Parents Visit Berlin

(The Bear is the symbol of Berlin, just so everyone knows this isn't completely ridiculous)

For the last two weeks I've been pretty much out of commission, and a lot of great stuff has been going on so its time to catch up.

On April 6th I picked up my parents at the aeroporto and after a brief scare of malfunctioning bank cards, we made it to their hotel and dropped off their bags. The hotel is so close to my apartment I can see the front door from my window, which is good for keeping an eye on the old folks.

It was nice feeling to be able to show my parents around Berlin. In any other place it would be difficult to entertain your parents for 5 days, but here there's plenty to keep everybody busy. The main issue is striking a balance between Mom's gardens, paintings, and attention to detail and Dad's history, architecture, beer, and "big picture" styles.

Check Point Charlie was right for both my parents because they lived through most of it, and since it's right down the street we went there first. Charlie is also a good spot to pick up the Path of the Wall which we walked along to Potsdamerplatz, after which we had our first lunch of Beers, brats, sausages and dark bread. Nobody was complaining and everybody was happy.

(John & Gay at the wall, Soviets went fleeing)

In the following days we had great meals together and saw some the top sights in Berlin. Highlights would have to be the German History Museum, where my Dad spent 4 hours enthralled in WWI & II history, while my Mom was most impressed by him not complaining let alone any exhibits. I would recommend this museum to anyone. It's detailed but not in a way that bores you.

Another highlight had to have been lunch at KaDeWe (see glossary) where we toured the decadent 6th floor gourmet gallery. They have every kind of food, pastry, wine, cheese, fish, meat, anything else you can imagine and some you don't want to.

My parents also took in a jazz show with me and my buddy Jan at A-Trane. Everybody had a great time and it was a nice to see my parents do something they probably wouldn't do.

Another night we went to a great place for sunset cocktails called Solar. The place is a little snooty and selective but somehow mom and dad got through the bouncer, and up the elevator to the bar where we had a drink overlooking the city.

Last but not least we visited the palace Sanssouci ("with out a care") in Potsdam. Amazing gardens and some slightly odd sculptures kept everybody entertained as we waited to enter the palace, which is set up as a one floor villa. As my Dad always says, "It's good to be King," and here was proof. This guy's summer cottage is huge and didn't compromise on quality either.

Palace Gardens

In the end everybody had a great time, and my anxiety was unfounded. Good times in Berlin, forthcoming, Easter in Zürich and Croatia!