Berlin! Berlin!

During one of our free days, Ashley and I took a walking tour of the Sachsenhausen Concentraion camp, the only camp actually located in Germany which was a work camp originally utilized as a camp for political prisoners. This is where Georg Elser, the man who probably came the closest to actually assassinating Hitler, was held. The inscription means "Work makes free."

This is me being goofy outside the gates of Humboldt University, which is the same university that Max Planck and Albert Einstien studied.

This is a photograph of the Holocaust Memorial for the Jewish victims. Peter Eisenman, an American architect is responsible for the design.

Here are remnants of the Berlin Wall. The government sold pieces to the public and now they serve as works of art and reminders of histroy throughout the city.

Now I have all of the passport stamps (seven in total) to cross between the East and West sides of Berlin.

Here is part of Humboldt University. This courtyard was the site of the burning of books by Jewish authors and others that were "un-German."

This is the home of the Chancelor of Germany. It is beautiful.

This is a new creation that I discovered on the trip... Berliner Weiss. It is a very light colored white beer that has had flavored syrup added to it. The green is ade by adding lemongrass flavoring to it. There is also a rasberry flavored one that is red. Who knew you could get green beer on days other than St. Patrick's Day?

While in Berlin, we stayed in the posh Hotel Luise. Every room has a unique theme and is designed by different artists. Our room was the spy room- by far the coolest room for our group. Ashley couldn't resist playing spy with the decorations in the room!

Peter and I at dinner- Peter was one of our guides from Rotary for the time we spent in Berlin. Together, Ingrid and Peter provided us with a lasting impression of the city! Thanks!

Here is the Brandenburg Tor at night. It is spectacular to see at night!

Just one of the amazing sunsets on the River Spree...

Looking up at the dome of the Reichstag. Ingrid was able to get us a tour of the Parliament building. The top of the dome provided a great view of the city.

To end our stay in Berlin, we went to the cabaret to see Yma. It was a spectacular showcase of song, dance, tap, acrobatics, contortionists, and serial stunts!

Here I am in front of the Friedrichstadt Palast after the show. The performers from Yma came to the restaurant across the street where we were having coffee after the show!!