Last few days in Berlin

Okay, mom says I can't start something and not finish it, so here it goes - now 2 weeks since we returned home.  After getting back to Karoline's flat after traveling to Poland and the south of Germany, We did one last day of sightseeing - the easy way.  We went up into Berlin's TV tower which has an observation deck and a restaurant that rotates. It is labeled the tallest building in Germany. Berlin is just huge!!!  We could see for miles in every direction.  After that we headed to the museum district to check it out.   The last day in Berlin I went shopping again - heck I can't take home Euros so I might as well spend them.  We then visited Karoline's school and went to see her boyfriend's building.  We ate wiener snitzel at a famous restaurant then went home to pack.  Let's just say it was a good thing mom and dad had room in their suitcases for some of my stuff!!!  We headed to the airport at 5 am the next morning after saying our goodbyes.                                

We had an amazing trip!  Mom and dad tell me everyday how lucky I am.  I do know that!  I have sisters all over Europe and great family and friends and pets to return home to.  It was awesome to get back home to see everyone and to get back to cheerleading.  It sounds like my sisters are all coming for a visit to the US during the next year which is just so cool!  But don't worry, I'm sure we will be back to Europe soon for many new adventures!!!  Until next time.  THANKS FOR READING!

Meeting Maya

Monday, July 22.  Today we drove to meet Maya - my new sister who will be with us in just 16 days (my mom is freaking out!)  We had lunch at her house with her parents and younger brother.  Then her grandparents joined us for dessert. She is so nice!  I just know we will get along great!  After our visit, we headed back to Berlin.  Check out the video of dad driving on the autobaun - he hit 210 kilometers per hour which translates to 130 miles per hour.  Mom wasn't too happy but Karoline and I thought it was awesome.  I wanted him to go even faster but dad said the car was floored.

Visiting family in the south of Germany

On Friday the 19th we drove to Annette's parents.  They live in a village called Gerstetten.  We went to her sister's house for a cookout which was delicious. The next morning we went to see the castle Neuschwanstein - it's the one that Disney saw and had Cinderella's castle made like it.  I saw real mountains for the first time since the castle is built in the Alps.  The castle is way over the top!!!!!  The king who built it was called crazy and taken from the throne because he spent too much money on his castle.  So it was never finished. I think it is something like only 9 rooms are completely done, but it was a cool place.  We took a carriage ride up and back down from the castle.  We grabbed a brat sandwich and did a little shopping before heading to our next town of Magstadt to see Peter's mom and sister.  Too bad the pictures aren't clear.  It was a hazy day and we weren't allowed to take pictures inside so we bought a book for people to see.
     When we got to Peter's mom's house, we had a late supper.  I had real German potato salad.  It was great.  Hopefully mom can duplicate it.  On Sunday we went to another relative's house for a family reunion.  We met aunts and uncles and cousins. The best part was homemade ice cream cake followed by black forest cake.

Into Poland we go for our next adventure

July 18 - Yesterday morning we woke up to  take an 8 hour drive into Poland.   We stayed the first night in a cabin.  In the morning we went to Auschwitz and Birkenau. It ended up being somewhat interesting but still sad.  Auschwitz was more like a museum and Birkenau the death camp was left like it was found. The stories the guide told were hard to believe.  The crematoriums were destroyed by the Nazis as they fled the camp but enough is still there to see what it is.  After our tours, we drove about 4 hours and spent the night in a hotel in Legnica, Poland.

Best day ever - we went shopping

Tuesday, July 16 - Today we went to the shopping district of Berlin with miles of stores.  I shopped with both Karoline and her sister.  I came home with a really pretty blue, lacy dress. What fun!  In the evening we went to pick up a rental car because tomorrow we drive to Poland. We are going to see Auschwitz.

more sightseeing

July 15 - Yesterday we just relaxed, but today we were off again to see the city.  We took a close-up look at the government building, the "gate to the city", the American embassy, and the murdered Jews memorial.  There are so many things to see that we will never get it all in since my mom loves to look at every detail - it must be an old thing!

Trip to Spreewald

Saturday July 13 - This morning we woke up early and went to a town called Spreewald.  Spreewald is sort of like Venice in the sense that some people use mainly canal boats to get around. While we were there we took a trip on a canal boat where we tried all different flavors of pickles and bread with lard on it.  I liked the pickles but the bread with lard wasn't exactly my favorite.  I probably would have liked the bread with lard on it better if it had been white bread.  The cottages we saw had pretty flowers everywhere.  It was peaceful and quaint, but I am pretty sure I would not like to live there because I did not see a satellite and I am pretty sure that they do not have any WiFi.