Radlers

 Our last day in Berlin was very calm and lovely. 

A lovely morning coffee

Our first activity of the day was visiting the free Jewish Museum. The building that houses the museum is very interesting, it’s built in a zigzag shape with many empty spaces. 

Entering the Jewish Museum

One of the empty spaces in the building

This museum was quite interesting as it followed the history of the Jewish people over many centuries, showcasing their history, culture, art, and music. 

A Torah scroll

Wall of famous Jewish people

Some beautiful art

However, the most impactful part of the museum were the displays relating to the rise of anti-semitism in Nazi Germany and the atrocities of the Holocaust.

The architecture of the whole building gives you an intense feeling of discomfort and isolation. The empty spaces I mentioned earlier are called “voids” and are meant to represent destruction, loss, and absence. 

There is one void called the Memory Void, which is an art installation dedicated to all innocent victims of war and violence. 

Looking into the Memory Void

Up close looking at the Memory Void art installation 

——————

We made sure to balance out our serious morning with a fun afternoon. After having two Berlin classics for lunch (a dönar and a currywurst) we walked to Tempelhof Feld. This huge open space used to be an airport in West Berlin. It’s been decommissioned since 2008 and now acts as a recreation ground for the locals. 

My halloumi dönar

Liam’s currywurst

It’s astounding how big this area is. You can walk, bike, or rollerblade around on the landing strips, there’s a circus in one corner, some outdoor gyms in the other, and lots of people getting exercise. 

Looking out over the airstrip 

Old airport signs

There’s also a really cool mini golf course which was put together by local artists. Each hole aims to make a commentary on social issues… and provide a fun game experience! 

The mini golf course

First hole! This one required water to tip the ball upwards

Intricate route for the ball to roll upon

The boys enjoying the mini golf

My favourite mini golf hole was one where pneumatic tubes are used to transport your ball through intricate piping!

We ended our afternoon by doing a very German activity: drinking a Radler outside on a park bench. Radlers are 2% beers mixed with lime soda, and they are very popular here. I quite enjoyed this refreshing drink on the hot afternoon!

Classic radler

Prost!