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| Brandenburg Gate last night. |
Well, this has been a very busy week for me. Non-stop work related action from early morning until about eleven in the evening. Why individuals that plan these international functions think that everyone wants to spend 15 hours a day in a conference center or hotel while abroad is beyond me. Of course, you need to conduct work, but please put in a little time to grab dinner on your own one night, or perhaps have an extended lunch break. So there you have it, I sit here in Berlin on a Friday morning and have yet to really explore on my own. We did have a river boat dinner one night where I snapped some pictures, and also the Brandenburg Gate is two blocks from hotel, so I have went there to view that as well. All in all its been a good experience, but there is plenty that I wont be able to see.
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| Looking at Grosser Stern from Brandenburg Gate |
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| Oberbaum Bridge from our boat on Tuesday. |
This morning I got up early to run a little. It was a nice morning so I ran from Brandenburg Gate to Grosser Stern and back. It was about probably a hair shy of 5K. But it was enough to make me regret the mid afternoon desserts, lunch wine, and evening beers. There is a large park between the two sights and a road that directly connects them. If you were running from the Gate, you would be running through the former US controlled side just beyond the gate from where I am staying. Its where JFK and Reagan gave very famous speeches. I think slick William gave a speech there too, no disrespect to President Clinton, but I think three was one too many. Lets be original. So, now I am all showered up, I have yet to eat, and I have a few hours to explore before my flight to Paris this evening. I believe I am going to walk around the local area to find some WWII sights and also see Checkpoint Charlie. There is a museum near Checkpoint Charlie that is about the Berlin Wall etc. I think that will fill the most of my time, if I have some time leftover I would like to view the Holocaust museum as well.
I mentioned Paris in my last paragraph! I am pretty excited about going to Paris. Not for the artwork or people you can rest assured, although I will take in some artistic sights I am sure. I am really excited because first, no work there until Tuesday. Second, I have an agenda that I can control and involves sport. To give a brief snapshot of how it will turn out hopefully. Starting early Saturday, probably before some of the party people that follow this blog even go to sleep in the States, I am going to explore all the regular Paris things. Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, The Louvre, and many other things that I struggle to pronounce. Sunday things get a little more fun for me, and while I have had fun on my journey, I havent been able to feel like myself all that much. That changes Sunday I believe.
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| Hippodrome de Longchamp |
On Sunday, Longchamp Racecourse in west Paris is having a very nice card. Multiple graded stakes races with some of the worlds best horses. Longchamp is a very famous track that hosts the largest race in the world for 12f on the turf in October. Sunday, a horse all North American enthusiasts are aware of, Goldikova will be making her debut in 2012 after winning the Breeders Cup Mile in Louisville last November. She is probably the most accomplished runner in the world at this time.
Then Monday, things only get better. The French Open at Roland Garros begins on Sunday. Monday is a continuation of the first round. I have found that I can get a seat at one of the stadium courts and grounds pass for a reasonable rate. I cant resist one of the four major's within walking distance of my hotel. I am there! Hopefully some Americans will give me reason to cheer despite our country's very poor clay form here of late. It should be really exciting.
Hopefully I will have a strong enough connection to blog and post pictures the next couple of days. All of you back home, make sure you have a very nice weekend.
