Hallo all! It is Day 51...And only 11 days to go...Actually, it will change to 10 days as I am writing this blog! So, today was quite a long day. We woke up this morning and actually did the tour of the Reichstag. It was a pretty neat place! There was so much visible history there! I liked the graffiti that was uncovered on its walls from the end of the Second World War. I also liked the dome from which you could look down on parliamentary happenings. The tour itself was a little long-winded and no one was really having a good time. But it was definitely a good opportunity to have a personal tour organized through the Goethe Institut because typically, people wait hours in line to go inside. The security was very tight, they thoroughly checked our bags. And when I say thoroughly, I mean THOROUGHLY. The guy even commented on my soggy sandwich!
After the tour, we didn't have much time before class. No one was really excited about going to the Goethe Institut either. But we all managed to make it through the day. We met up at the Sony Center in Potsdamer Platz at 7 pm. In between the end of classes and the meeting time, I picked up some little gifts for Andrea's birthday. She's 21 today, so we went out as a group to dinner. It was neat to meet in Potsdamer Platz because I hadn't really seen the area previously. This was the former "No Man's Land" between the two walls dividing the city. The rebuilt this place into a business and shopping area. It was pretty interesting because as I was walking to the Sony Center, I encountered some remnants of the wall, in addition to an extensive police blockade around the Ritz Hotel. I think that I might have been on the wrong side of the fence, but no one stopped me from walking there. The place was pretty deserted anyway.
So, we met up and headed to another area of town. Andrea decided to eat at a cool Indian restaurant. It was a pretty miserable day again, but the outside eating area was huge, under a tent, and heated. We ended up sat there. So, we had a nice dinner...I was pretty full by the end of it. We parted ways in hopes of making it home pretty soon, but the U-Bahn wasn't really functioning properly. I guess they were trying to make some nighttime renovations. Anyway, we finally made it back and all is good in the world. I think that Andrea's unhappiness with being stuck in class on her birthday were really turned around by the celebration we had for her. I am glad that we were able to make her 21 birthday special! Well, I am a bit exhausted. I really need to get some sleep so that I don't get sick like the others. Hope all is well! We were talking today and we realized that we have definitely been out of the loop on somethings back in the US. It will be interesting to be back and hear about all that has gone on! 11 days...or 10 now! Gute Nacht! 'Til next time...Tschuess!
