#3 - Tschüs Berlin, hallo Leipzig!

March 25, 2025 - Berlin

Amelia writes:

So today started off with a couple early risers and some that hit the snooze button one too many times. (Whoops - that might have been me!) We started the day with a stroll down to the bakery just like yesterday morning. On the agenda today was the Olympiastadion. It was built to look like the Colosseum in Rome to show its strength to the rest of the world as Hitler was in power during 1936. Besides learning all kinds of interesting facts about the stadium's history, we also got a little American history lesson about the track and field athlete Jesse Owen and his bringing home 4 gold medals for the US team. 

After spending a penny or two in the gift shop, we headed for lunch. Some had an American delicacy at McDonald’s while others fancied a pizza and other cuisines from around the world. After our bellies were full and our moods were boosted, we hopped back on the train to the East Side Gallery where many of us were thrilled to see the artwork in person, as each of us had painted a piece for the Berlin Wall at South a few months ago. It was a long walk, but many pictures were taken and the art spoke volumes. 

With our departure for Leipzig coming up, we headed back for our bags, which I think most of us would’ve enjoyed leaving behind or at the bottom of the stairs of doom. All of us had to lug our luggage up treacherous stairs till we made it just in time to catch the train, heading to the main station where we’d shop, eat, and almost miss a train and some assets valuable to the group. However, with perseverance and some great strength, we made it to Leipzig in one piece and headed to our homes for the next two weeks with our host families to start the second half of the exchange at last.

Photos: Amelia

Genna writes:

Today was full of new experiences and excitement! First we went to the Olympia-Stadion and learned all about the historical and current importance of it. We got to go into locker rooms (and I even sat in the same spot Messi did!!!!!) and onto the field. It was totally mind-blowing and such a unique experience! Then we saw the art all over the Berlin Wall. Many of us got to see the real versions of what we painted a few months ago. All of the art was gorgeous, and there was so much history there. 

At the Berlin train station, we did some last minute shopping, and got ready for our train ride. We had a stressful experience with the train: about half of us almost didn’t make it on, and there was lots of running back and forth to try to make it, but eventually we all safely made it to Leipzig. To end our day, we went home with our siblings and had dinner. 

Even with a few stressful experiences, today was an awesome last day in Berlin and a good start to our time in Leipzig. I can’t wait for all the new memories we will make tomorrow as we experience our first school day!

 

Photos: Genna

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 Breakfast at our favorite bakery

 

Our excellent tour guide: informative and entertaining

The press conference table from the EURO 2024

Hertha BSC Berlin's locker room. Our guide showed us the seats where Messi and Neymar sat when Barcelona played the Champions League final in 2015. Sitting in those seats today made Luay's (and others' - see above) day even more special:

 

Power nap on the way to the East Side Gallery

And then it was time to head back to the hotel to pick up our luggage 

and make our way to the train station.

And finally, we arrived in Leipzig:

REUNITED AT LAST!

For more photos, click here.

Gute Nacht und bis morgen!