Courtroom 600 (The Nuremburg Trials)

On our trip to Nuremburg last weekend, we visited the world famous courthouse where the Nuremburg Trials were held. After World War 2, the Allies had to come together to prosecute the Nazi War Criminals. Hitler had already committed suicide, or he would have been prosecuted here as well. The trials were controversial at the time, but played a huge part in the establishment of an international court and crimes against humanity. It was such an interesting museum (although, it is actually still a current Courtroom that is used too, but visitors can access it when it isn't being used).

Palace of Justice

The 4 Allies: The U.S. , Great Britain, France, and the Soviets

A better explanation than mine above :-)

The Nuremburg Trials

Here we are in front of the Courthouse (if you look in the upper right windows, you can see the chandeliers lit in the famous courtroom.

This was a photo of the same courthouse building that we are standing in front of above, but it was taken during the actual trials. The security was so tight that they even had to close the curtains in the courtroom during the trial ;-)

Above the side entrance that also led the prisoners directly in from the prison.

Where the prisoners sat in the courtroom.. (see the photo of the prisoners below)

Bryan and Bailey taking it all in (they had an audio guide in English that we could listen to). The 4 windows in the back (top) were actually where additional seating was during the trials. 

A picture of the entire courtroom taken from the back corner

Bailey standing in front of the podium (the prisoners would have been seated to the far left of the photo).

Mia at the podium

....and Bailey (we had to get individual photos :-))

And a group photo too

The entrance to the courtrrom

Upstairs from the Courtroom, they had a great museum. This is a photo of the prisoners sitting on trial (they would have been seated in the same place as mentioned above)

Many committed suicide to avoid being arrested or tried

Mia watching video of the actual trials

This is the prison that is next to the courtroom. This is where the prisoners awaited their trial and sentencing. They were brought into the court underground and through the doors mentioned above. Notice of in the distance the beautiful city of Nuremburg.

Random Photos

Here are just a few random photos of our week. It is funny because Bailey looked at my little point and shoot camera the other day and noticed that it has turned a complete silver color (it is supposed to be black). My camera is almost always in my pocket (I know I am complete old school, because almost every other human on earth just uses their phone for gorgeous pictures). Sometimes I look on other blogs and see such beautiful photos - and then I look at mine and the colors don't always pop out and the other flaws are completely unedited. It also might just be the gloom of the German Winter sky that makes the photos not so enticing. Anyway, they are still happy memories and so even unedited, I will post them :-)

Mia went out to play in what little snow we had. She made a snow Angel (notice the Angel to the right :-))

Mia went sledding with some friends. The hill was quite packed down from previous "sledders", but lots of fun anyway.

I thought this was cute..other kids had made a little "jump" out of snow. Here they are waiting patiently in line to go down the jump :-)

Our love! (Frank :-))

I made a German cake the other day (something I don't do very often at all). It is interesting because they use juice as one of the ingredients - it was yummy!

"Strasse" is the name for "street" in German. I loved this one - it is called "Nimrodstrasse" - too funny!

Bryan wanted to try the restaurant below in Nuremburg last weekend. When we pulled up, we noticed the 3D MiniGolf right next door. It was so funny because Mia had been here a few weeks earlier with her school. She was like, "Hey... I know where we are!"

This was the restaurant Bryan wanted to try. It is funny because they only speak English (I have never seen that here before). It is very Americanized. Absolutely delicious Barbeque and Brisket!

This was funny - we stopped at Ikea (my favorite) and they were having an after Christmas "tree throwing" contest!

Oh Ikea - how I love you!!! :-) So many cool ideas!!!

Hard to read, but this says "American Store" - it sells things like skittles, marshmellows, peanut butter, wrangler jeans etc. It makes me laugh to see what Germans think is true "Americana".

The Christmas Tree Pickle...

