Last weekend, we went to Berlin for a few days. Our goals: Check out the Christmas markets and the remnants of the wall. Long story short, check and check. Read on for the long story.We stayed at a hotel that was decorated in the style of the DDR (Socialist East Germany). It was pretty cool, but Aidan was MAD because the last few hotels we've stayed at, in Pisa and London, have had bunk beds for him to sleep in. Apparently these hotel owners were still waiting in line for their bunks.
We went to three markets. Each had its own personality, but there were lots of constants: large gingerbread hearts made into necklaces, wooden ornaments, hot spiced wine and 1/2 meter "wursts," wooden huts full of things to buy, and kids' rides. Aidan gets so excited about the rides, but as soon as they start, this happens:
The kids did OK, but it was very cold. For one of the first times in my life, I experienced weather that required coats, hats, gloves, and scarves; everyone but Joel was wearing tights under their pants. Still, cheerful faces were all around:
One of the markets, at Potsdamer platz, had a large hill constructed and you could ride down on inner tubes. Aidan got scared and backed out, but here is a terrible picture of Joel going down:
On the last day, we went to the wall. It didn't seem so intimidating, but the absence of guards and guns these days might have some effect on my impression.
We also went to the DDR Museum, which was really fun and one of the few things Aidan liked on the trip, and the Checkpoint Charlie Museum, which I thought was overrated but did have some interesting things to look at, I guess. I thought the actual checkpoint was more interesting: 
Hope you enjoyed these pictures. We have lots more and should be posting some more with more in-depth information, if you care. Which we hope you do!
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