More Berlin Fun
On Wednesday, July 21st, Denise & I took Abby to meet up with the Relief Society midweek activity of swimming in a river with a sandy beach. Here is where we met at the train station. Anya is far left. She is a native German member of about 4 years. The Relief Society president is Jeraline Sorenson. She speaks 5 languages as their family has lived in several different countries over the last 19 years. Her 6 sons are all grown up with most of them ending up back in Utah where she is originally from. They will be retiring in one year and want to move to Orem.
This is the beach. It was crowded and rather dirty. Use your imagination as you envision 60 yr. plus ladies in the nude. Gross. It is just the German way says Jeraline. You get used to it.
Denise is 8 1/2 months pregnant and she still could squeeze into her bathing suit.
This is Jeraline with Abby. Jeraline was in a terrible car accident at the age of 2 and her right leg was smashed. She has undergone many childhood surgeries and her leg is crooked and without a knee cap but she can walk on it. She take supplements and is vegetarian to improve her ability to move without arthritis inflammation and pain.
We got home just in time for the Midwife appointment. Here the baby's heartbeat is being monitored.
Abby loves playing in her sand box.
Thursday July 22nd 2010After dropping Jeremy off at his morning language class, Denise took me and Abby to Museum Island where there are several major museums that are surrounded by a moat-like river. This beautiful columned walk way is where musicians come to play their instruments or sing Opera. It is all very romantic. During world war 2 much damage was sustained here and it has been in repair since.
I think this is what is referred to as "Lust Gardens".
I don't know what is on the face of this building, but it looks awful and needs to be removed. It was some kind of an artistic mosaic that had better days.
This is a cathedral. The state supports all the churches here and therefore pays all the clergy as state employees. If you want to have your wedding in a church, you are required to pay a church tax. 
Abby was playing in the fountain before it suddenly turned on.
This is on a bridge that crosses over the "moat" around Museum Island.
This is Humblot University. The Nazis were against freedom of thought that might n0t be in agreement with their atheist supreme state ideology. Many educational leaders were persecuted and murdered. Books were taken and burned in the square just opposite of this sight
This church was bombed during WW2. It has been left in it's broken condition to remind the people of the destruction of war.
Inside of this church is gorgeous mosaics on the walls, ceilings and floors.
Here is a statue of Christ. It has also suffered damage.
Denise is looking pretty pregnant.
Elizabeth Clark is a 17 yr. old member of the church. She has lived here in Germany for 9 years, but her family is from South Africa and they all have the most adorable British accent. Elizabeth babysat Abby for the evening while we went out to dinner. It costs $10 an hour for babysitting here, and then one is also expected to tip on top of that. Jeremy and Denise never get time away together - it costs more for the sitter than to pay for the evening.
I think this is what is referred to as "Lust Gardens".
I don't know what is on the face of this building, but it looks awful and needs to be removed. It was some kind of an artistic mosaic that had better days.
This is a cathedral. The state supports all the churches here and therefore pays all the clergy as state employees. If you want to have your wedding in a church, you are required to pay a church tax. 
Abby was playing in the fountain before it suddenly turned on.
This is on a bridge that crosses over the "moat" around Museum Island.
This is Humblot University. The Nazis were against freedom of thought that might n0t be in agreement with their atheist supreme state ideology. Many educational leaders were persecuted and murdered. Books were taken and burned in the square just opposite of this sight
This church was bombed during WW2. It has been left in it's broken condition to remind the people of the destruction of war.
Inside of this church is gorgeous mosaics on the walls, ceilings and floors.
Here is a statue of Christ. It has also suffered damage.
Denise is looking pretty pregnant.
Elizabeth Clark is a 17 yr. old member of the church. She has lived here in Germany for 9 years, but her family is from South Africa and they all have the most adorable British accent. Elizabeth babysat Abby for the evening while we went out to dinner. It costs $10 an hour for babysitting here, and then one is also expected to tip on top of that. Jeremy and Denise never get time away together - it costs more for the sitter than to pay for the evening.
Here we are at a Thai Restaurant. The food was delicious.
