Dec 16-17 - Munich

Last one folks...we are now home, and two tired puppies!! We left Fr. Michael's at 5pm on Monday and went to spend the night in Munich, and then took the train back to Berlin this afternoon.

Munich (the little we saw of it) is a very pretty city! It was already dark when we got in yesterday...and I didn't realize that the airport was 40 minutes from City Center! We went down to our hotel, and then headed out to find, yet another, Christmas Market. ha ha. I am still off the Gluhwein, but we found some plain old German beer to drink (Michael Sahm...Tony says it is what you would drink when you'd get your pell grant money). :) Well, as we wandered through the Market - we found a polish tent...we had to go there for my dad...we even ordered Perogis!

Then this morning we looked around the same area - but in the daylight. There is a beautiful catholic church - St. Paul's - where we went in and lit candles for all those we've lost. Then we had some coffee, relaxed, and headed to the train station for our 6 hour journey back.

It was a great weekend - saw a lot in a little time, and we're looking forward to getting back to the family and the holidays! See you all soon.

Good-night and God-bless,

from Berlin

Dec 13 - 16 -- Italy

The trip to Italy, and the visit with Father Michael was terrific!

On arrival night (after the Gluhwein) we had dinner with the head of the military police in Fr. Michael's town (Apiro) - Umberto and family. They are wonderful people, and despite the fact that we have limited ability to talk to each other - the teenage girls (and obviously Fr. Mike) translate and keep everything moving. The hospitality they showed us was second to none!

Then we spent three days with Fr. Michael...just doing daily things. We went for walks, went to mass in Italian, and then went to an oil mill. Our favorite little priest does think that he is going to put his name in for the Indy 500 in 2014..."speed limits in Italy are just a suggestion. I figure that, if we are going to go plunging over an Italian cliff, going out with a holy man has to be in our favor - right?

Italy is one of the most beautiful places I have been lucky enough to visit, so far - I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as we enjoyed the time!

Dec 12 - Gluhwein with Rum (BAD)

Hello all! I'm playing catch up, but am still going to try to do it in a few separate posts.

Tony toured by himself during the day, and then we went out to dinner and exploring in the evening. We went to dinner at a German restaurant, and had some yummy food...but take a look at the picture of Tony with the bread...the "butter" on the bread is actually lard with pieces of bacon. We each had one, to say that we did...but that was NOT the high point - blech! The food was really good though.

Afterwards, we went to Potsdamer Platz. It is a really neat outside area, and it was putting on a Christmas show. Well, much to my ultimate demise, there was also a Christmas Market there. It was actually a LOT of fun, we had a great time...right until the two Gluhweins with Rum caught up to me. I am totally blaming the attached "Superstar" pic on that...but I figure I poke enough fun at Flat Tony...it's only fair that I take a little of my own medicine!

Part two...trip to Italy will be coming soon. :)

Dec 11 - The Travel Gods

Hello friends!!

The travel Gods were smiling well on us...and even though he had a few minor delays, and his wife put the wrong time in an email for his last flight (I said 8:15,! it was 8:45), so he hurried for no good reason - Unflat Tony has made it to Germany! That said - I may never get him back here, as 3 flights on his own was not overly appealing to him.

But I got him home and he got to take a nice nap while I worked. Then we went for a walk and had some great Indian food and now are settled in for the night! Even though it's not quite Noon in the US, I can't imagine that he will make it to 1PM EST - poor guy is beat (as you can tell from the photo - he actually wasn't glaring at me...ha ha).

We have tomorrow in Berlin and then a long weekend in Italy, so we will have updates next week.

Love to you all -

Good-night and God-bless,

from Berlin

Dec 7 - Tis The Season

Hello friends! I hope your Saturday is off to a good start!

I used today to get caught up on errands and some last minute shopping. I'm not a "city girl"...but I have to admit, I do like being able to walk everywhere. I walk about 4 blocks and I'm on the main street of my area, where there are people playing instruments and singing Christmas Carols. I even bought myself a little wooden Christmas tree for my small Christmas corner!

