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Published: March 4th 2009
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My sincere apologies for not posting in a few days.
It is midterm week here, and yes I actually have work to do and test to study for!!! What happened to my four month vacation?!
So Berlin...let me start of by saying, I loved every second of the Best Western. No creepy roommates, no "fresh blood" references, our own bathroom, and actually the largest room on the floor. I guess because we were three people, they put us in a larger room where the couch was turned into a bed.
Oh but first, before we get into the heart of the weekend. I was sitting in a cafe in the Berlin airport waiting for Victoria and Lindsey when some man who was speaking in German on his cell phone, looked at the table next to me, then at me, and in perfect English goes "Is this table taken?" I look THAT American I guess.... oh well.
Also, in the airport I found a very peculiar advertisement (of course I took a picture). The musical "The Producers" is coming to town. Now I won't get into plot, but if you know the story, then I hope you share
my confusion.
So we arrived late Thursday night, traveled to our hotel, dropped off our stuff, looked around in relief, and then hit the town. I am sorry to inform you that I have no random older lady dancing stories for this weekend. We found a great place to eat, walked around, but eventually relaxed back to the hotel as were exhausted and had a big day ahead of us.
The company that lead the free walking tour in Amsterdam had people in Berlin to do the same thing! Sweet, another 3 hour tour (oddly similar to Gilligan's Island... except without the boat, the island, and the whole shipwreck thing). Our first stop was the famous Brandenburg Gate. The funny thing about the statue on top of the gate, is that she is looking directly at the French Embassy, reminding them of when the Germans won the city back. Directly next to the gate was the United States Embassy. I tried to go in, but they wouldn't let me. I needed an appointment or something....please...I was personally offended.
Anyway, our next stop was the richest hotel in Berlin (I actually just wrote Boston for some reason). It
costs somewhere around 12,000 Euros to stay in the Penthouse for one night. And interesting fact....it is the hotel where Michael Jackson dangled his baby off the balcony. (You know you are all happy I took a picture because lets be honest, you all secretly want to see it).
We then stopped by the Holocaust Monument, which was build to remember all the Jews in Europe that were murdered. There is no significance to the number, but there are 2,711 rectangular cement prisms at varying heights. Although the designer said no official interpretation will be made because it is up to the viewer, my thoughts are that each block is different to show that just because the people were Jewish and died in the Holocaust, doesn't mean they are all the same. Each one was different, with his or her individual background and life.
We then passed over the ground where Hitler's bunker once existed. It is now destroyed and the Berliners use it as a place to walk their dogs.
Next was something called the Berlin Wall...I never heard of it before that day (just kidding!) There was a part of it still up and ironically,
there was a fence around it preventing people from getting too close to it. Our tour guide said to never buy anything that claims to be part of the Berlin Wall, because enough "pieces" of the wall have been sold to build it three times larger than it actually existed.
The tour continued on with a lot of history, but I won't bore you with that. Afterward, Lindsey, Victoria and I went to the Pergamonmuseum (yes, all one word). It had the actual part of an ancient structure...ok so that doesn't sound too cool, but look at the pictures, you'll know what I mean.
Then night arrived and we hit the town again. We ended up passing the Reichstag, which is the main government building for the German government and the German Chancellors house. A security guard was trying to explain to me what the Chancellors house was in English, and after getting a few words out, I ignorantly said "so, its basically like your White House." To which he stared at me, then answered "yes."
After having a good night we retired back to the hotel and slept wonderfully!
Saturday morning came, and we made
the decision to go to a Concentration Camp. Sachsenhausen, only 45 minutes away from Berlin, was the closest one. This camp was the main center for which all paper work for the other camps came through, and where many of the guards were trained. It was my first visit to a Camp and extremely eye-opening and surreal. I will leave the conversation as this, but if the opportunity arises, please go to one. It should be a requirement of life.
Saturday night we ventured off back to the Reichstag. The top of the building is a glass dome, and visitors are allowed to go in and walk around. That was a lot of fun, but also pretty high. Not going to lie, I got very nervous walking the narrow ramp up the dome. Please see the attached pictures (of the dome, not of me being nervous).
Sunday came and went as I had an early afternoon flight. On the way to catch the bus to airport I came across something that I have never seen before. There was an Esprit store, and directly across the street....ANOTHER Esprit store!!!!! Esprit is my favorite clothing store, and no dad, I
didn't go in, but missing my flight was a consideration.
Thank you for patiently waiting!
SPRING BREAK IN 3 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Barcelona here we come!!! Then Michael arrives in 3 days after that!!! and then....ITS MY BIRTHDAY!!!
Can you wait? Because I can't.
Trivia Answer: ''I have the honour to be, Madam, Your Majesty's humble and obedient servant''
Trivia Question: Today, Gordon Brown flew to Washington to meet with President Obama for the first time; How long was their meeting?
Londoner,
Sir Darren Nigel Goldberg III of Maida Vale
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Rachel
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Boston
You were typing Boston because you were thinking about me! Anyway I'm glad you had a great time! I'm in Arkansas having a great time! Love you byeee