Tuesday-first day of our tour

We had been to Potsdam with Matt and Marianna on Sunday and now we were back with the tour. The line to get into the palace on Sunday was too long and as it turned out this was okay. We got there before the palace opened on Tuesday and the tour guide showed us some areas of the grounds that we had not seen. We also went through the palace. No pictures inside unless you paid a price to take them. It was all extremely elaborate with gold rococco style in most of the rooms, crystal chandeliers and a lot of paintings.



We got back to Berlin in time for lunch and a few minutes of exploring before leaving on a city tour with a guide on our tour bus. We stopped at the Olympic stadium where Jesse Owens won four gold medals in the 1936 games. We saw many points of interest driving around Berlin and ended at Checkpoint Charlie. We were supposed to be taken to Brandenburg gate but because of some protesting going on at one of the government offices, the tour bus was unable to take us there. We decided it wasn't too far so we walked from Checkpoint Charlie to the Brandenburg gate. After which, we walked through the Tier Garten (beautiful park) to our hotel. Many miles were walked this day. I wish I had a pedometer on this trip. I have walked more than for a long time.







Checkpoint Charlie

The Brandenburg gate

Walking back to the hotel through the Tier Garten with new acquaintances George and Diane Pomeroy from Rhode Island.

We got back to the hotel at about 6 pm and freshened up to go with Matt and Marianna to dinner. He met us in the lobby at about 7:15 and we walked to his lab and office to see where he works. Marianna was still there waiting for us and we first walked to a Greek restaurant, but it was out of business so we caught a quick taxi and went to an Italian place where we had pizza, calzone, and I had a salad. They walked us back to the hotel where we arrived at 11 pm, somewhat footsore from all the miles we had walked. It was worth every step. We had such a wonderful evening with Matt and Marianna. They are so much fun to be with. He teases her and she gives back equally. Perhaps in a year or so we will have another daughter-in-law. It was very difficult to say goodbye. I shed a tear as they walked down the street, Matt with his arm around his Marianna.