Then I took a little trip to the local mall and am attaching two pics of what I saw. First, was a man in a fur coat. Now, this isn't about "fur or no fur"...but IF there was ever a "right time" for a man to wear a fur coat it would be a pro boxing match...not a local Mall. And this may have been the ugliest coat I've ever seen in my life...it looked like three rows of road-kill, skinned and sewn together. Yikes. Then there were the funny folks on stilts running around the mall in white "outfits" and what looked like some type of wings. I have no clue what that was all about - maybe angels?

All in all, a good day, but now its time for The Wire and a big pot of tea.

Have a wonderful day...two weeks from today, really late at night, I should be HOME!!!!

See you all soon!

Good-night and God-bless,

from Berlin

Dec 4 - Pepto Train

Hello All!

I hope this finds you all well! I'm having some internet issues at the apartment, so I apologize for not responding to Words games or emails, etc. I haven't forgotten you all - just can't get to them! Hopefully this will all be fixed soon.

My funny for today doesn't involve a Flat Tony picture - because it would have been really obvious to take it in a packed train. I got on the train this morning, and my train-car was like walking into a Pepto-Bismol advertisement. Everything except the ceiling was in this pattern. The pink parts are actually pictures of various Berlin landmarks, but it was a LOT of pattern in one place. When I got out of the train, I walked by a few other cars, and the one I was in was the ONLY one "decorated" like this...probably for a really, good reason. :)

We also got a storm-warning email today. It says that they are predicting a "heavy storm for Thursday and intense snowfall for Friday" - so you should all be expecting Winter Wonderland pictures soon! Unless, of course, it is like US weather reports - in that case, I will post pictures of myself in flip flops!

Miss you all...I'm down to 17 days until I'm back on our side of the Pond!!

Have a great day/night and God Bless,

from Berlin

Dec1 - Dresden

Hello friends...just back from a quick trip to the Dresden Christmas markets...what a beautiful city!

We walked from Noon to 8:30 on Saturday, to three different Christmas markets, and by the time we finally got back to the hotel my feet ached! The markets consist of rides for the kids, booth after booth after booth of things made it different parts of Germany, some food booths, and a Gluhwein (mulled wine) booth every 20 feet. The even had Gluhbier booths...but I didn't try mulled beer. I still have Christmas markets in Munich and Berlin, so I'll have to think a little harder about that! I am pretty sure that I gained 5 pounds this weekend...even with all the walking...but it was worth every bit of it!

Today we found a little random market, much smaller scale (maybe because you had to pay to get into this one - or just had to know how to get there) and spent our whole day there. We met some neat people, watched a great musical group, and relaxed until our train at 3p.

I'm attaching a few pics...one of Flat Tony enjoying Christmas, one of us girls, and one of the views of a small part of Dresden. I will try to put more on Facebook later. I hope you all enjoyed your weekend and had a wonderful start to your December.

Good-night and God-bless,

from Berlin

Nov 28 - Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving friends - I hope this finds you all well and spending time with your families!

Germans apparently aren't very "thankful" folks...so I was a hard worker today. I do want to say how incredibly thankful I am for my family and friends. If it weren't for Tony, I certainly would (1) have not even attempted this experience in Germany, and (2) certainly would have never returned to Germany after my trip home in October. He's been nothing but supportive and kept me sane via Skype, not to mention taken on everything at home alone (except the Cmas shopping, of course, the man does NOT like Christmas shopping). :) I love him more than chocolate and wine (my two vices since I've been here). And to everyone else who have sent me FB messages, emails, cards, care packages, DVDs...I'm thankful for every one of them and each of you!! I love you all.

Okay...now on to the other stuff. I'm sure my Thanksgiving dinner wasn't as exciting as yours will be...and there was no turkey or potatoes involved...but who says that thanksgiving isn't Indian food, garlic naan and red wine? It was super yummy...the only thing missing (besides family) is football...but I've always got my First 48 videos to fall back on!

My funny this week was a random thing at the grocery store. I'm not even going to explain the picture - as it is completely immature...but who in the heck doesn't want more "knusprig"?

