Reichstag Bundestag

When we visited Berlin in 2016 on our first interrailing trip, I had learned that visits to the Reischtag dome were possible and had planned to do the trip. When we arrived, we were told that it was necessary to book in advance and so we couldn't find a space anywhere near the time we had in Berlin. This time, I booked months in advance and included us in an English speaking tour. 

After a difficult day walking around Berlin in the rain, trying to find somewhere that was open, the kids had a meltdown near the Brandenberg tower and said they would refuse to go in to the Reichstag. To cap it all off, there was nowhere indoors for us to wait and it was drizzling and very cold... I got the third degree from each child for about half an hour. In the end, it was clear that an English speaking tour was out of the question so I told the staff and they kindly let us through 5 minutes early to simply look around and avoid the queues. The staff at the Reichstag were fantastically helpful and very kind. 

Looking happy at the Brandenburg gate

Obviously there are rarely any photographs of the fall outs... so some time elapsed here and now Caden is inside the Reichstag. 

It was worth the wait... what a spectacular design! It's a marvel! 

We could see parliament taking place way below... Caden said he could see Angela Merkel. He also said he thought he saw Macron, which spurred another meltdown because he wanted to meet him. Tough day! 

On our walk home, there were an extraordinary amount of police around, riot vans and cars stuffed with police everywhere... 

We stumbled upon a demonstration outside the Hauptbahnhof! We asked a lady and she told us that it was the anniversary night of the broken glass, Kristallnacht. One big event in Germany on 14 Nov. 1940 that was to be the catalyst for the Holocaust.  She told us a judge in Germany had, that week, ruled that the Nazis may walk in protest through the city. Freedom of speech. Also she said that she and the demonstrators were there to peacefully exercise their free speech that Nazis are not acceptable in Germany. It was moody, but really interesting. I didn't feel fully safe so we got through and went home, too many police to assume it would definitely go well!