Our last weekend with the host families!

All the students are doing some last fun things with the families this weekend.  I went into the downtown area of Hamburg today and it was Harley Day here.  Woo!  It was pretty busy down there, but it was funny to see that same excitement people have about Harleys over here. 

Monday or Tuesday the students have to give their 10-minute presentations in school, so wish them luck! Even though they won't need it. :) They will do just fine.

Wattwanderung - Tide Lands Hiking - Wednesday, June 22

Off to a good start!

So far, so good!

I think these girls summed up our experience here! Let's say it was an interesting experience and a story to tell, but...

For miles, you can't see anything.  We hiked about 5 miiles, maybe more, but because it was flat, it wasn't necessarily too strenuous, but the combination of the rocks and shells we would come upon, made it pretty tough.

Having some fun, sinking in the mud!

Our muddy feet!

Nothing for miles... It's crazy that the water recedes that much.

And now the water is back.  We just made it by an hour! How crazy!

Die Wise Guys Concert - Monday Evening in Lübeck

What a cool concert! We had tons of fun!

Lübeck - Monday, June 20

The whole group with our host brothers and sisters!

St. Marienkirche in Lübeck - the tallest brick church in the world

Lübeck Rathausplatz - the city hall square

Niederegger Marzipan Shop - we learned so much about marzipan!

Kat, Ricky & Elisabeth admiring the marzipan goods.  It's amazing what they can make out of that!

This is a sqaure off of an old hospital. 

Those silly boys! I don't think that's the right look for John C., and it looks like Jon O. agrees.

Alles Gute zum Vatertag!

We wish all our fathers a great day!  Thanks for everything you do for us! 
We'll be travelling back to Hamburg, and will be thinking of you all and hoping you're enjoying your day!

Berlin - Day 3 (Saturday, June 18)



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(1st pic) Katina and Nikki
(2nd pic) Rachel and Margot
sitting at the 125th Anniversary Statue of the Kurfurstendamm (Berlin's premiere shopping street)

 


Our students with Olaf, our magnificent tour guide, at the Story of Berlin exhibition.  Everyone loved him and his impressive knowledge of Berlin's history, from the perspective of a true Berliner. 




Being silly at the Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate)

Elizabeth walking through the Holocaust Memorial.  It was a pretty ominous and
profound feeling that you get from this, and very worthwhile. 

Jo(h)n squared - at the Holocaust Memorial, right next to the U.S. Embassy

Reichstag (Germany's capital building)

Could you guess that they were hungry or maybe hangry (hungry and angry)?  And always silly! :)

A wonderful, authentic German dinner at Weihenstephaner in Haschecker Markt - a Berlin neighborhood with a lively atmosphere - very cool.

We definitely indulged in some of the finer things - yummy desserts! 
Kat and Rachel thoroughly enjoyed their Brownie Explosions.

Berlin Excursion - Day 1 (Thursday) and Day 2 (Friday)

Our first ride on the ICE train - Germany's fastest train! It was so great!

They actually enjoyed the train ride despite the pout faces.

So comfy and fast! 2 hours from Hamburg to Berlin

Der Reichstag - Germany's capital building

Ricky at the Brandenburg Gate - We had to cross traffic to get here, but the tour guide told us to do it! :)

East Side Gallery - the longest remaining stretch of the Berlin wall.  Our hotel is actually just down the street from here.  Yes, technically in East Berlin, but so much of the area has been renovated.

Look, Mom! We're eating well!

Elizabeth and Kat enjoying some yummy ice cream for dessert!

At the Berliner Mauer (the Wall) Bernauer Street Memorial.  This section was left, so people can still see what the "Death Strip" or "No-Man's-Land" looked like between the two walls. 

Inbetween the French and German Cathedrals with Olaf, our tour guide.  He was so awesome and really helped us to get a great understanding of Berlin's unique history.  He was with us on Friday and Saturday.   

Our group of worldly St. Charles students on the steps of the National Theater.

We're pretty tired after going around Berlin all day and then learning a lot at the Pergamon Museum.  Here we are on the steps of the great alter discovered in Pergamon and brought to Berlin.  This museum is part of the Museum Island and has relics, such as the Ishtar Gate, things from Babylon and Tel Halaf.  It was amazing!

Hamburg Scavenger Hunt

Looking down one of the many canals in the Speicherstadt

The Speicherstadt was used to store dry goods that came in through the canals.  The hooks on the top of each peak lifted the goods in through the windows.

St. Nikolai Church - the tower was burned and the rest of it was bombed during World War II.

St. Nikolai Church - left as a memorial for victims of persecution during WWII.

St. Michel Catholic Church

We discovered some awesome new sights on our city scavenger hunt on Wednesday - with a little help from our hosts. 

Miniaturwunderland! This place was insane and so cool too!

These are all miniature (obviously from the name), but there were hundreds of little displays of all scenes imaginable.

We couldn't believe that this is someone's job! How awesome!

For some reference - here is my water bottle! And below here is a model airplane TAKING OFF! Yes, it's all models.  Wow!

Day Trip to Bremen

Our first big train ride!

We love Germany's transportation system! Fast and efficient!

Farmer's Market in Bremen's City Center

The Bremen City Musicians - Hold onto both legs and make a wish! I wonder what Katina is wishing for...

The whole group with our German hosts

Bremen's City Hall - over 600 years old

You always get a couple silly ones

Rolanderplatz

Our tour guide, Guido! He was pretty cool and taught us a lot.

We have some awesomely strong people in our group! Good job, Margot!