This Saturday, a gal pal and are going to Dresden for the night for my first Christmas Market experience. According to my Big Brother, Christmas Markets and the Christmas season is what Germany is all about. All I know, so far, is that they involve mulled wine (called Gluhwein) and crafts - so I'm in! I'm not sure which one we're going to, but we are staying in Dresden city center, so it's whichever one is right there.

I hope everyone has a wonderful, safe, Thanksgiving holiday.

Good-night and God-bless,

from Berlin

http://www.dresden.de/dig/en/veranstaltungen/weihnachtszeit/weihnachtsmaerkte.php

Nov 23 - Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp

Today I took a tour to the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp in an outskirt of Berlin called Oranienburg. We had a fabulous tour guide, named Finn from Belfast, who treated the entire experience with respect. The day was perfect for an experience like this: gray, overcast, and cold...I can't imagine seeing a place like this when there is blue sky and spring smells. The only photo of Flat Tony is by the sign saying where we were going.

This CC was a mens camp, but was not a "death camp". Many people died here...but it wasn't the "purpose" like at Auschwitz. This camp was used to "test" things. The gas chamber, as far as is known, was used five times - testing different gases. Mostly it was used for medical experimentation. They would try to change prisoners eye colors, or skin pigmentation, to see if they could turn people into their idea of the "perfect being".

Most of the buildings at the CC were gone...many reminders of the ugliness of Hitler were destroyed after the war. This Camp actually continued for 5 years after the war, but for those 5 years it was a Soviet Prison camp that held Soviet prisoners...some of which were the same people and I believe he said 13,000 were buried within the Camp.

There are are a few things about what was still standing that will be forever etched in my mind (beyond the obvious places, that everyone thinks of when they think of these places). There were two statues...one depicting a Russian solider saving two healthy men at the CC. Truth be known, the only men left behind when the CC was evacuated on the Death March (because they knew the Russians were coming) were those too sick to walk, so they never would have looked like this. The second statue was the reality of what was actually left in the camp and found by the Red Army. Another building still standing was the kitchen (each prisoner had two bowls of soup per day)...but there were these "happy" paintings in the eating area, that for whatever reason bothered me more than a lot of the rest. Maybe its because you go into something like this expecting one thing - but then you see what someone depicted as a "happy" thing, and it litterally makes you ill.

To end, I'm including one picture of the Israeli flag for a special friend of mine that I thought about all day today - and a quote from a survivor.

Good-night and God-bless,

from Berlin

Nov 20 - German Fashion

Hello friends!

It is dreary, gray and cold here in Germany...but as it's that season, I don't think I can really blame the country as a whole, now can I? It isn't very much fun when it's dark going to work, and dark coming home. BUT, I am 31 days from being home for two weeks, and then I don't go longer than 6 weeks again...so this is just over mid-way through the hardest part of this assignment!

As many of you know...as far as fashion in Germany, I have been pretty critical of men in skinny jeans and even more so, men in "jeggings" - yes, I really have seen this! BUT, I have found a fashion I love!! I didn't make flat Tony participate in the picture - since it was going to be a cheesy selfie - but the fact that its "cool" to wear sweaters that cover my rear end, and then I can just throw on leggings and boots...sigh, this is BY FAR the highlight of my week to this point! :)

Also, received 5 more US television CD's today...shew...the catastrophe that would have been my weekend has been officially averted! I was down to my last 8 hours of the First 48, and really didn't want to start watching Desperate Housewives in German again. Thanks mom & dad!!!!!

I hope this finds you all well!

Good-night and God-bless,

from Berlin

Nov 18 - The Training Debacle

Hello friends!

Today was a rough day folks - I had to give my first training session. In the US we give annual training modules online...in Germany, people take the courses in person every 1.5-2 years. The course was scheduled from 2-5pm...and I was done at 3:10! The sad thing is, that I have been giving training for the last 6 years...and I don't think I have ever talked so fast in my life! By the time I realized the trainees were 3/4 through the slide packet, I couldn't slow down enough to get an extra 2 hours out of it...sigh. Of course, the Director of Defense for all of Germany was in there to watch my debacle! On the good side, he did stop me and tell me that, even though I talked too fast, that the training itself was good. My next training session is Dec 6th, so I guess the positive way to think about this is that there is no place to go but up!

