounced that faith and had his children baptized Christian. His mother did not renounce her faith, but she allowed her children to be raised Christian. Marx was an atheist, and he published his thoughts in a newspaper which had a large readership until it was shut dow. His friend Friedrich Engles was wealthy and provided support for Marx in his later years. To me there is still a question about the meaning of socialism and communism. My initial thoughts today are that the philosophy may have valid points. However, humans use the philosophy to suit their own interests. The third exhibition focused on Richard Wagner and how how some of his opera supported the message which Hitler wanted given out. However, my favorite opera, Die   Meistersänger, gave an alternative message, that the community can read the mold of expected behavior. The fourth exhibition was a series of photographs of former chancellor Angela Merkel along with her words about her life, personal and professional. I found it wonderful.

The next hour was confusing and frustrating. We had intended to spend a little over an hour at Ka De We, but instead we found ourselves confused about how to get there from the the Hauptbahnhof. It seemed as though there wasn't an U Bahn which went there, the S Bahn appeared not to be functioning, and the bus was delayed, plus heavy crowds and multiple levels to the Bahnhof. We lost an hour and decided rather to go early to Alexanderplatz early and have some lunch there. Karin had a Dönner sandwich, and I finished my breakfast couscous. 

We watched people and waited for Manfred, but he didn't appear.  People watching was fascinating, and a violinist and cellist played lovely, consoling music. I called our hotel for any message, and there was none. We concluded we had done what we could and continued guessing what Manfred might be thinking or doing. Karin suggested we go to the Brandenburg Gate.

We were there in a few minutes.  I read Rick Steves information about the area as we walked around and through the gate. We stopped briefly in the room for stillness to focus on the desire for peace. The US embassy has no visible protective barrier per German request to keep the Architecture of the Pariser Platz in the style it had been before the area was destroyed.  We walked a few feet to the side and spent some time among the dark cement blocks, Germany's acknowledgement of its role in the murder of six million Jews in the second world war. They fill a city block, are of varying sizes and on uneven and undulating ground. It felt good to sit in quiet, be quiet, and read and remember those persons murdered by the Hitler regime. 

We then walked past the Brandenburg Gate toward the Reichstag. We stopped and looked at the white crosses with pictures of a few of the 136 persons who died trying to escape from the East to the West of Berlin. Closer to the Reichstag we stopped at the remembrance of the 96 members of Parliament who opposed Hitler. Their names dates, place of death, and political party are inscribed on thin pieces of slate placed close to one another. I appreciate this form of honoring brave persons. 

We walked around the Reichstag reading more descriptions.  It is indeed a formidable building. New buildings surround it as and house offices of representatives, committee meeting rooms, etc. The river Spree flows behind several buildings. There are photos and information about several more persons who lost their lives trying to escape life in the East. Steps for sitting and watching the river or just being around the government buildings is impressive as us the expanse of lawn in front of the Reichstag.  People can be all around their Capitol. Even the articles in the constitution are etched in glass for anyone to read as s/he walks by one government building by the river.  Buildings are also mostly transparent.  I am very impressed.

With tired feet we took two U Bahns back to our hotel. After another ten minute walk and with two cold bottles of Berliner Weisse and a bag of "student chow" we watched two German soccer teams compete. They seem either to dramatize their injuries or they really do injure one another. 

It is close to 11 PM, Gute Nacht,  Susan