Oh, It Is Christmas Eve!

Published on Dec. 23, 2004 in Germany

 Hi everybody! I didn't quite realize it but today is Christmas eve. I hope my family won't be too mad at me:) We are at a wonderful internet cafe -- one euro a minute. Casey is doing whatever to my left and the host guy is to my right listening to Ricky Martin. Too funny. So yesterday we woke up, packed, and left our bags in the main office. I made another wonderful breakfast -- eggs, yogurt, a chocolate cookie and bacon. Yum, the eggs and bacon inside this flat piece of bread thing. I wandered through the residential district, saw a few churches, and wandered into the Stilles museum. Just a little wierd, but because of an event in there I think I am going to start playing chess again. Then I wandered around the corner and went into the Neve Synagoge -- well, actually I went INTO the real Synagoge, and since I don't really look too Jewish got kicked out. Yea, they were like in fast German "get the heck out of here, you aren't Jewish, bloody American tourist." Well, at least that is something along the lines of what I think they said. When I went into the museum it was amazing. I had not idea the Synagoge was that big, and it was quite a moving experience. I spent about 2 1/2 or so hours there -- first seeing the history behind the Synagoge and then viewing the history of the children who came out of the second world war -- very sad. It was like "her parents were brought to [a camp] and murdered" for every child. Next I wandered along the river, across the Liebknechtbr (almost falling since it snowed and everything froze over last night) and across the water. Saw the Palace of the Republik (under construction), the Marstall (old stables) and had some lady give me a German newspaper. "What am I supposed to do with this?" She made me take it regardless. Chatted with her co-worker whose brother is in NY City -- No, that is nowhere near me. I wandered over the Unter den Linen and saw several of the university buildings, then continued to the American Embassy. Well, the Embassy was like Fort Knox (I mean, big walls everywhere and so forth) and they wouldn't even let me in. Yea, oh well. I then wandered to Checkpoint Charlie (yet not into the museum) and then further to the Jewish Museum. I spent a few more hours wandering around the horribly amazing museum. The architecture was amazing, it made me want to throw up. The paths between exhibits were confusing and disorienting -- all paths seemed to lead up or down but the floor was level (I think). My one most memorable experience was walking to the Holocaust Tower, which I thought was an exhibit. This scary German guy opened the door (the lights were off) and I walked in, well, outside. Little did I know that it was just a concrete tower, and since it was snowing, cold and dark it hit home. Only a small light at the top could be seen, not really even a light just a line of light. Sirens were going in the background of the city -- I had a glimpse of what it would have felt like. I then wandered across the city to the Gate and met Casey -- had a coffee and we took the train back to the apartment. Drank some wine, played some cards, watched some German TV, and fell asleep. An overall long yet powerful day. So, Checkpoint Charlie here I come!