Good morning everyone.

Yesterday we started our journey in a complet  day.  We got a very good night sleep after that long first day and we were off to the Chrolettesburg Palace.  That was the summer home of Queen Charlette and the king in the 1700s.  `it was a very nice copy of Versaille but not quite as opulent as the Russian Czars in St. `Petersburg.  The rooms were very nice and the grounds of course stretched all over with are now common parks for the public.  There were very few people touring so it was really nice.  AFter we had lunch at the most famous deli in Germany Ragardi's ````````````(sp).  `it has everything, every kind of smoked fish one could think of, same goes for the meats.  We picked out our choices and ate outside at their tables.....quite nice.  Then it was off to what `i was really excited about the `'house of horrors`'.  An exihibit on the history of the Gestopo and the SS in `Nazi Germany.  The museum is on the same land that the building was on which was torn down immediately following the war.  It also gave a good history on the rise of Hitler and his Nazi party.  Wow, it was quite interesting how the people actually voted him in and wanted someone to be a dictator and destroy other religions and ethnics.......sounds quite like some of the groups we have in the US now.  After we were back at the hotel to meet relatives who came from England to meet us for a couple days.  We had dinner at a wonderful German restaurant on the river (Spree) with alot of beer drunk.  We all tried several kinds and ended up with a home made brew from the restarant.  Walked back to hotel and to bed. 

Today we have Potsdam tour all day.  We will take the bus there and meet the tour. 

Now more insight on the country and people.  `like I said before, so far the people have been really incredible.  `i would guess that 90% speak English, no matter where we went we had no trouble getting or buying what we wanted.  Also, strangers would help us on the street if we looked like we needed it.......and several timnes we did.  We took the U subway for the first time yesterday and it was fantastic, fast, easy and cheap.  `not like the S line which is more complex and more expensive.  But  I can truly say that getting around Berlin is quite easy once accustomed to it.  It is large and diverse with gorgeous apartment neighborhoods and shopping areas.  `it is very modern with very few older buildings.  There is a tremendous building boom here and it shows.  `modern stuff all over.  The streets are not crowded with autos as other cities but still not empty.  We have not trouble getting around on the streets and interesting enough NO ONE J WALKS....NO ONE.  So we have to go with the flow.  frustrating sometimnes but safer.\\

Anyway, enough for now.  my 20 minutes are up so `i must get off.  We are off to `potsdam in a few minutes.\

Bye.