The Pfefferbett and Berlin

Finally, a big city with the fast pace culture and magnificent metro systems to navigate and get lost on. Leipzig was fun, however the excitement and thrill of riding the metro system never gets old. The hostel that we are staying in puts on a wonderful breakfast and has some great qualities. However, the wifi is terribly slow when everyone is down in the lobby, the rooms are smaller then the last hostile, and the bathrooms are unfortunately not as clean as we would like. All in all it is a place to sleep and shower. Once we got settled in we had the wonderful experience of the Berlin Philharmonic. We had amazing seats right behind the orchestra. I could literally read the music that they were playing to try and help me stay awake. We had been told that the concert was televised and we would be in the background. Sadly this did not change the jet lag factor for me, as I still nodded off a couple of times during the performance. It's very frustrating that I can't seem to stay awake. The sound and music is unbelievable! It is also so relaxing that I just get all warm and cozy and start to nod off. Hopefully by next week I will be completely adjusted and will be able to enjoy every part.

On the first full day in Berlin we were scheduled for a walking tour of the city. On the way to the square to meet our tour guide, we got to witness a fairly large protest against the North Atlantic Trade Agreement between the US and Germany. Many farmers brought their tractors with signs showing their dismay on the subject and blocked an entire street of traffic. It was very interesting and fun to walk by such a protest. Also to see all of the tractors was enjoyable.

When we finally arrived to the square we had a lot of time to look around us. We had the US Embassy on our left, along with other embassies surrounding us. Our tour guide met us here and began the tour of Berlin. He first took us into West just past the monument to see Ronald Reagan's plaque, and the bricks that remain of the wall. We then moved onto a large square full of concrete rectangles that represented tombs for the Jewish that were killed. It was a very sobering experience to walk through the various heights and sizes of the concrete. 

Brick to represent where the Berlin Wall once was.

As we moved throughout the city we came across the square where all the books from the University had been burned. Now there is an underground display of empty bookshelves to represent this. Our tour ended at the remaining section of the Berlin Wall. From here we went to the Nazi museum and then concluded the night with Swan Lake. It was a very cold and full day of activities.

The building that the books were burned in front of.

Sections of the Berlin Wall that have since been painted and displayed as art in a museum.

Remaining section of the Berlin Wall.

Swan Lake!

It was an amazing performance. Definitely a ballet to remember.

After the ballet, we came outside to snow! It was a wonderful treat to see the city covered in a white blanket. Snow makes everything so beautiful.