BERLIN TRIP thru 1 NOV

WED 16 OCT....LEFT LAS VEGAS 6 AM TO AIRPORT 8 AM ON TIME FLY TO NEWARK

THE ODESSY BEGINS

GREAT FLIGHT ARRIVES ON TIME...TWO HOUR LAYOVER....PLANE FOR BERLIN
LEAVES THE GATE ON TIME AT 5 PM...MOVE OURT 100 YARDS AND SIT
PILOT ANNOUCES A MECHANICAL PROBLEM....TECHS COME ABOARD
PLANE RETIURNS TO THE GATE...PASSENGERS OFFERED TO GET OFF  NONE DID
LOTS OF ANNOUCEMENTS ABOUT TECH PROBLEMS...630 ANNOUNCES
THE PLANE HAS BEEN TAKE OUT OF SERVICE.....EVERYBODY OFF

SOME HOPE and EFFFORT TO FIND A NEW PLANE
ANNOUNCEMENT GOES UP ON THE BOARD FOR OUR TECH PROBLEMS
AND NEW GATE AND KICKOFF TIME....

THINK ABOUT THIS....HAD NEWARK NOT BEEN A UNITED HUB WE WOULD
STILL BE THERE...COUPLE OF HOURS AND THE PLANE ARRIVES
IT IS SMALLER THAN THE FIRST ONE AND EVERYONE MUST REBOOK
GET FREE TRIP...FREE ROOM AND $2500 CASH...SOME DO....SOME REBOOK
AND GET ON THE PLANE THE OFFER GOES TO $5000 CASH....MORE LEAVE
PLANE FILLS......NOW WE HAVE THREE SEQUENCES OF W AITING TO GET
THE NEW RICH PEOPLES BAGS OFF THE PLANE....WE WAIT...WE WAIT AND
WE WAIT AND FINALLY AROUND MIDNIGHT LAS VEGAS TIME THIS
PLANE TAKES A BUMPING TAKEOFF AND ARRIVES IN BERLING 7HOURS
LATER....

BE GREAT TO KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO TAKE A PLANE OFF THE RUNWAY..
WHO MAKES THE CALL...HOW ITS DONE AND HOW MUCH IT COSTS THEM...
MUST BE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS....ALL THINGS CONSIDERED

IMMEDIATELY BETTER ON THURSDAY AFTER A GREAT RIDE...VIKING
ATTENDANT AT THE GATE....CUSTOMS RIGHT THERE...INCREDIBLY THE
BAGS RIGHT THERE....SHOCKING.....DRIVE THRU THE BRANDON BERG
GATE...THRU THE FALL COLORS.....HILTON ROOM.....ACE RIK VIKING
GUIDE AT THE HOTEL....CHECK.....BERLING 20 MINUTE WALK
BUY A CONCERT TICKET....ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE HOTEL..
GREAT GUIDE...GREAT WALK.....SAUERKRAUT...DUMPLING AND PORK
SHOWER....TO THE CONCERT....4 STRINGS...HAYDEN...SCHUBERT AND
AN UNKNOWN NEW COMPSERS....GOOD ENOUGH TO FLY 6009 miles
FOR 25....25....25 INTERMISSION.....50 FOR FINALE...AMONG THE BEST
EVER HEAR ALREADY WORTH THE TRIP....JANET FIGURED OUT THE
EMAIL.....FRIDAY WE LEARN IF THERE IS ENOUGH WATER FOR THE
BOAT TRIP....OH BOY.....COULD BE 6 DAY BUS TRIP

WHAT A DAY AND HALF

18 OCT FRI

BREAKFAST AT THE HILTON....COSTS 32 EUROS....EURO TODAY PLUS 112
BOUGHT ANOTHER SYMPHONY TICKET...SHOPPED...GOT PEPSI

AFTERNOON ...WORLDS GREAT TOUR GUIDE.....ANN KNEW EVERYWHERE
HITLER PISSED FOR 15 YEARS AND ALL THE MIDDLE NAMES OF ALL OF
JEWS CREMATED AT AUSCHWITZ....4 HOURS OF HER BRILLIANCE
AND EDUCATIONAL HISTORICAL TALENTS....GROUP OF 4....2 NEW YORK
JEWS AND TWO LAS VEGAS GAMBLERS.....ABSOLUTELY PERFECT...
TONS OF EDUCATION AND THE BOMBING OF BERLIN...GREAT DAY

PUNKIN SOUP AND APPLE STRUDLE....SYMPHONY...TONIGHT...
VIOLIN AND ORCHESTRA....NO WORD ON BOAT TRIP....GO OR NO..

