We leave Berlin

Well! I've seen quite a lot of Berlin in the past 24 hours. Yesterday, having gotten into the airport late, I drove over to the hotel with Dr. K and Sean, who's luggage was lost, and we almost immediately left again for the Checkpoint Charlie Museum. That was interesting. We wlked over the double brick line that follows the path of the Wall, read some of the monumen there, and then went into the museum. It wasn't very big, mostly blown up and translated newspaper clippings on the walls. But there was one section with some art. Very... moving (read: creepy) art. We were free to leave as we would, and the four of us (Julie, Mandy, Alyssa, and I) headed back to the hotel after a brief stop at the gift shop. (Although I understand the historical significance, I personally do not understand the desire to have a piece of the Wall. Seems like a piece of hatred to me.) We then proceeded to nap until dinner, which was quite excellent. I worked my way through bread, bread, and a little more bread... and then they brought out the food. We made an unsuccessful excursion for chocolate and then went to bed.
Today we went to the Bonhoeffer archeives and heard a lecture by a guy whose name I forget. He spoke at the end about the Christian need for the physical presence of other christians. Amen, Bonhoeffer, amen!
On to the American Church in Berlin, where the words "I'm and organist" coupled with "how many manuals does your organ have?" (no pun intended) got me up to the organ loft to see for myself. (4) When we were first going into the church the organist was practicing. And what was she practicing you may wonder? It took me a while because she was going voer the end of the piece, and I've mostly only worked on the beginning yet. (although I have gotten to the end several times!) Yes, Wachet Auf, Bach, which is on my planned list for next year's recita. So cool.
Then a lunch stop and onto the bus for a guided city tour. Got lots of pictures, didn't get to see IN the big Lutheran cathedral, but did get postcardical experience of their magnifcent organ. Then to some other sites (like the still standing part of the Wall, and the Holocaust memorial... more ramblings on those later), drop off the tour guide, and on to Wittenberg.

We're here in Wittenberg now, and it's getting late. We haven't done much but eat dinner and walk around the town a bit.

More to come later.
Until the next!