"Happy Birthday Germany" plus Spring Adventures with Kenny Kropa!!

It's been a little while since I have had a chance to sit down and post, but I wanted to write a quick note. So much has been going on in a whirlwind of spring -- project work really heating up, enjoying the spring weather, Fulbright friends visiting, and getting ready for Kenny to visit!!!

The few days leading up to Kenny's arrival were really fun with my Berlin friends + Rachel and Katie! I managed to make time for dinner and drinks with Rachel, karaoke with the crew Thursday night, and meet up with Katie, her brother, and Jason for cuban on Friday night. A perfect start to the weekend, and it was only beginning!

With Miss Rachel
Rachel and her friend Laura visit Sweden for the weekend

Jill and Melissa at karaoke

With Jason at karaoke

Catherine always breaks it down

Luke getting into his song

I picked up Kenny at the airport around lunchtime on Saturday morning, and I was so excited to see him! We gathered his things, grabbed a Doener for lunch, and dropped off his luggage at my place. Then back downtown for Germany's 60th Birthday celebration!!

The entire downtown area near Tiergraten, Brandenburg Gate, and the Reichstag was roped off into a massive celebration of booths, live bands, free giveaways, delicious smelling food, and swarming with people. A smiling young woman handed me a German flag, and I continued to wave it around the entire afternoon, exclaiming "Happy Birthday Germany!" Kenny and I had lots of fun at the birthday party.

Happy Birthday Germany!

Kenny's here!!

We got to hear the Berlin Philharmonie play!

The stage and the Gate

Choruses sang Germany's national anthem

Kenny at the Russian booth

Smiling with Konrad

But because of the activities downtown, public transportation was a nightmare. Kenny and I had plans to meet up with friends for to-die-for hamburgers at the Bird, and ended up arriving an hour late! But our dinner reservation was not until 8pm, so we were lucky to not have missed much of the action. The hamburgers were sooo good, and it was a lot of fun. We continued our evening over Scrabble (Kenny and I won!), and then Kenny and I headed back home.

With Jason, Katie, and her brother Pete

Jason, Jill, and Katie

With Jill at her apartment on Saturday

Sunday the weather was absolutely gorgeous! Kenny and I met up with Katie and her brother in Mitte for breakfast, and then we hit up some sites downtown. The highlight was touring the Berliner Dom. We wrapped up the day with some german food at Weihnstephaner - lecker.

The Berliner Dom

Looking up at the Dom from inside the Cathedral

TV Tower from the Dom

With the TV Tower

The Spree

On top of the Dom

Kenny with Berlin in the background

The Victory Column

So a fun start to Kenny's visit - I am so excited he is here to experience beautiful Berlin in the spring!! I will update with more of our adventures soon :)