82 PIECE ORCHESTRA...TWO PIECES....GREAT...

BREAKFAST SANDWICH WITH THE RJ ON LINE...SWEET

19 OCT SAT

32 EURO BREAKFAST FREE WITH ROOM 128 EURO...HILTON...NOT BAD

SACHSENHAUSEN CONCENTRATION CAMP....AGAIN ANNA OUR GUICE

JUST 4...TERRIFIC...SOMETHING SO SEE....AN HOUR OUT OF BERLIN
NOT THE MASS KILLING CAMPS WE WILL SEE SOON
ANNA KNOWS EVERYTHING AND SHE IS 34 WITH 2 MASTER DEGREES
IN HISTORY.....THE RIVER CRUISE IS A GO...REST OF CRUISERS ARRIVE
TODAY....BACK TO ROOM....NAP

ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE HILTON....1790 MUSEUM THAT
SURVIVED THE WAR...IT WAS FREE...AUDIO TOUR ….5 FLOORS
GREAT INFO....

STOPPED AT THE CHOCOLATE STORE NEXT TO HOTL...
BOUGHT SOME FOR OUR LIMITED AMOUNT OF FRIENDS

TONIGHT....WALK TO DINNER AND NIGHT TOUR ONLY 18 YET
TO COME....LOOING FORWARD TO SAUER KRAUT AND DUMPLINGS...
WRONG....POTATOES ...BEANS...SCHNITZLE....LESS THAN AVERAGE..
TONS OF TRAFFIC IN DOWNTWON BERLING SATURDAY NIGHT..
NICE LIGHT VISIT....OVER A 100 LIGHT SHOWS ON A TEN DAY
PERIOD...THIS ON BUILDINGS ALL OVER TOWN TO INCLUDE
BRANDENBERG GATE....FABULOUS...BIG CROWD....
BEAT PITTSBURGH 3-0

20 OCT

BREAFAST....HAVE FRIG FULL OF TRAVEL FOOD...CITY TOUR
LUTHER AS GOOD A GUIDE AS ANN....5 HRS...THE GATE
LOTS OF SITES.....LOW TRAFFIC SUNDAY MORNING....
THERE ARE NO PARKING SPACES IN BERLIN....
SAW LOTS....EVERYONE LIVES IN A VERTICAL BUILDING
NEVER SNOWS HERE...LOVELY TREES ALL OVER AND
THE TURNING OF COLORS  JUST STARTING...
LUNCH IN THE ROOM...PUT PICTURES ON THE COMPUTER
MORE YET TONIGHT....VIRTUAL REALITY VIDEO AT CONCERT
HALL....ACTUALLY TWO  ...GOOD...SCOUTED DINNER
NAP POOL....EAT....ON THE BUS TO THE BOAT AT 745 AM
TWO STOPS COULD BE A TRIP

21 OCT  ...MONDAY

BREAKFAST BERLIN...FIRST ON BUS....SHORT TRIP TO POTSDAM
....HOW ABOUT HISTORY HERE....BRIDGE OUTSIDE TOWN
WHERE GARY POWERS WAS EXCANGED....LOTS OF TREES
IN GERMANY NO POLUTION...VISIT NEW PALACE...ONLY
OUTSIDE.....CHURCHILL...STALIN …..TRUMAN ...21 OCT 45
AGREE....SORT OF TO DIVIDE EUROPE....BERLIN WALL
RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THIS...ON TO THE BELYA (THE BOAT
....SORT OF.....ANIMALS ON AUTOBAN..DETOUR...TWO
BUSES ….EACH GOES ON A DIFFERENT TRIP TO THE BOAT
WE ARRIVE LAST AND LATE....BEAUTIFUL DRIVE THRU
COUNTRYSIDE....LEAVES JUST STARTING TO TURN....TWO
GORGEOUS DAYS SUNDAY AND MONDAY 75ISH...
ARRIVE AT BEYLA....VIKING CREW ON TOP OF THEIR GAME...
RICK OUR GUIDE AND SHIP DIRECTOR...FULL OF COMEDY
..IN THAT THE BOAT TRIP WAS TENATIVE...THEY ARE
GIVING US EACH ABOUT $15OO ON THE NEXT TRIP...
LOOKS LIVE WE WILL GO AGAIN....NICE PEOLE ON THE
BOAT....IN WITTENBERT TWO NIGHTS....TOUR TUESDAY

