Berlin

Back from Europe

Well the good news is we made it back safe and sound. However, I don't have much time from blogging about the trip because I am headed out tomorrow morning to Kansas City. I will be there for a week with my students - who are competing in the SkillsUSA National Competition. It's really cool - however, I am wishing right now that I had maybe one more day at home before leaving - but, I guess one is better than none.

Packing has been easy, I just unpacked my luggage - washed the clothes and then repacked into the bag again. In Europe I went all carry-on luggage - this time I have to bring video equipment for my students - so I got the old trusty large suitcase. But when you have a homebase large luggage isn't too cumbersome. I am hoping that I will have some time to write about my experiences in KC - while my students are competing. You can read all about it at the blog I will be keeping for them: Lapeer SkillsUSA.

Bruce won't be coming this year - he's learning about networking mac computers. I saw him for just over 24 hours before he had to head out to training. It's going to be that kind of summer.

I was watching our video blogs - that Mary and I made while in Europe - and it just reminds me of what a whirlwind trip it was - but how much fun we had. I posted a picture from Berlin - Mary, Me, Wolfgang & Barbara at the tennis club right next to Barbara's apartment - I plan on posting more when I recap each city (hopefully this next week.) We didn't have the internet access that I would have hoped for in Europe. But maybe that's better - it will give me more time to reflect.

G. Love in Germany

Well I must admit, I was probably the only person who came to see G. Love and Special Sauce. We arrived at the park (which is a lot like Pine Knob) and found our seats. Yes, I said seats, those of you have been with me to a G. Love concert know that I am always standing in the front row. But this time, I sat with Barbara. When G. Love came out - House Man said hello to the crowd in German. However, the crowd (with the exception of me did not seem so interested.) 

They played an ok set. A couple new songs from their new album: Superhero Brother, unfortunately they did not play my favorite new songs which is the first on the album - Communication. Also they did one cover and only played one song from the Lemonade album. They only played an hour. It was a good opening set and really that is all they were was the opener. I knew it going into this but it was really for the experience. Barbara told me she had a good time but she might have just said that for my benefit.

We didn't stay for the entire Jack Johnson set because well I am a Jack Johnson fan, but to be honest after a while all the songs start to sound the same to me. At one point - I could swear he was playing the same song he had already played. The crowd loved him, but since I had to leave really early in the morning for the airport - so we left early - which I am sure means G. Love played with Jack Johnson after we left - but the good news is I am now in Geneva (where Bruce and Joe met me at the airport.) I will write more later about the end of my Berlin trip and G. Love - but now is time for lunch. 

Jennie & the Bus

Today I ventured out into the city alone. Barbara was at work - I was going to wake up at 8:30 am however, I didn't fall asleep until 2:00 am. So I woke up at 9:30 instead. I went for a short run - then returned to the flat to prepare for the rest of my day. I showered and had breakfast - then I was like ok the bus comes at 19 after I better get down there so I don't miss it. Well to start I was wrong it doesn't come at 19 after it comes at 29 after. So I fooled around taking some photos and then I sat at the bus stop and waited. Well you would think that would be the appropriate thing to do - however I was so wrong. Why - well as I sat there the bus pulled I got and up thought I would get on - but the bus drove right by. Yes, apparently you need to stand by the road like you are hailing a cab. So then I headed back inside to wait the 20 minutes for the next taxi. I occupied my time with email. Once I finally made it on the bus - I had no problems. I then headed with the S-Bahn into downtown Berlin.

Yesterday morning - Sandra, Barbara and I went to a very popular lake area (believe it or not it was the high 60's and people were swimming. We on the other hand enjoyed a wonderful German beverage. Then we headed home for a wonderful lunch of homemade Kase Spaetzle (cheese and homemade noodles.) Then we had to rush over the train station to drop Sandra off so she could go back home. Then in the evening Barbara and I headed into the city. We enjoyed coffee on the street called Unter der Linden (which means under the linden trees.) After coffee we walked into museum row and that's where I headed back today. We had a great evening stroll because the rain had gone and the weather was beautiful. We walked down the hip area - filled with the bars called Orainenburger Strasser. The street was filled with interesting women - here they are called Frauendienacht (aka hookers, street walkers, or if you want to be nice ladies of the night.) I asked Barbara if the police ever cracked down and she said no - it was just accepted in this neighborhood. Ironically all we were interested in was was Eis (ice cream) it took forever but we found what we were looking for. However on our adventure I saw a welcome poster - for tomorrow night's activities. Yes, Barbara and I will be going to the G. Love/Jack Johnson concert in Berlin. Believe it or not all of you who are calling me a stalker in your head - it just happened to be a lucky accident that they are playing here when I am visiting. As you notice by the poster Jack Johnson is the headliner - however we know who's most important to me. Barbara suggested we head over early so we get a good spot in the front. You have to love her! We enjoyed a wonderful ice cream dinner and then headed home.