I had my first experience with German horseradish today...I had bought some at the store the other day. OMG...my nose is running, but this stuff is sooooooo good! Unflat Tony will love it! I shouldn't have to worry about any head colds this winter...this stuff will cure it all!

I also booked my trip to Sachsenhausen Concentration camp for this Saturday. I'm sure it will be one of the most heart wrenching things I've ever seen, but how can you live in Germany for 9 months, and not see as much of the history (no matter how dark) as possible?

I hope this finds you all well, and safe from the storms from yesterday! Almost down to 30 days til I see US soil!

Good-night and God-bless,

from Berlin

Nov 17 - Cmas Season Starts

It's been a nice quiet weekend in Berlin.

On Friday, I got home from work, and had a package and a card on my kitchen table. It was from the lady at the apartment and was a card, $30 worth of dinner coupons, and a bottle of champagne. I was told that's virtually unheard of in Germany. That you're more likely to get a nasty look from someone running into you (because it's your fault that you didn't get out of the way fast enough) - than someone to apologize. Now...it does irritate me a little that they let themselves into my apartment while I'm not home - but it's probably not worth complaining about. After all that I had fun with my pals, some Indian food, wine and Star Wars. Can you beat good food, good company, and one of the best movies of all time?

Yesterday was running errands day (groceries, etc.) since everything is closed on Sunday. I was a little suprised to see the Christmas decorations out already - so Germany isn't as different as the US after all. Unflat Tony isn't much for the commercialism of Christmas, so I had to torment him a little with the ornament photo. :)

Chistmas Markets will be starting here on Thanksgiving weekend. Maybe that will finally get me in the spirit!! Otherwise, I know I will be in the spirit on December 21st when I walk in my front door!

A little shout out to my girl Shel...nursing student of the year...and amost a graduate of the Marian Nursing School!! So proud of you lady - you are setting such a phenominal example for those little ones. Wish I could give you a big hug in person - but I'll be seeing you soon!

Happy Sunday!

Good-bye, from Berlin

Nov 13 - Curry wurst

Hello friends...

Sorry it has been a while, but it's been a typical work/school week, and on top of that, it's cold and I'm kind of in a funk! It doesn't help that I haven't had wifi in my apartment (until today) for the last two days, and I'm pretty sure I will never understand the cultural differences.

My specific example would be this...Wifi stopped working on Monday eve - luckily, I had class yesterday and couldn't Skype with unFlat Tony anyways. BUT the office whatever-she-is had the nerve to tell me that it was my fault, and that I hit the "reset" button. Okay folks, the reset button is on a panel on the bottom of the wall and has a note (IN ENGLISH) that says not to push the button. If it was in German, okay, I can see you thinking that I'm a complete dimwit...but really? I'm here on a work assignment, doing what I'm doing, at the level I'm doing it, for the company I'm doing it for (they have every bit of paperwork on me)...and somehow you think that accusing me of not being able to read is a GOOD idea? Unfortunately, every bit of godliness went out of me when I responded to her, via email (I didn't curse, but there were a lot of capital letters and excalamation points used). Sigh. 2 months down!

Tonight's "adventure" involves some yummy German food that I first tried when Mom and Rylee were here. But now, I've found it packaged in Aldi's!!! I could probably eat in 3 times a week (appologies to my Veggie friends - ha ha) but it is yummy!! It's called Curry-wurst and is basically a big hot dog, with ketchup (which I don't even like) and curry powder on it. I made a couple pieces of garlic bread to go with it. :) Now I realize that this doesn't sound like a 40-year-old-friendly diet but, although I'm not sure if I've "lost" weight, I have a lot more space in the waistband of my slacks since being here! It could have something to do with walking a bazillion steps every day (a nice round number) to go to 3 trains, work, 3 more trains, home, 2 more trains, school, two more trains, home. I don't mind it right now, although it's getting a bit cold, but when it snows I will probably have something new to whine about!