22 OCT TUES

BREAKFAST....WITTENBERTG ...CITY TOUR....LOTS OF
MARTIN LUTHER STUFF....CITY 700 YEARS OLD WITH
PAINTINGS AND BUILDINGS TO PROVE IT...GORGEOUS DAY
SUNNY...CITY WALK...LUNCH ON BOAT AS IT LEFT
WITENBRERG....GREAT MOMENT IN LIFE ON BOUGH
OF THE BOAT....SUN SHINNING....ENDLESS FOOD
PERFECT WEATHER WITH THE ONE YOU LOVE...
PASTORAL....PERFECT...WARM...GERMANY STILL GREEN
FULL OF TREES....SAFETY INSPECTION NOW AT 2
AND VISIT TO CAPTAINS ROOST....CAPTAIN WAGNER
POOR ON ENGLISH GOOD ON EVERYTHING ELSE .SHUFFLEBOARD
AND PUTT PUTT ON TOP DECK....NO ELAVATOR ON THE
BOAT...MORE COMING....RIK DID GREAT HOUR ON
GERMANY AND THE WALL.....PRE WED TALK...RIK
AGAIN WITH HIS USUAL SARCASIM AND COMEDY...
DINNER PORK...DUMPLINGS...SAUER KRAUT...
EARLY DINNER AND LOVELY NIGHT WALK THRU
TORGAU.....BIGGEST …..BIGGEST CASTLE AND CHURCH
AROUND...FLASHLIGHTS....CAMERAS....NO ONE IN TOWN
....WHAT DO THESE PEOPLE DO ...SUCH A NICE WALK
PERFECT TEMPS....QUIET COOL SERENE...BACK ON BOAT
WOMAN WHO LIVE THERE ANDA TEACHER DID AN HOUR
ON HOW IT WAS IN HER LIFE DURING THE SEPARATION..
SHE WAS GREAT AND USED RIKS COMEDY WRITER
SLEEP IN WED...

23 OCT WED

SLEPT IN …...MORE TOUR INFO FROM RIK AT 1100

1330 TOUR MEISSEN GREAT LUNCH...ALWAYS TOO MUCH
EMPTY MORNING....AFTER LUNCH TOUR MEISSEN
PORCELAIN....GOT TO SEE THIS...HIGH END ...LUXURY
HOW THEY DO IT....MUSEUM...LOT TO SEE...TOUR OF CITY
LOTS CHURCHS AND STREET LEVEL SHOP....RICK
DID ANOTHER LECUTURE ON CITY HISTORY.
BEST MEAL OF MY LIFE.....DUMPLINGS ...SAUER KRAUT..
RED CABBAGE....SAUSAGE...BEEF ...PORK...BUFFECT...
BREAD ...DESERT...TOURED KITCHEN...THEY WERE ALL
GREAT....WE PEED AND DID TOUR QUIZE...FINISHED A
CLOSE THIRED OUT OF 13 TEAM....GOOOOOOF BALL
QUESTON...WHAT DO MEN LYE MOST ABOUT   ?
WONDERUS DAY AND MORE ON THURSDAY
LOVE R J DAILY ON WE...GET IT NIGHTLY 9 HRS AHEAD

