Ok, ok, so the title of this post might be slightly misleading – but I promise you we did admire a lot of the beautiful British Architecture on offer in the German Parliament building, and I took plenty of pictures of Norman Foster’s iconic dome too. The adventure part comes in the form of Mr R and his track record in unintentional lapses in international security…
Some longer term readers may well remember back in the mists of time, me relaying a story about Mr R on the day we left the UK (if you do, you can skip this next bit!) – an emotional day as you can well imagine. Mr R had packed all of our important immigration paperwork into a briefcase that his ever hopeful granny had bestowed upon him during his university days, a briefcase that I had no idea that he possessed… Suitcases pushed through X-ray machines, and with two tiny confused small people in tow, I turned to ask Mr R a question to find that he wasn’t there. He wasn’t there because he had quite understandably been hauled to one side by security staff interested to find out why he was trying to take a set of darts onboard. A set of darts from his university days that had long been forgotten. And, as I have also said before, we can at least laugh about it now. But dear reader, this is not a one-off. We can also look back and laugh (!) at the incident of pointy meat thermometer packed for holiday barbecues on our way to Puglia a few years back, and quite worryingly Small boy seems to show the same tendencies after he packed a beyblade launcher (unbeknownst to me) that looked a little too much like a gun for a security guard’s liking (and had to be re-checked in!)… So I shouldn’t have been surprised then at this, Mr R’s most recent incident.
As you can imagine, the Reichstag is quite a secure building – one you must register for beforehand if you wish to visit the inside. Sign up via the simple website, detail all your personal information; passport numbers etc. and select an appointment at a time that suits you, simply wait for that to be confirmed, then turn up. Be prepared to go through airport style security and have your bags searched for obvious reasons. Do not, under any circumstances forget about small Swiss Army knives from a hiking expedition in the bottom of your bag. Small Boy and I, (now used to such forgotten things) moved along the queue and pretended that we weren’t together, whilst Small Girl stood happily next to Mr R (and much to his embarrassment) regaled the distinctly unamused security guard with her father’s past misdemeanour’s whilst laughing her head off. The offending article was temporarily confiscated for the duration of our visit, and the perpetrator had to pick it up from a glowering selection of individuals at the end of our visit – much to his embarrassment, and our amusement…
Anyway, once through this ordeal, we were ushered up the steps of the original, and very grand building, and held between glass doors (where we were undoubtedly given the once over) whilst waiting for the lift to take us up to the iconic dome. A dome featured on the building originally before being destroyed in 1933.
Today’s iconic dome was designed to symbolise the reunification of Germany, and the marriage of old and new architecture works particularly well. As soon as the lift doors open, Norman Foster’s structure is quite breathtaking.
There are headsets available to learn more about the building, and you will spot lots of people fiddling with them and trying to get them to work (like us!). However, they do not work until you walk past particular points – just so you know!
I am not going to lie and tell you a tall tale about how I walked all the way to the dome’s summit. We were in Berlin during a heat wave and heavily pregnant, I wasn’t about to attempt the spiral all the way to the top, panoramic view or no panoramic view. Thankfully the other members of my party obliged (which the kids adored) whilst I sat at the bottom and waited (with an ice cream, don’t tell them!). They also took plenty of pictures on my behalf so that I didn’t miss out, and neither did you.
If you fancy a visit during your stay in Berlin, do pop over to www.bundestag.de and register. There are guided tours available, and also fantastic experience days for children where they get to do a spot of parliamentary role play (although all in German I should imagine). It’s well worth a visit anyway, just check your husband’s bag beforehand…
Trish - Mum's Gone to says
Doing some catching up of blog reading – how did I miss this? We loved the Reichstag and wow didn’t you have a fab day for the photos.
I did get to the top and I remember Rory loved it – he actually ran to the top, first time his normally horizontal teenage body had done anything more than shuffle that weekend!
I also have a husband who gets caught with security – big problems returning from Helsinki this year as he had bought two pen refills which looked decidedly suspicious on the x-ray machine.
Emma says
I think the two of them would get on very well indeed! :D Thanks Trish! (: xx
Emma says
Wow, that looks like the most AMAZING building!! I am laughing at your bag troubles. xx
Emma says
Thanks Emma (: xx
Otilia says
Such an interesting building! Would love to visit with my girls one day.
Emma says
It’s a great city Otilia! :)
helloitsgemma says
I love that you rarely go anywhere and it is straight forward.
The building is amazing – why are domes so appealing?
Am expecting the next post to be ‘how I left the baby on the bus’…. obviously not for any length of time or with issue to the baby.
Emma says
Nothing, but nothing in my life is straight forward! I can promise that I won’t be leaving the baby on any bus though! :D
Cass@frugalfamily says
That building is amazing – I’d be in a photographers (amateur obviously) heaven I think x
Emma says
I think you would love it, it’s a great thing to photograph whatever the weather! :)
Grace says
Oh yes, the memories!! x
Emma says
Yes, I was glad you were there for the Italian one so yet again I could pretend we weren’t together! :D
Mum of One says
LOL, I had forgotten about the darts in the suitcase! We recently had a lip-balm taken off us at security. When the boy asked why I explained it was because they thought it might be a bomb. The security guy laughed! Beautsiful photos as ever lovely lady x
Emma says
I am so glad it’s not just us! Thank you! (: x
Sarah MumofThree World says
What a stunning building! I am laughing at your husband’s mishaps. I could imagine my 14yo son doing this – he’s a Scout and always seems to have some pointless little knife or other with him!
Emma says
Ha! Again, I am glad it’s not just us! (:
Louise Lloyd says
The security stories have made me giggle! Having just been through that it rang so true! Ours was my fault though having packed Teddy some yummy food in a silver thermos flask and left it in my carry on, it was taken away for “complete” testing! Oops!
A very stunning building though and looks like a lovely place to visit xx
Emma says
I wonder if they all had a spoonful? Thanks Louise! (: