Saturday June 12, 2010

We are all finally in Berlin safely. Our flight from London was a bit late arriving, our next flight was in a different terminal building and we had to go through security again! With all that, Judy and Karen did not make the flight to Berlin. Of course with British Airways crews on strike there was not another flight they could get on until the evening. But finally all are here and settled in.

One note to blog readers, we do not have internet access in our apartments or at the church so posting of the blog will be sporadic at best.

Anyway yesterday, all but Judy and Karen, were met at the airport by Pastor Charles, Kumar, Denise and Nancy Kowalski from Prince of Peace who guided us through the public transportation system to get us to the church and then off to find our apartments.

Exhaustion is the operative word for yesterday. Those who were fortunate slept maybe 2 hours total. Most of us were not so lucky. So arriving at the church we are informed that we will leave post haste for a museum and city tour leading to dinner until 10 pm.

Rebellion rose among the ranks. A one hour reprieve was negotiated, off to shower and nap.

Slightly refreshed our gracious hosts Michel and Gabbi led us to the Story of Berlin museum, on the 100 bus through the heart of Berlin and to a restaurant in the old East Berlin where the featured dish was Spargel (white asparagus) which was included in all the entrees.

Back on the U and S Bahn and finally a good full night's sleep.

Mission one in the morning find coffee – success, pay the landlord and then off to the church and later to a garden party with the Greenfield's friends Ingeborg and Mannfred.

Jeff Silvernail