24 oct THUR

KEEPS GETTING BETTER....BREAKFAST MORNING TOUR
THRU DRESDEN....CITY LEVELEDISH LAST MONTH OF THE WAR
PERFECTLY REBUILT....VISITED CLASSIC MUSEUM
ART....JEVELRY.....PENDANTS....ALL CRAFTER...BUILT 500
YEARS AGO WITH DIAMONDS...PEARLS...ONYX...OPAL..
JADE...IVORY....THE LUXURY CONSTRUCTED 100S OF YEARS
AGO GERMAN AND SAVED BY HITLER SO WE COULD ENJOY
IT TODAY....MILLIONS AND MILLI0NS....PROTOTYPE FOR THE
ANTIQUE ROADSHOW....BACK TO BOAT FOR LUNCH....
GORGEOUS DAY...SUNNY ...GREEN...CLEAN...COATLESS...
WONDERFUL....AFTERNOON TRIP TO THE OPERA HOUSE..
WONDERFUL...GOOD BREAK....GREAT GUIDE...75 MINUTES..
PASTORAL OLD THEATRE REBUILT AFTER THE WAS....;LUCKY
AGAIN AS THEY WERE LAYING THE FLOOR FOR THE BALLET
...SLEEPING BEAUTY....TONIGHT....SAW THEM PUT DOWN THE
FLOOR....3 LAYERS.....GUIDE....LOCAL....PASSIONATE...
OUTSTANDING.....CLOSE TO THE BOAT.....BACK TO BOAT
LACE DEMONSTRATION AT FIVE....EAT...AGAIN PORT TALK
...BACK TO CLASSICAL MUSIC SHOW TONIGH....AFTER THAT
THREE COME BACK TO THE BOAT TO PLAY SOME MORE...
different GROUP THEY OVERLAPPED

25OCT FRI

SLEPT IN....PEED 8 TIMES TODAY NEW RECORD
CRUISED THE RIVER....GORGEOUS....DISEMBARK TALK
LUNCH.....NOW AT BAD.....GREAT TOUR THRU...NATIONAL PARK
ROCKS AND TREES AND LEAVES AND HISTORY....SHORT
BUS TRIP THRU HIGH END COUNTRYSIDE....LEAVES
CHANGING GREAT TEMPE
RATURE....SUN SHINE...WAIT TO SEE PICS....BACK TO
FAREWELL COCKTAIL PARTY AND DINNER ...TABLE OF
SIX....LOVELY PEOPLE EXCEPT ME....JANED ENJOYED.
JANET PACKED.....I STAYED OUT OF THE ROAD

26 OCT SAT

UP 530.....BREAKFAST.....BAGS OUT AT 730....BUS 8
DRIVE TO PRAGUE....LOCAL CITY TOUR THEN TO
HOTEL....SWAN LAKE MAY BE PLAYING...IT IS MY
JOB OF THE DAY....90 MINUTE TRIP....DOCKED AT DECIN
FOG OVER CAST  BURNED OFF ON WAY TO PRAGUE...
REAL SHITTY HILTON GOUGERS...PAY TO EMPTY THE
FRIG....CITY TOUR....PALACE....CLOCK....CHURCHES
NICE BUT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OUT ON
SATURDAY....LOST ONE BASTARD....COST US ALL
20 MINUTES.....GOT GIFTS OF SCARD....BALLARENA
AND ELEPHANTS IN ONE STORE.....TONIGHT
SYMPHONY....TOMORROW SWAN LAKE...
WHY WOULD YOU STAY HERE..GOUGING LYING BASTARDS
CONCERT....4 STRINGS VOCAL ORGAN.....THIS THE ORGAN
THAT MOZART PLAYED 63 MINUTES TERRIFIC...
THE POOL HERE AT THE HILTON ANOTHER FRIG STORY