Good-night and God-bless,

from Berlin

Nov 9 - Treptower Park

Hello all.

Today I went to visit the Soviet Memorial in Treptower Park - it was an amazing place. One thing I have noticed in Germany, is that when they create a park, they spare no expense. I didn't know, until I got home, what the significance to this particular park was, but it was to commemorate the 22,000 Soviet soliders that were killed in the 'battle to take Berlin', in April-May 1945, at the end of WWII. More than 7,000 Red Army soliders, killed in the battle, are buried in this park (in the middle sections), and more are buried in two other parks in Berlin. Hopefully you can tell, from my photos, what a neat place this was. Flat Tony is in two, and then the other two are just meant to show you the main portion of the park - I would highly recommend this as a "must visit" for anyone visiting.

On the bummer side...I didn't get to eat lunch at White Trash Fast Food. It took me about an hour to find it, but turns out that on Saturdays it doesn't open until 6pm. :( So, I enjoyed the area for a while and then I came back to Tempelhof and enjoyed my Schwarma Cheese (my Lebanese chicken wrap) and am in for the night.

I'm not sure what, if any, excitement tomorrow will hold but I wish you all a wonderful Saturday.

Go Irish!

Good-night and God-bless,

from Berlin

Nov 8 - Excitement of German class

TGIF my friends!

As you know, I started German class on Tuesday night - I go twice a week, for 90 minutes each time. I'm learning a little, but definitely not enough to partake in any sort of conversation with someone who actually speaks German. Unless they only want to know my name - I can handle that! (Ich bin Leslie Farrell)

The most interesting part of Tuesdays and Thursdays is DEFINITELY the train ride home! I get on the train about 9:20-9:25, and everyone appears to be just leaving the bars that they have been at since work let out (I will confirm whether or not my assumption is true after I do this for another 15 weeks!). There was one person that sat in front of me last night, who had their head in their hands the whole way home...long hair covering everything but their hands. I really wish that I was a little sneakier with Flat Tony, because that would have been a picture to let you guys caption! But I wasn't too sure if he was drunk, stoned, or a little left of center...so I didn't want to chance it.

When walking home today, I had a Flat Tony moment that will have to sufice for today - there is a four wheeler parked right outside the apartment complex! Now, I've seen lots of little cars here (because that is all there is room to park), but not a four wheeler...this definitely isn't a "wide open spaces" kind of area! I'm going to have to keep an eye out, because I'm curious who is riding it!

The plan for tomorrow is to sleep in, and then go to Treptower Park. After the park, I'm going to treat myself to lunch at a restaurant near Alexanderplatz (a good mall) called White Trash Fast Food. Not only does the name crack me up, but the owner is from California, and the ad says that they serve American food, flown in from America! I'm counting on it!! :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_War_Memorial_(Treptower_Park)

I hope you all have a wonderful start to your weekend and I will update on Saturdays activities!
Good-night and God-bless,
from Berlin

Nov 6 - Indian Food

Hello friends!!

It has been a few days since my last post, but the work week just isn't very exciting. I did start German school last night...after Day 1, I feel that I will be a complete failure at this language! Not only is it complicated but I can't imagine that, in 3 hours a week for 16 weeks, I will be proficient enough to add ANY value to my role (unless ordering lunch becomes part of my role...I'm really good at pointing at things on a menu!!). My take aways from yesterday are "Guten Morgen" (good morning) and "Guten Tag" (good day)...I guess that is something.

Tonight was my first experience of Indian food in Germany. The first plus was that the server (who brought me my take out order) in the restaurant spoke English!! And then, when I got to my American pals house - the food (and the company) was terrific! Little Alec came out long enough to eat a few french fries and ask me where Rylee was - Leslie doesn't cut it, in his eyes, without Rylee. So, today's flat Tony post is Alec, all Hollywood'd up while watching a movie - with Flat Tony. I do have to say...he was a bit bewildered about why he was holding a stick figure of my husband, but he did it anyways! Ha ha.

