Braunschweig, 2014

Well my week in Berlin is over.  I stayed at the Hilton and enjoyed myself as always.  I got to the Gemalde Gallery, The Neues Museum, the Altes Museum and the Egyptian collection.  Ernest and I went on a river cruise up the Spree and we also went to the top of the Reichstag.  If you want to do that, remember that it is FREE.  DO NOT pay for a reservation on line. You just go down there the day before you want to go and make a reservation.  Ask one of the workers where to go and they will help you
     I ate at a new place this year.  Of course I did it before Ernest arrived on Thursday because he would have hated it.  It is a restaurant call ed Le Petite Felix.  It was very nice and the service was great.  It was expensive but that is what vacations are for.
    I have arrived today in Braunschweig.  I am staying at the Saint George Ritter Hotel.  My roomis very large and the hotel seems to be well located.   We will find a place to eat tonight and then tomorrow we begin the purpose of our visit.  Going to exhibits related to the 400th anniversary of the ascension of the house of Hannover on the English throne.  We will see because the internet connection in my room is terrible

Berlin 2014

     Well it has finally arrived - Germany 2014!  I flew over on Sunday night.  First class IS everything it is cracked up to be.  The food was great.  The booze was included. I actually slept a good deal of the time.  This may have to become a regular feature on the way over.  It is a lot of money but so what?  I can't hold on to it all.
     Unfortunately, the Berlin Hilton is not what it was.  It has become a tourist hotel with tour guides and schedules in the lobby and one bus after another of ill-dressed American tourists.  Also, I booked my room two months in advance and paid in advance and did not get the room I booked.  Instead I got told "We're sorry but the hotel is completely booked."  So now I have a room with two single beds in it.  I think this is my seventh and last stay at this place.
     Today I went the Deutsches Historisches Museem in the Zeughaus.  Wonderful as ever.  I love that two of the portraits of Elizabeth Charlotte von derPfalz are here.  Her niece was the queen of Prussia and she sent them to her.  Tonight I ate a Le Petit Felix.  A French restaurant that I read about on tripAdvisor.  It was very good and the service was great.  The food prices themself were not too bad, 12 e for baked goat cheese and greens and 22e for Coq au Vin.  But the martini, the 2 glasses of red and the coffee were more than the food.  All told it cost me 70e - a lot.

Europe 2014

     Well, tomorrow is the big day.  I leave for Europe 2014.  I think I am ready.  I have the clothes ready and I have my passport and my Europe wallet.  With I must add, 200e.  I called the airline today and confirmed all the flights.  The car comes at 4:15 pm and the flight is at 7:00pm.  I can not wait to be in that 1st class seat.  So I am supposed to arrive in Berlin 11:30am German time on Monday morning.
     I went and saw my brother and mother this afternoon and I spoke with Zack on the phone.  So I guess that is it.  I am ready for another summer in Germany.  Ich kann nicht mehr warten.  Lassen uns jetzt gehen!