Zum Geburtstag to Linda!

Today is Linda’s birthday. Even the rain and gloom all day didn’t dampen our spirit of celebration. After breakfast, we cabbed it over to our tour hotel, the Marriott Berlin near Potsdamer Platz. We stored our bags  then with raingear and umbrellas ready, headed out to see more of the Berlin sights regardless of the weather.

Our sightseeing included a stop at the legendary KaDeWe department store, Berlin’s version of Harrod’s. Then had lunch at an Italian restaurant across the way. Started the birthday celebration off with a big carafe of Chianti. That sure warmed us up some.

Linda (R) with travel buddies Ron and Diane

Trucked on over to Checkpoint Charlie, the former American Sector border crossing between East and West Berlin during the Cold War.

Diane & Ron at Checkpoint Charlie

A few blocks over stands a remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall, the former Death Strip and an exhibit recounting the history of Nazi crimes, all grim symbols of a divided Europe that endured four decades of uncompromising suppression.

Linda and Jerry at the Berlin Wall

Later on back at the hotel we met our Tour Director Elena and the rest of the group of 35 we will be traveling with for the next 16 days. Looks to be a robust mix of experienced travelers from Australia, the Philippines, South Africa, Germany, Russia, Canada, and the U.S. Three-fourths are younger than us. We toasted to our shared journey with flutes of sparkling champagne. On to our steak dinner with more Champagne, beer and wine. How about some birthday toasts - Prost! (Cheers!) Zum Wohl! (To you!) Langes Leben! (Long life!) 

Can you say ‘ein kleines betrunken’?