Berlin

It is definitely summer here in Berlin. The day was sunny and hot! We arrived shortly after noon and walked to our hotel, detouring for a couple of sights. We were glad to have students to help carry our bags since they only had weekend duffels and we had everything we have!

We saw many sights here today and will see more tomorrow. Len and I are very thankful that professor Nielsen is here as he knows the city well and is full of interesting facts and stories about each place. We walked everywhere we went today and can feel it in our legs! On our way to the sights, we passed a grassy area where people were lying out in the sun without any suits on. The whole place was full of men - not a woman was in there!

Our first stop was the Victory monument (with a gold angel on top). We joked that we were the procrastinators club coming to see Obama as he gave his speech from there yesterday. We also got to see part of the Berlin Wall, the Brandenburg gate, and walk into what was formerly East Germany. All around the city you can see a 2 brick track where the wall used to be. We saw a monument to freedom facing the gate and the Russian memorial that is in front of the Reichstaadt. We took a group picture in front of the Reichstaadt.

Tonight we all had dinner together at a Bavarian restaurant similar to the Alpen Rose in Holland. 2 people ordered Sweinhecksel mit kartofellen (among other things like red cabbage) but no one in our family did. (That note was for you, Bob!) Everything was very, very good AND I got free refills on my tap water!