Wandering American
My return from Germany to the U.S., took a bit longer than I wanted.
I missed my flight back from Berlin due to a very late train I was suppose to take in Leipzig.
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| Coffee is Always a Good Waiting Option |
After I arrived at the airport late, I didn’t count on not being able to rebook a flight the same day. Unfortunately, the prices of tickets were $2,000 one-way, increasing by the hour or nonexistent.
My son, Holden, suggested I allowed myself some time to get a reasonably-priced ticket. He said his friends would take me in and were waiting for me to call them. I took his advice, left Tegel Airport in Berlin, and plotted my course to Lisa and Dave’s apartment. I admit, it was difficult to be ready to go back home and have to process this delay in my brain.
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| GRRRRrrrrrr |
With help from Lisa I got my new ticket through WOW, which was to take me through Keflavic, Iceland two days later. I’m still amazed at how adept she was at navigating the internet for flight prices, schedules and itineraries.
That evening I took Holden’s friends to dinner. We walked through the Bebelplatz Square after we ate, at Dave’s suggestion. It was wall-to-wall people.
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| https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bebelplatz The Empty Library |
Dave pointed out “The Empty Library” - a memorial for the Nazi book burning. We stood and stared at it for some time.
We continued walking, dodging people everywhere and walked into magic. We stumbled across the Festival of Lights. It made sense suddenly why there were scores of people. People come from all over the world to witness this artwork of lights.
Never would I have predicted I’d be able to be a part of this enchantment. A late train, outrageously expensive tickets and friends willing to share some Berlin history added up to phenomenal. This link will give you an idea of how incredible it was.
The next morning I ventured out to the same area. I wanted to see it all in daylight and get some pictures of the square and go back to take a closer look at the chocolate artwork at Rausch Schokoladenhaus.
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| Cherub in Chocolate |
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| The Brandenburg Gate Designed in Chocolate |
My traveling style is to wander when I can. I spent most of the day feeling my way around sunny Berlin. I wanted to return to the Berlin Wall before dusk, so before I went back to the apartment I charted my way to the memorial.
Sitting quietly with many other tourists at the Berlin Wall Memorial, I wrote down on paper specific directions back to Dave and Lisa’s apartment. I saw my phone was about dead and the sun was setting.
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| Look Closely (The words in the upper right corner say, "Berlin 1961-1989") https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/amazing-rare-photographs-berlin-wall-coming-down-180953278/ |
I value my extra time in Germany. Circumstances landed me bonuses beyond my imagination. It reinforces my belief to let things be what they are and be surprised.
My friend picked me up at the Detroit Airport at about midnight the next day. After going through customs in both Germany and Iceland I was so happy to be at DTW going through American customs. I didn’t care if it was dark, cold and pouring rain. I was home.
I felt it even more the next day when I joined my friend to a football game at his alma mater, (from his master's degree), EMU (The Eagles).
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| Pre-Game Band Rehearsal |
When the band on the football field played the national anthem I stood up to locate the flag. I naturally put my hand over my heart. I heard myself singing before I knew it was my voice. At the end of the song,
“…and the land of the free and the home of the brave,” a large bald eagle flew above the band, landing on a woman’s arm. It ended with a short display of fireworks flying straight up into the air.
I know I was extremely tired. But, I don’t think my surge of patriotism and tears are a surprise after being out of country for so long. I'm an American. I'm a Michigander and I love my home.
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