quick hits from Berlin

I have stormed Berlin, but can only go online on Nick's laptop, so I won't have much time for the rest of the trip to sit down and do any long posts or post any new pictures. So I'll just say a few quick things and get out of the way and do some longer grand finale type posts when I get back to Seattle on the 19th.

Yesterday we saw the longest remaining stretch of Wall, now turned into a memorial and decorated with many murals. Today I think the plan is to see a Picasso museum and go up to the cupola of the Reighstagg which gives a good view of the city. Berlin moves at a much more leisurely pace compared to Rome, and there are actual trees and plants here, it feels much like Seattle.

The Rome program ended up with a large group of us sitting on the banks of the Tiber river, singing songs and consuming beverages and it was a lot of fun, and the feeling of accomplishment was quite substantial when I finally left to wander back to my apartment for the last night. Spent the next night in the Rome airport, sleeping horribly on benches, then caught the quick two-hour flight up to Berlin where Nick was waiting to pick me up in his Mariners shirt in my honor, and here I am now in his dorm room. That's about all I have time for now, I will be home soon.

Oh, and by the way I am in need of a new AIM screen name. MikeBRulz is now permanently defunct after eight or nine years of distinguished service. Any suggestions?