Wunderbar!

Wunderbar ~ Wonderful ~ that was my vacation in Germany with my beautiful daughters!  Every day was a new adventure to experience, new people to meet, and new food to try.  Looking back, I realize the girls and I packed soooo much into 8 days which probably explains why I'm still tired!  I can't remember the last time I did so much walking on a daily basis.  But, Berlin is very cosmopolitan,  and entices you to walk, and and take in the scenery and the pulse of the city.  Because I have so much to share with you, dear friends, I'm going to take this month to write my blog as I did in my travel journal.  Peppered into this will also be my current swaps and special doings in Tucson.

Berlin, Friday, September 22nd - our first full day in Germany.  Schotzie (Melissa) has finished up her MAC end of the trip and joins us.  We stayed at the Crowne Plaza City Centre and here are the girls in front of the hotel.

We figure we'll get shopping out of the way...LOL, so we hoof it around City Centre and do just that.

across the street from our hotel

Europa Center

Oh, FYI...there seems to be an H & M on every corner!!  We have lunch at this charming authentic German restaurant.  The weather is fantastic and so we opt to eat outside.

Alt-Berlin, where we stopped for lunch

three hungry but happy girls!

Currywurst - a traditional Berlin offering - deelish!

warm potato salad with green onions and cucumber = addicting!

I'm not a fan of sauerkraut, but this would convert me...creamy, warm, and buttery

one of the favorite beers

our adorable waitress, Franziska

We walked off lunch and went over to the famous KaDaWe department store...think Neiman Marcus meets Saks Fifth Avenue...

KaDaWe

there was the most incredible exhibit of Hermes scarves.  It was really an art installation...here are just a few...

an homage to the Berlin bear

this was a diaphanous scarf that floated over rows of Japanese sabers

the multi-striped walls were actually scarf silk!

It was truly amazing and if you would like to see more, email me and I'd be happy to send you the other pix.

Of course, I had to take Schotzie's pic in front of the MAC counter at KaDaWe....she's the reason we were even  there!

This department store is amazing.  One whole floor is devoted to food ~ bakery, bar, deli, imports, candy, fish ~ you name it!

Around the block behind the store was an equally enticing store, Idee...devoted to art materials...a must-do for this gal!  Who could pass this up???

We really played "tourist" with the remainder of the day before heading back to the hotel and getting ready for dinner.  We had our first dinner that night at Ansbach, an Italian bistro run by a transplanted Italian!  Salads and pizza were enjoyed.

It was a long, but very happy day.  We looked forward to our most inviting beds that awaited.

Thank you for visiting with me, for all your good wishes for my trip, and the wonderful "welcome home" I received from so many of you!  I missed you, table water at meals, smoke-free dining, and my dh.  I loved this clean city, beautiful public transportation, charming people, gorgeous weather, and a culture immersed in it's rich history.

More to come next Monday!  Until then, have a most wonderful week!
xoxo
Karen