Welcome to our trip blog!

We hope you enjoy traveling along with us. There are two pages of posts with links to the videos. Unfortunately, I was unable to get the videos on the blog during our trip and therefore have no videos for the sites and cities we visited after June 8th. We'll keep adding photos and videos if the students have them, so check back later!
Frau D.

Reichstag

The lines were so long and the sun was so hot that we bypassed the Reichstag government building and returned later in the evening to be security-checked and then whisked up the elevator to the top of the building. The new glass dome of the seat of government afforded an awesome view of the entire city. The wind blew through our hair as we got panorama views of the city from every side. Displays under the glass dome showed the history of the building.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaZOHVALAoA

Berlin Zoo

What could be better on a hot summer day than to stroll under the shade of the trees and enjoy the antics of the Berlin Zoo animals? OK, maybe the stroll with the ice cream!
Knut the Ploar Bear baby is all grown up and didn't want to give up his Sunday afternoon nap for my video, but other animals were out and about - just why would an elephant practice walking backwards?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-ITYbCJDGo

Pariserplatz

The very heart of Berlin is the Brandenburg Gate and the surrounding square named the Pariserplatz. It was here that the center of the Berlin Wall divided the city. Returning to this opened free space was rather emotional for me (Frau D.) and hopefully the students comprehended the changes I could tell them about from personal experience in this epicenter of recent German history. Here were the no-man's land security precautions, guards shooting to kill, escape attempts, separated families, the very symbol of the divided Germany. We were able to only discuss the Checkpoint Charlie as a part of history, but I had lived this division and crossed over from one side of the Gate to the other. Here our presidents had stood and proclaimed solidarity with West Berlin's citizens. Walking through the Gate with no barriers was a rather unsettling experience.
The square is once again a lively town center and we enjoyed the many performers. Ask Andrea if you want to hear more from the band - she has their CD.
Unbelievably, we met up with tourists from the Vinton area and saw someone who worked with my husband - small world!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ0dd5wcvxc

Pergamon Museum

One of the best known and most highly regarded museums in Berlin is the Pergamon Museum on Museum Island. German archeologist Carl Humann discovered the fantastic Pergamon Altar in what is now Bergama, Turkey. He received permission to transport the decrepit ruin to Berlin where it was painstakingly reconstructed and is the central feature of the museum now bearing its name. It joined the extensive collection of Greek and Roman antiquities already in Berlin. Although undergoing restoration and the process of remodeling the exhibit, the magnificent brilliant blue tiled Ishtar Gate from Babylon was still available to the Museum's guests. The special exhibits this summer all dealt with funereal art and customs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHkkod0MouU

Rhein cruise

Leaving the Ruine Rheinfels, we boarded a ship of the Ruedesheimer-Bingen Schifffahrtsgesellschaft and leisurely cruised upstream (but towards the south!) passing numerous castles, towers, fortresses, palaces and charming cities. Hopefully, you can hear some of the captain's commentary on the sites.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFjYNwNGl2M

Marksburg

Marksburg stands above Braubach and is one of the best preserved castles in Germany. In contrast to Ruine Rheinfels, it was never damaged and shows us the life within a fortress of a later period.
(Whoops - the video is titled incorrectly!!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ResN6iiGupE

Ruine Rheinfels

Our first day out on our own - Rheinfels castle - our guide Guenther clued us in to the history of this magnificent castle and then we could explore to our hearts' content. Ask the kids about the tunnels! Enjoy this huge ruin and let your imaginations run wild!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhevsPVQNWE

Benz Museum

On Tuesday we traveled to Stuttgart to visit the Mercedes Benz Museum - highlights of the history of motorcars and then, modern and amazing technology. Unfortunately, my Mercedes was not ready for delivery due to a mix-up with the American dealer - just kidding! Some of the guys took control of the video camera, so enjoy their commentary on the collection:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Cy5fv_zeK20

Heidelberg

After school on Monday we went to the castle above Heidelberg. It's a conglomeration of various styles and damaged, but still awesome! Because it was later in the afternoon, we were unable to view the inner rooms by tour, but explored the grounds, courtyards, passageways, and Apothecary Museum. It serves today as a public park-type area, hosts concerts and events such as weddings in its chapel and knights' hall. One famous part of the castle is the giant cask, which the locals filled with Rhine wine as a way of paying their taxes. Justin tried the balcony footprint on for size - legend says a knight had to make a quick exit from a lady's chambers when her husband returned unexpectantly and he left a footprint in the stone when he leaped from the window.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YMZHgoetHo

Ready to "roll"

Underway with vans, planes, trains, etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMkL8jo9wSs

Kletterwald video links

Here we are at the Kletterwald climbing forest: Proof that Knights can fly!
Kletterwald 1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66pnv9EUHQA
Link for Kletterwald 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujSrf3QlxVM