Berlin Arrival

Greetings from Berlin, Germany (Wednesday, May 19, 2010)

We arrived yesterday (May 18th) safe after about 10 hours of flight time. Currently have one student ill and so he spent yesterday evening in his hotel room attempting to recover.

Our hotel is actually in the former communist sector of East Berlin. The images that a westerner has seen or been impressed with via U.S. propaganda are some what true, although since 1988/1989 more of the former images are changing. The buildings are very stark.

We had dinner at a local establishment and then our tour guide for the entire trip, Thomas, took us on a walking tour of old East Berlin. We observed segments of the original 1600 outer wall of Berlin, numerous beautiful churches, canals, and the older section of town dating back to 1621. Naturally, a lot of photographs were taken and in particular items related to the former communist regime, i.e., Marx-Engel Park.

The weather here is cold and damp. We can only hope that over the next couple of days it improves. A lot of individuals here remain riding bicycles and walk. Berlin definitely is a city in which an individual can do both with ease.

Today is our first real full day . . . tune in tomorrow for all our exciting espiodes from today.