Berlin and Brugge

Brugge - the postcard city. We got an amazing deal on priceline thanks to tips from our friends wink wink and stayed in the heart of the city. The first order of business was to try the Belgium waffle at a tea house and drink some local beer. The waffles were all that and more and the beer (according to Marc) was even better. The city centre was 2km x2km and each turn showed a new building that was more beautiful than the one before. There arent any contemporary buildings and the city looks as if it is 200 or more years old. Every 15 minutes the clock on the bell tower will ring reminding you just how fast the time is passing you by. One of my favourite parts of Brugge was relaxing on a bench by a little pond with hundrends of swans and ducks who did their best to pose for our pictures. As well the sun still shines at 8pm and it does not get dark until 11pm. Imagine how much more can be done with such a long day....

The official language of Brugge and the Northern Belgium is Flemmish. The funny thing is it sounds just like that (while the south speaks French). The only downsides are majority of the tourists there were 55+ and all the businesses closed at 9pm. When we showed up with our backpacks at this 4star hotel we definately stood out.

From Brugge we hopped on a train and got out in Berlin. We were given a very warm welcome. My uncle Igor and his mother Firra were very gracious hosts and they put us up in their two bedroom apartment. They took incredible care of us, making sure we have the best meals and entertainment. Igor and Marc got along well especially during dinner when Igor would teach Marc Georgian toasts and demanded Marc say one back. On our last night Marc came up with a toast that made our host very proud. Igor accompanied us through Berlin on a daily basis showing us the sights and teaching us about the city's history. Berlin is a very large city that has over 10 million people living there. The city is very modern and has very few old structures left. It is clear that the government tried really hard to remove itself from its history and even went as far as putting a car park over Hitlers bunker. However, that does not stop Neo Nazis from denying the Hollocaoust and influencing and recruiting high school students. While we were in Berlin President Obama visited a concentration camp in Dresden and we later visited the city on our way to Prague.

On our walk through Berlin we saw the Brangady (spelling???) bridge that was errected in the 17th century to divide the city. We also visited the Hallocaust memorial that was located underground, just below 2700 metal grave like structures. I was upset to learn that Berlin only put up this memorial in 2004. Why did it take over 60 years to do this? I was also dissapointed that we didnt get to visit the Berlin wall that divided the city into East and West but Igor said that there isnt much left of it and it is full of grafettie. Marc and I also have a new love affair with Salvador Dali and we went to see his work both in Brugge and Berlin. His paintings are from the mid 1900 and are very contemporary and completely ridiculous works or art. He has many paintings that are sexual and violent in nature, but overall they are his imagination and it can take up to 5 minutes staring at a picture to understand what he meant to depict.

While in Berlin we took the train to Potsdam, a small city outside of Berlin that was the home to King Frederick and Queen Cicilia. The castles are still intact and in very good shape spread over a very large area. During our tour inside the castle Marc and I felt as if we were royalty visiting our friends the king and queen. On the way to Prague we stopped in Dresden (the city President Obama visited while in Germany). This is another old town full of castles and old money. We visited the Green Vault that holds mosts of the regions treasures from kings and queens past. The last display was a 41carat green diamond, according to the display was the biggest green diamond ever found and most expensive in the world. Marc had to pull me away from the display becuase I was sure that I got hypnotized by the sparkles. My head was literally swaying from side to side in front of the display.

I cant describe the feeling of getting off the train in a different county. Especially when all it takes is to look at a map and to look at a timetable and decide the next destination. That has to be one of the most liberating and gratifying experiences.

We are now in Prague and although staying in the industrial part of town, we are jsut a few stops from the centre at a 4 star hotel through priceline.

About questions when we will be home... We will call British Airways to change our ticket today and once we know what availablility they have we will let you know.

Until then we hope that the weather in Toronto or wherever you are reading this from is better than it is here. We miss you and will see you really soon!!!

Kissess