Berlin Vol. 4 Historic Berlin

Posted by Stephanie on August 18, 2009

It seems like the time has passed by so quickly but I have been here a week already.  Over the last few days I have practiced according to my schedule and even had some time off to go to visit a standing section of the Berlin Wall (click here), cruise on the River Spree, and speak in front of hundreds at the opening prayer inside the historic Berlin Cathedral (pretty pictures here!).  At the Wall I wrote a birthday note to a friend, snapped a few pictures, and sent them back as a gift.  I was too scared to write it in huge letters but I’m lucky I didn’t get arrested because it was not the official ”graffiti” section of the Wall. The river cruise down the Spree (more sites here) revealed to me the best parts of Berlin architecture and culture.  The cruise had a rocky start though as the drink waitress dropped a full bottle of beer in my lap when trying to pass it to Chaz.  I looked like I had wet myself but I really wasn’t worried about the wet pants.  I was worried about coming back to the hotel smelling like Berliner Kindl.  The prayer at the Cathedral was amazing.  I was asked by one of the chaplains on the team to attend.  It was my first day off of training and I had planned to take the train to see some of the sights.  I took the morning to go sightseeing, including the Wall and a sandcastle exhibit on the river. Then back at the hotel we had a very long team meeting followed by team picture.  In all team pictures I am forced to stand at the back because I am so tall but this time I refused.  I got my Cal Poly teammates together and we all stood (well…I slouched down a lot and they stood) a few rows from the front.  I’m proud of us Poly Dollies! I went straight to the taxi stand and rode with the chaplains to the cathedral.  I was told that there were two athletes invited to speak at the opening prayer, along with a high level Catholic Bishop, and Evangelical Protestant Bishop, and the head of the German Athletic Federation. The other athlete could not attend due to a training session.  That meant I was the only athlete representing over 2000 athletes at the Championships.  My lines were already written out and all I would need to do would be to stand on the stage and deliver the message without jumbling my lines too much.  I didn’t have time to change after the team picture so I was decked out in all of my USA gear and felt a bit out of place standing next to the bishops in their long robes and men in three piece suits.   The TV cameras  were rolling, bulbs flashing and I was hoping that I didn’t have anything in my teeth.  My heart tried to leap from my chest, even with my 6 months of Toastmasters training.  I delivered the lines clearly, deliberately even though I was about to have a heart attack I thought the delivery was excellent.  After the ceremony we walked in file behind the large wood cross held by one of the bishops to a back room which I assumed to be one of the private chapels. Everyone exchanged pleasantries and shook hands. One of the bishops gave me a book about the “Berlin Dom” but because it is written in German I cant understand it. The pictures are nice though!