Locals in the Morning - Tourists by Afternoon

Josie and Bryn had a sleep over Wednesday night, just like old times!  In the morning Bryn borrowed my bike and joined the kids and Marty on the daily bike to the grocery store for rolls and bread.  Feeling like a local already.

 Off they go all the bikers in a row.

After breakfast we hopped on a bus and then the S-bahn to meet Bryn's family down at the Brandenburg gate.  It is an interesting balance to feel like we are starting to feel like locals and yet still completely intrigued by the landmarks and touristy areas as well.  The S-bahn takes us directly to the Brandenburger Tor which was great for us to discover.

The whole group - 4 parents, 5 kids and 2 former Au Pairs.

It felt kind of good to be a tourist for the afternoon.  We haven't really left our small town of Zehlendorf much since arriving.  Being in the hustle and bustle of the city center made us remember why we fell in love with this city in the first place.  So much art and history and energy.  Right now since it is summer and the weather is nice all of the restaurants spill out onto their patios and into the sidewalks.

Paige and Benjamin get rides up high.

We walked up from the Brandenburg Gate to the German History Msueum.  We spent a couple of hours here discovering and learning so much history of the world and of Germany.

A fascinating museum that Marty and I had gone to years ago and have always wanted to return to. The kids impressed me by actually seemingly taking it all in.  Benjamin, in particular, was very intrigued by it all.

 Granted, he had the best tour guide by his side the entire time.  Marty is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to German history and can explain things in a way that he can understand.

Marty had to leave after the museum to get back home in time for his radio show but the kids and I stayed with Bryn and her family for the rest of the afternoon.  We had a quick lunch and then headed to the Pergamon Museum.  I wasn't too sure how the kids would handle another museum on the heels of the History Museum but they rose to the challenge.  Benjamin, again, was more interested and curious about things than I would have predicted.  He is currently interested in Ancient Egypt and they had a ton of stuff from this era.  He loved all the weapons and skulls and tombs.  After the museum we head for an ice cream cone and then are about to board a boat tour when I realize that my kids are about to melt down as quickly as their ice cream is melting from the humidity.  I call an audible, knowing we still have an at least 45 minute commute involving buses and trains and walking and say that we probably should just call it a day.  As soon as we separate from our friends the kids do in fact have a major melt down.  They are SOOO tired.  Their legs are SOOO sore and they simply cannot take another step.  We sit on a bench and regroup.  I consult Google maps to make sure we can make it back.  Then we head home with minimal whining and only one minor mistake in directions on the walk to the bus stop.  I consider it a win in all ways especially the transporational piece by myself with the kids in my new city.
We decide to head back to Good Times, the Indonesian restaurant, for dinner and it was DELICIOUS again.  I think we've found a new family favorite.

Yay! We even have our "normal order".  In Seattle we never need menus at our local favorite places because we get the same thing every single time.  Feels kind of fun to have a new favorite in our new city.