Day 27 – Berlin Day 2 – Tuesday June 19th

I woke up at 8:30 and had some breakfast before meeting the Computer Science class for a field trip to the German Museum of Technology. The Museum was very interesting. We saw exhibits on the first electronic computers created by Zuse and the development over the 20^th century of computers. Afterwards, I took a detailed audio tour of the ship and aviation exhibits they had. From the Kaffenkahn ships to the Junkers Ju 52, I saw the development of ships and airplanes in Germany over the past 150 years or so. After going through the exhibit, most of the class had already left. I went with Dr. Turkett back near the hotel.

We ate lunch at a pizza place near the hotel that was very good. Germans really have been the friendliest so far on the trip. The waitresses have been especially nice. The restaurant suggested we try German Cola, which ended up being very good (at least better than Pepsi).

After realizing no one was really at the hotel at this time of day, Dr. Turkett and I went to the Topography of Terror to take the free audio tour that they offered. The exhibit was very detailed and actually taught me more about the German side of things than Auschwitz did. In fact, I wish the order had been switched for when I saw this exhibit and Auschwitz because I would have understood the concentration camp much more had I known the information about Germany beforehand. Of course I knew some, but not as much as I feel I know now.

We headed back to the train station and happened upon a drum circle with break dancers. It really wasn’t anything special, but it was very entertaining.

As soon as I got to the hotel, I found out that everyone was over at the Sony Center, where I just was. I went back with a group of people and met up with the guys. We saw Ocean’s Thirteen. It was in English, but the theater experience was very different from America. Seats were assigned, the screen was covered in a red curtain, and previews lasted for 30 minutes exactly before they shut the curtain again and sold ice cream. The movie was an entertaining heist movie, but for all its style, it lacked a conflict. In a summer of sequels, this one was nothing special.

Full off of movie food, I came back to the hotel with rob and did my Computer Science homework. I went to bed after a very fulfilling trip to Germany.