Today - after I finally got into the city, I went to the German History Museum. It was very interesting. However I was a little rushed for time because well I had a late start.

Then I made my way to where Barbara works and we went by car to far eastern side of the city, to a place called Gardens of the World. As we drove through was was the former East Berlin - I noticed how much it had changed since the last time I was here. However it still seems drastically different from Zehlendorf (the area of the city where Barbara lives.) Zehlendorf is the formed US section of the city - in fact the apartment where Barbara lives now used to be home to American Soldiers. Now they are called the Berlin Penthouse Apartments. They are very nice apartments but the word penthouse doesn't come to mind.

But anyway back to our East German adventured. We went to the Gardens of the world. We ventured to Italy, had tea in China, headed over to Japan and South Korea. You know we hit all the hot spots. I even had a chance to create a zen garden - it turns out that I am amazing - ok I didn't make it but I did enjoy the zen. It was fun, but by the end of our stroll I was exhausted. I don't know why - but it takes me a good four days to totally recover from jet lag. I am sure I do everything wrong - starting with taking a nap the first day, but I just can't help myself. It is impossible to get lots of sleep on the plane.

The other highlight was I drove home. Yes, I am now an international driver. I drove the VW Polo. The Polo is the smallest VW car. And despite the roads being super narrow - I didn't hit anyone including bikers (who are crazy here.) However, if I lived here I think I would stick to the public transit - it is just easier. Well I need to get my beauty sleep for the G. Love Concert.

Sandra & Barbara outside of the Sony Center at Potsdammer Platz

The Sony CenterA Holocaust Memorial near the Brandenburg Gate.Proof that I am here.

The New American Embassy in Berlin.

Picture courtesy of Sandra.

A beautiful night in Berlin.

What's left of the Berlin wall.

Berlin: I've Arrived

I arrived in Berlin this morning and Barbara met me at the airport. Sandra is also visiting Berlin this week. We had breakfast and then they let me take a nap - which was supposed to be a little nap but turned into a very long nap.

I was a little nervous that I was going to get to Berlin. In Detroit - when my flight left an hour late and I only had an hour layover in Newark. But I was lucky, the flight from Detroit to Newark did not take the entire scheduled time and when I landed you could take a bus from terminal A to terminal C without having to go through security again.

When I got on the plane it was empty. It turns out there were a lot of late connecting flights. For a while there it looked like I would have an entire row to myself, but then a couple. came. However, I was lucky because I meet a new friend, Susan Sappington of Hartford, Connecticut. She was alone in her row, and generously offered me a spot. We had a delightful trip together. She is a mother of three and was on her way to Berlin to visit her youngest daughter who is studying here for the summer. We had a fabulous time chatting on the plane. I am so glad that I had a chance to sit next to her. And we were also lucky enough to make friends with Paul the flight attendant from Pittsburgh, who brought us some wine from first class.

But back to Berlin - when I woke up we headed to the main shopping district Kufurstendam. We were looking for a new black leather bag for Sandra. But it turns out that when you are on a mission that specific - you can find every other color or they cost 700+ Euros. So we failed miserably.

Then we went to Postsdammer Platz for dinner. We ate at the Sony Center. At Sandra's suggestion, I had beer with banana juice - it was deliciouses.

Then we headed to the Jewish memorial near the Brandenburg Gate. I also got to see the new US embassy that just opened last week. Now we are back at the apartment, but I should get to bed, so Barbara can get some sleep too. (I will add more pictures tomorrow.)