We Are Berliners :)

WOW! So much to fill you all in on... We've had such an invigorating week!  I think all of us have already grown tremendously in such a short time.  I'll do my best to update you about our week in a nutshell :)

We took off on Monday for Weimar.  LUCKY US... we got to experience our first hostel.  No bedbugs for any of us, thank goodness! The tour started Tuesday and our guide, Deiter Rudolph was charismatic, intelligent and a true German! He showed us many buildings including the Hotel Elephant where Hitler stayed 32 times.  While in Weimar, not only was it a first for hostels, but at dinner a Radlar (1/2 sprite, 1/2 beer) was drank and our friend, Sam unknowingly ordered pig stomach/ intestines, blood sausage and liver sausage.  She was SO kind and shared it with us before we realized what in the heck we were eating. YUCK!

The Concentration camp at Buchenwald was on the agenda for the next day. What an eye opening experience for each & every one of us! Emotions were running high & trying to take in everything that happened was unfathomable. Although it was hard to see and be in the exact places some of the Jews spent their last days- it was a time we will never forget.  Most of us felt nauseous after reading about the history of it all.  Needless to say, we were ready to leave Weimar and continue our trip to Berlin...

The first occurence in Berlin caught us all a little off guard.  A very drunk man on the train took a swing at Dr. Becker as we were getting off.  Thank goodness God (and flexibility) were on his side...  We all made a quick dash from that train to our safe meeting spot.  After getting a good laugh & a few breaths, we made our way to Pension Peters (our hotel for the week). The staff was amazing along with the rooms.  The 4 of us girls shared a room and loved every minute of it!

Cristof Prince was the tour guide to start our love for the city.  We hit places like the Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall (its remains), the Victory Column (Obama gave a speech there while campaigning), the place where Hitlers bunker lied/where he died, a Holocaust Memorial and the Hotel Adlon (Michael Jackson's infamous "baby out the window" stunt). Also, our group was told we HADDDD to eat at the "buffet" Ka De We... We loaded our plates (not knowing we paid per 100g of food.....) We were blind sided by how much we were going to be paying for lunch. Let's just say Lauren cleaned up........... :)

Another big FIRST was the Cabaret show, "My Life," we attended. The performers were amazing- it was just like a TV show! There were rope performers, comedians, singers and dancers.  We wish you all could have been there with us! The laughs and amazement never ceased.

Other places we visited that were awesome: Fredrik the Great's palace (breathtaking!), Reichstag Gov't Building (Huge glass dome overlooking the city) & the Deutsch Museum (too much history for our good... don't tell Dr. Becker!).

BERLIN PUB CRAWL!!!!... Although all of the museums/ history of Berlin was unforgettable, the "New Berlin Pub Crawl" we went on will forever remain a top memory.  At 830pm an organized pub crawl set a meeting place where our group congregated along with 40- 50 other young adults looking for a g.double-o.d.t.i.m.e :) Nationalities ranged from Australians, Brazilians, Germans and Americans.  We hit 4 different bars (1 w/ a live band) and ended at a dancing night club downtown.  It was an absolute BLAST for each one of us!  Definitely a highlight for the 11 of us & references will be made back to that night until May, I am sure.

The last day in Berlin we visited the home of the 1936 Olympics.  The stadium was massive and exciting!  Although it's been slightly renovated, we could still get the feeling of the time when Jesse Owens was dominating the word "athlete."

Finally back in "the RT" (now referred to by our group), it's nice to get out of the clothes we've been styling for the past week (multiple re-wears by all..........) But, classes start tomorrow-- Who knew Europeans didn't celebrate MLK day?! :) So it's goodnight to all & we will keep you posted!

Tschuuuuuus :)

Anna