I have been in Berlin for a week now, taking German classes and exploring.
First, class. Class has been a mixed experience. The material itself is very good, being all stuff I don’t know (Granted, I know very little, but still, at least it’s not counting, right?). The thing is, there’s a large part of the class that doesn’t have any interest whatsoever in learning German. I have no idea why they came, but they hold the class back with chitchat. Very annoying.
Second, exploring. They have these ‘activities’ that we go out on, seeing one sight or another. Among the activities of last week were the Reichstag, Brandenburger Tor, Treiptower Park, a mosque and a German palace.
Note: Being who I am, I forgot to bring a camera, so there will be very few pictures. Oops!
Reichstag: The Reichstag is the German parliament. Very pretty and very big. Was wrapped in silver fabric for two weeks to commemorate the end of the Cold War (Don’t ask me why.).
Treiptower Park: Very beautiful and tranquil park which is a memorial to Russian lives lost in liberating Germany. One of the biggest and most peaceful memorials I have ever been to.
Mosque: We visited a beautiful mosque. There was a guide who told us all about Islam. Technically, the mosque is Turkish, like an embassy! The people were the most friendly and explanative about their religon I have ever seen.
Schloss–Charlottenburg: A beautiful palace commissioned by Sophie Charlotte, the wife of Friedrich III. After her death, Friedrich III named it Charlottenburg, after her. Terribly damaged in WWII, but reconstructed.
It’s very obvious in several of the sights that we go to, that WWII took its toll on the historical remnants. It’s a shame.
Well, I fly to Pays Basque next Sunday to see my French family. Until later!
Tycho Toothaker
