A Church and Chocolate Cookies

Behold! Berliner Dom

In today's installment of "See Berlin" -- but should really be called "whatever it takes to wear out the kids" -- we strolled over to the Berliner Dom. It's a beautiful and historic church that was rebuilt a century ago, and again after WWII. We walked around the inside (yeah, I finally saw the inside of a building!) and I got goosebumps from the creepy crypt. Otherwise, lovely and massive.

Alice, with her mouth watering

There was a coffeehouse in the basement (next to the crypt, blah!) where I treated the girls to a chocolate cookie -- before lunch. What a swell mama!

The Royal Palace - what's left of it
(Click on the pic for a closer look)

So, I've mentioned that construction sites abound in this city. But here's something truly interesting ... the rebuilding of a palace! This archeological dig, across from the Berliner Dom, is the remains of the Royal Palace. It was, no kidding, blown up after the war by East German leaders because they didn't want to be reminded of their bourgeois past. Apparently, a long debate on what to do with this site went on here but ultimately they decided to unearth the palace and rebuild. Here's an article from 2002, which includes a cool picture of what it once looked like. History!

Leah at Berliner Dom

Post-nap, we walked in the other direction to a park that was once supposed to be a canal, but because of health issues with the water, they filled it in and turned it into a park. There's a nice rose garden and a large pond. It ends with a large church that is in midst of being reconstructed. I'll take pictures next time I'm there. However, to the children's supreme disappointment, there is NO playground.

Tomorrow, Leah has requested to go on the train. So, we're off to neighborhoods further afield.