Görlitz

Friday, June 29, 2012

Another sunny day! In fact, it was downright hot! We arrived in Gorlitz this afternoon, greeted with kisses at the train station by my aunt Bërbel and my uncle Dieter. They whisked us off to our hotel, with a little detour due to many blocked streets in the old part of town where our hotel is. While it's lovely to be able to walk around town with out many cars, it must be very difficult to drive here!

They helped us settle in to our amazing hotel. The location is fantastic: right on the Untermarkt, and next door to the building where my great grand parents had their bakery! We spent the afternoon exploring the area just around our hotel: enjoying a Bockwurst, dipping our fingers and toes in fountains, and playing on the crazy rock swing at the closest playground.

Pictures:
On the S-Bahn to the train station
At the Friedrichstrasse Train Station
On the regional train to Cottbus
On the local train to Görlitz
Old train stations on the way to Görlitz

Dinner with Nina

And here are the pictures of our dinner with Nina.

Nina is the daughter of some of my father's good friends, Anne & Peter. When she was in high school she came and lived with us for a year. It's always wonderful to see her when I visit Berlin!

Berlin Zoo Play

And here are the pictures of the playground, the petting zoo, and more signs. Note the tire swings that the kids sit upon and all swing in toward each other. We saw this again in Görlitz, but didn't get to go on them again.

Pictures:
Molly found a digger thing
The playground
Molly on the tire swings
Nat & Viola
Clara & Molly on the cart (after negotiating a truce over who would sit on which seat and how)
The dads schlepping the kiddos
The Zanklins only 9684 km from LA!
More playground
Molly feeds a pony
Clara & Viola go for more food to feed the animals
More signs

Berlin Zoo

Thursday, June 28, 2012

More Berlin

Today, threats of more cold and rainy days turned into beautiful, warm, sunshine! A perfect day for the Zoo. So off we went, debating all the way who could ride on Viola's stroller, etc. The zoo was nice, but by far the biggest hit was the playground. Wow! What a playground. Trampolines! Tire swings! Slides! Climbing things everywhere! A close second for Molly was seeing the Prewalski horse in person. And I think all of the kids also got a kick out of the petting (and feeding) zoo.

The day was capped off with a lovely, simple dinner with Nina, and sending Zach off to get a cultural experience watching soccer with Nat.

Pictures:
Who's crossing the street?
Clara & Molly
Snack break: Clara, with Viola & Nat
Sisters on the stroller - waaaay to big!
Clara & Viola say "cheeze!"
Molly & the zoo bear
Molly grins at the Prewalzki horse
Other things that can go in a trash can
Molly & the Prewalzki horses
Viola runs to see the horses
Viola & Clara looking at the horses

Berlin Adventures

Wednesday, June 27, 2012


The girls each had a few hours to spend with each parent on their own. Zach ended up at Legoland all morning with Clara & all afternoon with Molly. I ended up biking around our neighborhood in the morning with Molly, and riding a double decker bus with Clara in the afternoon.

The highlight of the day, though, was a visit with Nat, Maja, & Viola. I've known Nat since before he was born - his parents are close friends with mine. And Maja has been key to helping organize our Berlin stay. The girls were delighted to play with 3 year old Viola, who understands english perfectly, but speaks only in German. They worked it out.

Pictures:
Don't step on it!
Clara & Viola doing art
Nat & Zach discussing
Molly using her circus skills to climb
Clara on the S-Bahn