27 OCT SUN

CONCLUDES WITH SWAN LAKE  dead DAY...CLOSED
THE PALACE TO TOURS....OURS....BAD GUIDE...RODE THE
BUS AND WALKED UP AND DOWN STAIRS....BAD
COMMUNICATION ON THIS ONE.....SOMEBODY DROPPED
THE BALL....BACK TO HOTEL AND RIK SPREAD FOR
GREAT MEAL...WE ALL GOT CREDIT AND THEYGAVE
ME CREDIT FOR THE TRIP TONIGHT THAT I WAS NOT
GOING ON ANYWAY....BECAUSE SWAN LAKE....
UP TO THE TOP OF HOTEL FOR BIG VIEW ...OFF TO
THE SWANS....JANET IS GOING ON TONIGHTS TRIP
WITHOUT ME.  TCHIAKOVSKY BRILLIANT AS USUAL
GREAT DANCE....NICE SHOW....SWAN LAKE IN PRAGUE
AT AGE 75 ON SUNDAY NIGHT WHO WOULD HAVE
BELIEVED IT.....7 HOUR BUS TRIP TO KRAKOW MONDAY

28 OCT MON

SAID GOODBYE TO WORLDS GREATEST TOUR GUIDE...
LEFT PRAGUE FOR KRAKOW  9 HOURS ABOUT 6ISH ON ROAD
MET WORLDS SECOND GREATEST TOUR GUIDE...SLYWIA
NOT TOO MANY DAYS IN YOUR LIFE YOU BUS FROM
PRAGUE TO KRAKOW....DELIGHT FUL TRIP...FRONT SEAT ON BUS
GREAT DRIVER BEAUTIFUL WEATHER....ACTUALLY RAINED
A FEW DROPS LAST NIGHT WHILE AT THE BALLET...
STOPPED ON FREEWAY MCDONALS BREAFAST...
STOPPED OLOMOUC  LUNCH AND PEE OF COURSE
GREAT CITY CENTER TOUR OF AMATEUR PHOTOS AND STORY
OF VACLAV HAVAL AND FREEDOM AFTER COMMUNIISM
SYLWIA ...NEVER STOPPED TELLING HISTORY...A BABE..
MAYBE 30 DID 3 LANGUAGES...HER HOME TOWN KRAKOW
FINALLY INTO POLAND BORN IN 966....SLIGHT CHILL IN AIR
50ISH ..LEAVES TURNING ...SAW DEER IN FIELDS...LOTS OF
DEER HUNTING BOXES....FIELDS GREEN...GREEN...LOOKS
LIKE THEY JUST PLANTED LOTS OF TREES....NICE 30 MIN
MOVIE ON BUS....DRANK VODKA....SOME OF US.....MAPS
AND KRAKOW HISTORY.....HOTEL....FIRST TO GET OUR ROOM
KEYS....20 MINUTE WALK TO THE SQUARE....HUMUNGOUS
THOSUANDS EATING ON THE STREET AT NIGHT....WE DID
BROWN GRAVY BEEF....CABBAGE RED....DUMPLINGS
WHAT ELSE...THEY BRING BAGS TO ROOM...SLEEP
TOUR AND EAT ON TUESDAY

29 OCT TUES

ALMOST DONE....GREAT DAY......TOUR CITY ..WALKED
GREAT GUIDE WITH POLISH HISTORY MARGAR
NO FLAT STREETS AND NO PARKING PLACES IN POLAND
HOTEL FOR LUNCH FROM BREAKFAST ...SALT MINE...KRAKOW
....HOW DID I LIVE THIS LONG WITH OUT KNOWING....700 YEARS
OLD DIGGING SALT...PINE TIMBERS BRACING THE WALLS...
HORSES LIVED THEIR LIFE WORKING HERE....PBS MUST HAVE
DONE THIS AND I MISSED IT...QUARTER OF A MILE DOWN
SEE THE PICS....HOTEL...JANET REINSERTED HER LOOSE LOST
BRING....DINNER …...TROUT ….BASS...2 VIOLINGS SET UP IN
THE AISLE OF THIS RESTAURANT AND SANG AND PLAYED..
WHO WOULD HAVE GUESSED IT...IT WAS IN POLISH....THIS
TRUMPET PLAYER ON TOP THE TOWER EVERY HOUR GAME
PRETTY MUCH NOTHING....BARELY SEE HIM...4 TOOTS AND
HE IS GONE...ICE CREAM WALK TO HOTEL...TV..630
WE GO TO AUSCHEWITZ...

