Aaaahhh!!!! What a difference a good night of sleep makes...

Although I hesitated to stay here because of the name, The Circus hostel in Berlin was highly recommended by all the books and I have to say it kicks!! It is terrific. Since I didn't have a big agenda, I treated myself to a long nap yesterday after I got into Berlin and then slept in this morning. So, Amy, next time YOU are in Berlin, check 'em out. (They also give you a card to get into all the museums for 2 euros instead of 8).

Had a most awesome day today...sleep and breakfast probably helped. Realize that I haven't really been consistently eating, so I am working on remembering to do that... went to the Pergamom and Altes musuems... lounged in front of the Berliner Dom and enjoyed the sun, fountain, and guys playing saxaphone... der Wetter dieses Wochende ist auch sehr fantastisch! Explored the city and spent an unexpected and glorious hour at the Stadt Bibliothek where I found some books in English on travel writing. Their library is amazing. Amy, I concede, Berlin is toll! I am glad I didn't miss it. They have done amazing reconstruction since I was here in 90, although a lot of it is still underway. Didn't get to see the Nefertiti bust, for example, because the Neues Museum is closed.

Turns out my ticket to Gdansk is going to be much cheaper than I thought...only 39 euros. Ich mußte umsteigen no matter which way I go, so I chose to change trains in Sczeczin (Stettin), since it is on the coast. I continued to be impressed with the Deutsche transportation system, nothing like German efficiency when it comes to getting around...the S-bahn and U-bahn systems work great. However, I am still doing a lot of walking, hoping to burn those calories. My Merrells are working out great, too.

Tomorrow I am going to church at the nearby Zionskirche...its a small little neighborhood church with a giant spire built back in the 1600s...typisch Europaisches Kirche, ja? Then I want to go see Branderburger Tor, the Nationalgalerie and maybe go back to church at 22:00 for a frei volks concert they are having for Pfingsten. Monday (Whit Monday) is a holiday here, and they are having special services, mit allen Touristen wilkommen. So that should be auch super!

Thank you to everyone for your support and great comments. You have already made me smile and laugh more than once on this trip....Dankeschön!