Thanksgiving 2019

We had a wonderful week in Berlin sharing Thanksgiving with my in-laws, John and Martha, as well as Sam (Dave’s twin) and his wife Barbara.

For Thanksgiving Dinner this year, we went to the Marriott near Potsdamer Platz for a buffet complete with turkey and all of the trimmings. Ben and I agreed our favorite was the mashed potatoes!

{Thanksgiving Dinner 2019}

A Fun Week Together:

{Our first of many meals together. Lunch at Pasternak in Kollwitzkiez.}

Because the boys still had school all week, we had a lot of adult time together exploring the city without them.

{East Side Gallery}

One thing that I love about Berlin is the ability to easily (with tickets that are affordable) expand one’s horizons through the visual and performing arts.

{Our last night out together – Salome at the Staatsoper}

I feel as though I have only scratched the surface, but have thoroughly enjoyed the operas, concerts at the Philharmonie and galleries that I have been to.

{East Side Gallery}

I had heard about a family that owns a former WWII bunker in Mitte where they display their private collection (and live on the top floor). https://www.yatzer.com/boros-collection-bunker-berlin-3

So a few months earlier, I had booked an English tour for us. To me, the space was magnificent as were many of the works on display.

While on the tour, the guide explained how one of the featured artist had created a sculpture based on those found at Nemrud Dagh in Turkey by archeologist Theresa Goell. We all began to smile as Theresa, or Tess, was Martha’s aunt. In fact, Martha had written and directed a documentary about Tess released in 2006 called Queen of the Mountain.

While photos are not allowed in the gallerie, the guide was so excited she took some pics of us with the statue.

Justin Matherly, A concern altering pure feature (e.t.s.p.n.g.l.) (2013) | Reinforced concrete, ambulatory equipment, stainless steel hardware, zip ties, spray paint, water based marker / 149 × 87 × 164,5 cm / Boros Collection, Berlin

{Surprise connection to the art at the Boros Collection}

Each day we eagerly waited until school was out so we could spend our evenings with the boys. On the first night, Martha and I picked them up and stopped off at the bakery next to the school.

{Post school pick up bakery stop}

We are very friendly with one of the ladies who works there. She’s known us since February 2018 when we came to Berlin to visit schools. And even though she can’t speak English, we always learn new words from her and somehow discuss the latest happenings.

{Ben rushing home from school to see everyone}

My favorite times together were enjoyed over meals at our new apartment and playing games and talking.

{Family game time}

We also split up some during our days. One day, Sam and John went to Dessau to visit the Bauhaus exhibits. (Poor Dave was feeling sick and stayed home.)

{Visiting Bauhaus in Dessau}

While the girls met at Alexanderplatz for shopping and lunch followed by a trip to the spa.

{Weinachtsmarkt in Alexanderplatz}

Did I mention all of the eating?

{PopPop was so hungry he could eat an Isaac}

As with most family gatherings, there was eating. And lots of it. We went out for pizza.

{Pizza at Standard Serious Pizza}

We had desserts.

{Yummy desserts at Markthalle IX}

We enjoyed hot drinks at the Scandinavian Lucia Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market) at the KulturBrauerei.

{Glühwein and Heise Schokolade at the Lucia Weihnachtsmarkt}

We even had a lovely five-course dinner at Pauly Saul.

On the weekend, we all went to lunch at Markhalle IX followed by a trip to the Deutsches Technikmuseum/Science Spectrum Museum.

{Deutsches Technikmuseum}

It was so nice to be all together to catch up and share our future plans. But with all visits, it quickly came to an end. It was hard for the boys to say goodbye, but we have plans to meet again next spring to create more memories together.

And we are so grateful that everyone came to Berlin to see us.

{Saying goodbye is never easy}