30 OCT WEDNESDAY

AUSHWITZ

BERCHNAU


30 OCT WED

WHAT TO SAY....BEAUTIFUL BOX LUNCH AND TRIP HOUR AND HALF
FROM KRAKOW.....ONE OF THE TOP TOURIST DESTINATIONS IN
THE WORLD...ALL POLISH STUDENTS REQUIRED TO GO...FREE...

OUR GUIDES AGAIN A SUPER PLUS...ANOTHER STEP IN
INCOMPRENSHABILITY ON WHAT PEOPLE CAN DO TO EACH
OTHER ON SUCH A MASSIVE SCALE.....SO GLAD THE CHURCHILL
SAVED THE WORLD....HOPING IT WOULD BE COLD AND RAINY AND
SNOWY FOR THIS TO MEET THE MOOD OF THE OCCAION...
GORGEOUS SUNNY DAY....STOPPED AT POLISH CEMETERY ON WAY
BACK.....DEATH BIG BUSINESS HERE...STACK EM HIGH...BURY THEM
DEEP COVER THEM WITH EXPENSIVE MARBLE AND TOP THE WITH
FLOWERS AND CANDLES AND URNS....EVERY DAY...AMAZING

FINISHED THE BREAKFAST AT LUNCH...GOT A GREAT 70 DOLLAR
MASSAGE AND SHE WOULD NOT TAKE A TIP....FANCY DINNER
TONIGHT ALONG WITH THE WORLD SERIES GAME SEVEN
SHOULD BE OVER WHEN WE ARISE THURSDAY MORNING TO
TRAVEL TO WARSAW....NICE FAREWELL DINNER....JEWISH
RESTAURANT...500 PAINTINGS...UPSTAIRS...CHILLLY TONIGHT
SOUTH...CHICKENT....DESERT....MUSIC....BASS ...VIOLIN..CLARINET
AND ACCORDING....NICE LISTENABLE STUFF....POSSIBLE TO FIT
A BASS INTO EVERY RESTAURANT....LOW LIGHTS IN THESE
EUROPEAN CITIES.....NOT LIKE VEGAS  LEAVE 830 AM

TRIP A REAL WINNER..

31 oct THURSDAY

WHAT A DAY....LEFT KRAKOW EARLY....SLYWIA …..GREAT FOR
FOUR DAYS IN POLAND....TWO DEGREES....KNOWS EVERLYTHING
TELLS ALL...STOP AT MONASTARY....CITY ON THE WAY TO WARSAW
FATHER S0LONMAN....GREAT COMEDAY ACT....MILLIONS IN THIS
PLACE...HUNDREDS OF YEARS OLD....IT WAS A STOP...HAD SOUP
REST OF TRIP TO WARSAW TOUGH....LONG RIDE...ROADS UNDER
CONSTRUCTION....HALF OF WAY...DID REST STOP....DDROVE
TO WARSAW.....IMMEDIATELY WENT TO CHOPIN CONCERT
....48 SEATING....29 THERE....SMALL VENUE....NOT TOO GRET
MENU....CAB BACK TO HOTEL....LEFT MY BAG IN TAXI....PAPERS
AND MAGAZINES AND MY PENCIL....GLASS CASE....UNREGISTERED
CAB.....HOTEL SECURITY GOT CAB NUMBER BUT IT WAS A PRIVATE
COMPANY AND NO WAY TO CONTACT......GOT PASSPORT, CASH.
CAMERRA WITH ME...NOT AS BAD AS IT COULD BE...NO ENGLISH
TV IN WARSAW.....WRAP IT UP ON FRIDAY

1 NOV FRIDAY

ALL SAINTS DAY IN POLAND....NO BODY ON STREETS....BREAKFAST
WRAPPED UP SOME FOOD FOR THE TRIP.....CITY TOUR ...GREAT
...GUIDE.....LUCAS.....A REBEL.....GREAT TALKER....BACK TO HOTEL
AFTERNOON MUSEUM …..POLISH MEAL...FLIGHT HOME IN AM SAT

MUSEUM FINE...CITY CLOSED CELEBRATION TODAY...NO ONE AROUND
SUNNY COLD DAY...NO RAIN FOR 17 DAYS...NICE MEAL...PACKIING
ON WAY HOME SAT AM