Another German class tomorrow night, so I won't be home until after 10 - unless something REALLY exciting happens, I won't be getting online that late. I will check in on Friday, and plan on going to Dresden on Saturday, so I should have some good pictures there!

I hope this finds you all well!

Good-night and God-bless,

from Berlin

Nov 3 - First Weekend in November

Hello friends!

I want to start out by saying that on Friday (long after my Berlin post time) my little brother and his girlfriend of two years, Kelly, got engaged!! Kelly, we are glad to, officially, have you as part of the family - and wish the two of you a lifetime of happiness! Feel free to book a plane ticket across the pond, and I'll take you out to eat to celebrate. :)

Saturday was a relaxing day for me. I woke up late and then took a walk around the neighborhood, and then went to the equivalent of a Macy's here, Karstadt. Did a little Christmas shopping for Malerie, and then walked to a famous Berlin chocolate shop that a co-worker recommended, called Fassbender & Rausch (google them, and check out their website if you have time). WOW! I was at one of the smaller shops, but now I'm going to have to go to one of the bigger ones where you can watch the huge masterpieces being made. I took a picture of Flat Tony with the Brandenburg gate chocolate...but they make MUCH larger items. Even bought myself a small bag of dark chocolate covered cashews...might be the best chocolate I've ever tasted!

I took a little break after my Saturday description, and went and found the German School that I will be attending as of Tuesday night. Went through a really neat, old train station (pic of Flat Tony) and eventually meandered around enough to find the school. Smoking isn't allowed on the trains - but EASILY, 50% of the people here smoke (in general, not on the train). Well today, young guy gets on the train and sits behind me...WITH A MARIJUANA CIGARETTE hanging out of his mouth! It wasn't lit, but I will have to say, that is the first time I've seen that here! I would have loved a Flat Tony picture of that, but I don't think the kid would have liked that much. Interesting stuff.

I hope you all have a wonderful wrap up to your weekend, and don't forget to change your clocks!

God-bless,

from Berlin

Nov 1 - TGIF (a big Fishers weekend)

Hello friends!

I haven't had any exciting Flat Tony moments this week...so I apologize for my lack of posts! I did see the train sleeper again - but didn't want to bore you with duplication!

Mom and Rylee left on Thursday morning, and made it back home through Chicago safe and sound. It's MUCH easier to re-aclimate going east to west, than it is when you come east - I can't wait until I test that theory again (50 days and counting)!! My mom brought me 15-20 CDs of US television shows...so I'm living the high life tonight on a 6 hour stint of "The First 48"! Sigh...so happy to have something to watch.

This weekend will be pretty quiet - it's supposed to be rainy and I don't feel too motivated to do anything. I think I'm going to go figure out how to get to the German school, from the train stop, at some point (since I need to do it in the dark on Tuesday). We will see how much German I can learn in 16 weeks - I will probably learn how to speak a little of it just in time to come back to the States!

I want to give a little shout out to my Fishers Tigers tonight!! First, to the football team (and my favorite coach, Unflat Tony) - who plays in the Sectional Final against Carmel - just love those 'Boys of Fall'!! And then to the Fishers girls soccer team, who will be playing in the State Final game tomorrow against Avon. Brady - give 'em hell...Seth doesn't have to be the only one with a State ring! :) (Proud momma of Brady, I'm sending you big hugs b/c I know you are a nervous wreck)!

Hugs to you all.

Good night and God bless,

from Berlin

Oct 29 - Tuesday

Hello all! I want to start off with a Happy Birthday to my aunt Cathy!! I hope its a wonderful birthday with no flying creatures. :)

This week has been relatively quiet so far. I almost posted a flat Tony moment yesterday as the wind picked up while I was waiting for the bus at work, and the black clouds rolled in, but I was afraid that flat Tony would end up in Oz! I will try to think up somewhere fun, local, to take him this weekend. Frankly, I'm WORN OUT...so am not planning on anything to exciting this weekend. Next weekend I'm thinking of taking a train up to the Baltic Coast, so maybe something neat then.