I have one last funny Christmas story to share. Before I go on, I have to say that it has become very apparent to me since living over here, that you truly can't believe everything you hear or read. The news is often (not always), but probably more often than not, slanted. It really is important to question everything! Anyway, so here goes the story. We have had many American friends over the years (When we lived in the U.S.) that follow "an old German tradition" where you hide a pickle in the Christmas Tree. The legend says that the pickle is the last thing to to go on (and be hidden in) the tree. On Christmas Morning, the child that finds it will receive an extra gift from St. Nikolas. When we first moved over here, we asked many of our German friends about it. No one seemed to have any idea abut this "old German tradition". Later, as we learned more about German tradition, there are definitely faulty facts about this story: one being that Germans do not celebrate or even open Christmas gifts on the morning of the 25th and two, St. Nikolas comes on December 6th, not on Christmas Eve (like Santa does in our culture). After realizing that it isn't a tradition in Bavaria, I chalked it up that maybe it is a tradition elsewhere in Germany - and then I totally forgot about it. Fastforward to Christmas this year... we received a beautiful card and gift from one of my best friends here. She gave us "pickle" Christmas ornament with a funny handwritten card that explains that the "Old German Christmas pickle" tradition/legend, is in fact just a complete made up story from America. I laughed out loud when I realized that she had remembered our inquiry so long ago and it had a lasting impression on her. I got such a kick out of it that she was able to find a pickle Christmas ornament (but of course, it came from a very touristy store - catering to foreigners). So funny!!!! A fabulous reminder that you truly can't believe everything you hear or read :-)

Our beutiful new (and very funny) Christmas ornament :-)

New Years/Sylvester in Bamberg

In Germany, they call New Years, "Sylvester". It is named not after the Looney Toons character, but instead a former Pope who later became "Saint Sylvester". It is a huge celebration in Germany. Much more like our 4th of July, but much more extreme. It is a time for many traditions and it is also when all of the typically "orderly" Germans let it all go and celebrate! We have celebrated each year here with the same group of friends, and this year was no different (we weren't right in the city though this year, so it was a bit less extreme).  Truly a great way to ring in the New Year!!

The calm before the storm :-)

One of the traditions is to watch the 17 minute movie "Dinner for One". It is an English short film, but a huge German tradition.

It is quite funny (you can watch it on Youtube)

And the Rum/Sugar bowl or "Feuerzangenbowle" in German.

Another great tradition!

And of course fireworks!

It was quite damp and foggy this year, but fun nonetheless.

So pretty!!

Mia even lights them now (she is definitely "German" :-)) 

Prost at Midnight!!!

We even ran into some old friends on the street at Midnight - such a small world!!!

Prost to 2016!!!

Boleslawiec, Poland

After leaving Berlin, we drove 2 hours South East to Boleslawiec, Poland. Bryan and the kids treated me to some pottery for my Christmas Present (along with a georgous card that said that nobody would nag or complain while I shopped :-)). The. best. gift. I was able to get some mismatched desert plates that go with my mismatched dinner plates - which make it look like one big mismatched table setting (and I absolutely love it :-)). We also went into an Antique shop in the town, where I was able to buy a beautiful German Christmas Pyramid for a song (ok, I'm not sure if it was actually made in Germany (or even Europe for that matter), but lets just go with that ok? I will forever cherish this piece of handcrafted beauty ;-).

This is just a stock photo of what a "Christmas Pyramid" looks like, but mine looks quite similar

 

The gorgeous sunrise as we head to Poland (notice the road is perfect - the Autobahn in Germany is always pristine! As we crossed into Poland, it was nothing but bumps and potholes for a long stretch.

Got the obligatory photo of the EU border crossing sign - "Republik Polen" (Republic of Poland) 

Our GPS always takes us interesting ways - you never know what you might see! Never in my life did I think I would one day be driving with my family of 5 through the back roads of Poland!!!

Looked a bit like a Modern Cross, but we weren't quite sure???

The town of Boleslawiec is known for its Polish Pottery (I have written an entire post about it before, but it is well known among American Expats - so funny!). Our car even found a friend along the way (a matching American Honda with more bored teenagers in the back :-)) Bailey likes the Pottery, but the other 2... not so much!

I enjoyed the trip thoroughly ;-)