Day 9: Guten Tag Berlin!

Though we ran into a few mishaps along the way, we have made it to Berlin! Our day began with an early 9:30am call to allow us to depart for Berlin at 10. Unfortunately, however, our bus driver was an hour late to pick us up, leaving all members of the Glee Club sitting on the streets of Prague with our suitcases as we awaited our bus. Moreover, we ended up adding an additional two hours to the length of our trip due to mandatory stops along the way and spurs of traffic. After a long and hot ride, we finally arrived in Berlin at about 5:30pm, where we soon discovered that the gems contained within this stop on our tour were well worth the wait! 

Since we were running approximately four hours behind schedule, our walking tour of Berlin initially planned for 3pm was moved and shortened to allow us to get to our dinner planned at the Reichstag by 8:00pm. Though brief, our tour gave us a thorough exposure to the incredible history of the city that presents itself in every step you take. The Club was amazed by beautifully grand structures that we visited such as the Brandenburg Gate and Berlin Cathedral ("Berliner Dom," which we will be singing at tomorrow!), as well as more nuanced sites such as golden memorial plates for Holocaust survivors laid in stone around the city and a memorial to the book burning in Berlin. 

Our first look at the Berliner Dom!
We are so excited to sing here tomorrow!

Following our abridged tour of Berlin, we arrived at the Reichstag for dinner. We had to show our passports to security and go through several security checks just to enter! After taking an elevator to the top floor, we exited onto the roof of the Reichstag. The Club was overwhelmed by the view of Berlin from this height, and even more overwhelmed by the delicious food that awaited us! We were fortunate enough to enjoy a three-course meal on the roof of the Reichstag, giving us a view that overlooked the entire city. This meal was one of our best on the entire tour! With full stomachs and smiles on our faces, the Glee Club returned to our hostel and immediately passed out, some due to carb comas and others as a result of exhaustion from a long day of travel.  

Our view atop the Reichstag, where we were fortunate to enjoy
a delicious three-course dinner! 

A few Glee Clubbers pose atop the Reichstag, with a beautiful
view of Berlin just behind them!