Mom and Rylee went out on their own today - and did a 2 train trip without me! Needless to say, although I will anyways, I was proud! It's hard to get used to the trains...but they are SOOOOO convenient once you do! They went off to the Berlin zoo, which is supposed to (according to wikipedia) be one of the most visited zoos in Europe. Unfortunately, they forgot Flat Tony - but Rylee has picked which picture should have been the Flat Tony photo, so I'm attaching it. :)

I hope that everyone is having a great week - and if possible, can a few of you go out and have some Mexican food for me? and maybe a margarita? Next to Unflat Tony - Mexican food is definitely what I miss most!

Good night and God bless,

from Berlin

Oct 27 - Rylee to the Palaces

Hello all!

We woke up to another rainy morning, but when checking out the forecast, we noticed that it was to end at 9am. So we waiting until the rain stopped, and off to Potsdam we went. We couldn't have a 13 year girl in Berlin for 13 days, and not show her a palace (or 4)! After another three trains (each way), we got down there about 10:40 this morning - Mom & Rylee are becoming pro's at the train.

We stayed on the bus for the first hour + of the tour, and waited until the palaces of Fredrick the Great, to do our walking. I'm not sure which was Rylee's favorite, but we walked the grounds of Belevedere, Orangerie and Sansousi (some of those were spelled wrong, but if you google Potsdam, you'll know which I mean). It was more than an hour wait to get inside a palace, so we skipped that part, but we walked the gardens until my legs ached. Flat Tony (x2) was checking out the Belevedere palace, and us girls were hanging out in the gardens of Orangerie.

On the way home we grabbed Rylee a little McDonalds...nothing like comfort food. Mom and I hit the Lebanese restaurant for our wraps, and we got home in time for the rains to start again. All in all, great timing for when we were outside - and I think with all the fresh air, everyone will sleep well tonight! Of course, I have to go to work tomorrow and these two get to sleep in! :)

Congrats to the Fishers Tiger football team on a first round sectional win - and congrats to Brady Riley and the Fishers girls soccer team on a semi-state win!!

Miss you all, tons!

Good-night and God-bless,

from Berlin

Oct 26 - Olympic Park

Hello all!

As it was raining this morning, and none of us really wanted to spend the day soggy, we decided to postpone the Potsdam hop-on-hop-off tour until tomorrow. Instead, we took multiple trains (4 out, and 2 back) to the Olympic Park in western Berlin. A very, very cool place! Before I get into the park, I do have to mention that there was a VERY interesting character on our 4th train. Laughing and talking very loudly to himself (with a beer at 9:30am)...he was so loud, that we thought maybe he was on the phone...but there was no cord or ear bud to be found. I imagine that the voices in his head were speaking loudly, so he was trying to talk over them! Funny enough, one of the times he got really loud and walked around, Rylee notices that his sweatshirt said "Crazy" on it. It was nice that whoever dressed him this morning tried to give us a heads up! :)

Back to the Park - it was build for the 1936 Olympics, and we watched a movie about how Hitler had taken down all the propaganda before the other participants started to arrive. He was not a happy man when Jessie Owens won the running events - it was against everything he was trying to "preach". But Flat Tony had his picture taken with me, and one with the Berlin Bear inside the facility - he would actually really like the history there (and in Berlin in general). I even managed to get Rylee a picture with her little Flat Family.

Afterwards we went to Potsdamer Platz, which is about as new as things come around here. It's a shopping district with a really amazing area in the middle called the Sony Center, which has restaurants, movie theaters, and concerts in the open area in the middle. After all the walking and train travel, we ate like we may never be fed again, and everything was excellent!

Last night, we went to dinner with the American gal that my mom met on the train Tuesday (Kim) and her 5-year old son Alec. Super people, and hopefully I will see a lot more of them!! Kim is a "conflicted vegan" (she sometimes slips into the vegetarian world)...but was telling mom all about the great ways that you can cook tofu - so April/Michelle, you may just get a happy suprise on Christmas Eve!

You're all up to date. I hope this finds you well, and we will have Potsdam updates tomorrow.

Good-afternoon and God-bless,

from Berlin