In Berlin, we saw the magnificent opera La Triviata by Verdi. The performance was so amazing the cast and pit orchestra got 5+ curtain calls. This was my first real opera experience, and it was one to remember.
The next day we closed out our time in Berlin at Museum Island, a commonplace of multiple museums. We started at the ancient Egyptian museum as a group, then Will, Austin and I broke off to visit the Berliner Dome, a giant Catholic Church.
Mummy babies.
Austin and his beard at the beard exhibit.
The outside of the Berlin Dome in the sunlight.
Inside
Below the dome, in the crypt. This held hundreds of royal members of Germany.
Our last concert was the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, conducted by the amazing Gustavo Dudamel. Not only is it a dream to see Dudamel conduct, they performed my absolute all time favorite piece the Rite of Spring, or Le Sacre Du Printemps. This youth orchestra played at a professional level, and besides Swan Lake, is my favorite concert so far.
The next day it was off to Prague. We rode the train for four hours and arrived in the late afternoon. That night, we had a paid dinner at the oldest restaurant in Europe, U Fleku. Unfortunately, Austin and I were unable to go. He's been battling illness during this trip and had a house visit by a Czech Doctor (who said our hostel was a "shithole" and that he would be a "dumbass" to drink alcohol with his antibiotics) during the dinner. We were going to arrive late and take a cab, but the doctor had a patient who had died around the same time he was supposed to meet us. What luck! Instead, after his appointment, we went to a nearby Jewish restaurant and had some great food. We were even effectively labeled as American as you can see here!
The next morning we visited the great Prague Castle. Kings and Queens lived here for centuries, and now the presidents of the Czech Republic do.
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