family

Potsdam – Yep, I get around

I realized that I really have gotten around in the last month or so – and it’s no wonder why I’m tired.

I was in the USA (salt lake city) for Thanksgiving. Got home and was here for a week before heading to Dresden for the weekend. Got back from there and 4 days later dad arrived. Since then, I’ve been to Spandau (suburb of Berlin); Downtown Berlin, Charlottenburg (suburb of Berlin), Szczecin (Poland), and Potsdam (yesterday). In between I had Christmas and a tour of Teltow/Stahnsdorf/Dreilinden (near where I work.) Humm.. I think I’m going to need a vacation from my vacation.

Anyhow, The photos (what few I took) from Potsdam are up. (I admit I didn’t take that many since I have a bunch already). They’re at:

the very bottom of the Potsdam Set.

Tomorrow, we’re back off to Berlin again – to ride a double decker bus and see the area around the Zoo and Alexanderplatz. We may even celebrate New Years if I can get them to stay out past midnight. (Granted Danai doesn’t celebrate anything since she’s Jehova Witness but I’m going to try anyhow…)

If not, I guess I’ll turn into a pumpkin this year – and hopefully spend it out and about the next one.

Otherwise, here’s wishing you and yours a very Happy (and Travel filled) New Year!

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Christmas Wishes – World Peace

Happy Christmas to everyone. It’s been a crazy few days here with the family. You know how it is.

Dad and Danai are getting more used to stuff, but they are still having some culture shock. Dad had full camera batteries yesterday and did nothing but take pictures of doors (fancy ones) on buildings and food. LOL it was amusing, but kind of annoying too since I’d be like ok we’re in a hurry… we have to be somewhere at x time. We really can’t dawdle. Oh well. It all worked out.

Had Brunch with friends yesterday – Dim Sum. It was cool.

There was a moslem, a hindi, a Jew, an athiest, a catholic (me), two jehova witnesses (dad & danai) and lots of fun. Now, if we can have brunch and go for a movie, how come we can’t solve World Peace?? Ahh sometimes I just wonder why we can’t see past the superficial and truly into the human heart.

After the brunch and a movie (Golden compass – so good ) Dad, Danai and I went over to checkpoint charlie. He really had wanted to go (could remember when it went up/down) and found it pretty interesting. We also saw the museum (I didn’t want to go inside the last time I was there since it’s 9.50 euros – I kind of figured that I’d wind up inside doing tours with fam/friends when they’re in town). and went through the history of the wall and the escapes that were recorded. Impressive that for the soldiers there, more weren’t killed trying to cross.

So, yeah, that was my Christmas – no presents, no religion -just friends and family and a nice time. 100 times better, and 99 times less stressful.

Guess that’s what Christmas is all about.

Here’s wishing you all world peace, and the opportunity to get together with friends and family.

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Getting Ready for Dad & Step Mom

Why am I happy today? Because I get to go to the airport in about an hour and pick up my dad and step mom for the holidays.

Yesterday, I was running around trying to clean the house (not that it was dirty – because I’ve been here, gone, here, gone for the last month – but you know how it is… that last little polish!), organize a few things and figure out what we’re having for dinner.

The problem is that as of tomorrow, the stores are all going to be closed through the 25th. That means that while I do have some food, I will have to take them grocery shopping with me at some point today. Mostly because I can’t carry back a lot of the food on my own and can use the extra hands.

Otherwise, I’m looking forward to seeing the sites, seeing them, and just showing them a bit of my world here in Europe. I’m sure there will be tons of pics as the next two weeks progresses – I’ll do my best to post and add to the blog between now and then.

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