Our indispensable weekend in Berlin

This weekend excursion to Berlin has been an amazing time for me- I never thought it would be possible to experience so much history, see so many fascinating and beautiful sites, and enjoy myself so thoroughly all in one place. The historical sites we visited allowed me to experience a variety of different emotions- from amazement at the Brandenburg Gate, to a solemn contemplation at the Holocaust Memorial, to historical remembrance at the Berlin Wall. I feel like I got as much of the Berlin experience as was possible in three short days. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the tour guides for many of the tours we took. They were extremely knowledgeable, and they were thought provoking as well- I often found myself thinking about a certain point in German history, and trying to better understand the mindset of the people or governmental figures at that time. I was successful in this endeavor because the tour guides were fantastic at covering many areas that I had questions about, and when I was curious and asked a question, it was always answered with great care. These tours of the historical museums in Berlin were amazing. I did have a soft spot for the museums housing the Greek and Egyptian antiquities, however. These are two of my favorite ancient cultures of the world, and I was amazed to able to see these ancient relics (well preserved and well taken care of, I might add) in person. The food was also excellent, many of my classmates also enjoyed the colored beers of Berlin during this excursion. I had a fantastic time in Berlin; I now feel like I understand a great deal more about both German culture and German history. In addition, I feel like I now have a closer connection with the people of Berlin, as I actually was lucky enough to find myself in a situation where I could talk with a local about the city (though this conversation was somewhat limited because of the language barrier). I can not wait to see what this trip holds still, I am sure I will see even more about the German history and culture while I am here that will help me understand the prolific background of this fascinating country. (Also, apologies for posting this Monday night- I began typing Sunday night, but was so exhausted I may or may not have passed out at the computer. More apologies: I did not plan on uploading any photos until I got back to the US, so I have none that I can add to this blog, as I do not have the equipment to do so.)