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=Day 9: Munich... By bus, by bike and walking...= Today, we enjoyed a nice overview of the city with a local tour guide. From there, we did a little shopping in the outdoor pedestrian area and ate lunch. After lunch, we took a drive to visit Dachau Concentration Camp. We had time to view a movie about the camp and to walk around the area. After Dachau, we took a bike tour of Munich. It was a challenge to keep up with all of the German traffic laws for bikes (they are treated like cars!). We ended the evening with dinner as a group. Out time together has been absolutely fantastic. We know that when we arrive home tomorrow, the students will have a lot to share with you. Many of them have made great friends with students from the other groups on our tour and we have really enjoyed having your sons and daughters along on this trip! See you in Chicago (United Terminal 1 Baggage Claim) in 27 hours. All of the students will call you from Washington DC to let you know our status!

Pictures to come... when we get back to the US!

= = =Day 8: Schloss Neuschwanstein und Oberammergau= = = = = = = = = =Day 7: Rothenburg & Munich= Our morning was spent sightseeing and shopping in Rothenburg. We took this group picture just outside of the city walls and then headed in for a tour.

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After our morning and lunch, we continued on to Munich for a wonderful Bavarian dinner. Many of us are really enjoying the food...

Tomorrow, we head to Neuschwanstein Castle and Oberammergau. =Day 6: Wartberg & Rothenburg= Today we visited Eisenach and the Wartberg Palace, where Martin Luther translated the New Testament. Things are going really smoothly and we're having a GREAT time. Everyone is learning a lot, taking a ton of pictures and improving their German! Tomorrow, we're off to Munich!

Here is a picture of the group at Wartberg: Here are the pictures of the group in our Rotenburg hotel, Gasthof zum Schwarzen Lamm:

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=Day 4 & 5 Weimar & Erfurt:= We've had two beautiful days with sunshine and lots of activities. We saw Goethe & Schiller as well as the Germany vs. Serbia soccer game. Great times here!

Ich bin Wolfgang!! Deutschland ist super! Ich habe sehr viel spass gehabt in Deutschland, und Ich liebe es heir! Gehen Sie nach Deutschland, weil es sehr interessant ist. Ich war in Berlin, Weimar, und mehr Städet kommen!! Tschüß!!! Fynn heir, Deutschland ist schön. Berlin war nicht zu gross, aber das Bild ist alt und sehr stark.

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=Day 2 & 3 in Berlin:= In the morning, we enjoyed a bus tour through the historic sections of Berlin including seeing the Berlin Wall. After the bus tour, we grabbed lunch at a cafe outside a museum and headed toward Checkpoint Charlie. There, we took pictures and toured the museum which had all kinds of information and artifacts about escapes across the border. =Good MORNING from Berlin!= (picture below is the view this morning looking back West at Berlin) We made it safe and sound yesterday! Below are a few pictures from our day. Once we got off the flight and here to the hotel, we went on a nearly four hour walk around our area of Berlin (eastern side of Berlin). Many of the students were up over 28 hours straight so by the time we finished with dinner, they were literally begging to go to sleep! We'll provide more updates each night!!

Below: Our hotel - the Park Inn:

**Historic Highlights of Germany** 7



 * Day || Date || Description || City ||
 * 1 || Monday, June 14, 2010 || Depart from the USA. || Overnight Flight ||
 * 2 || Tuesday, June 15, 2010 || Arrive in the renewed German capital and begin by taking a stroll along Unter den Linden boulevard. (D) || Berlin ||
 * 3 || Wednesday, June 16, 2010 || Imperial Berlin is today's guided sightseeing theme. From the Baroque façades of the imperial quarter, to the galleries of ancient sculptures at the Pergamon Museum, to the sculpture of the beautiful Egyptian Queen Nefertiti at the Egyptian Museum and ending at the opulent Charlottenburg Palace, you will marvel at the splendor with which the emperors surrounded themselves. Also included today is a visit to Checkpoint Charlie Museum. (B,D) || Berlin ||
 * 4 || Thursday, June 17, 2010 || Leave Berlin for Potsdam, former Prussian garrison and Soviet military stronghold during the Cold War. French philosopher Voltaire lived here for three years. Continue to Weimar, the city of German Enlightenment. (B,D) || Weimar ||
 * 5 || Friday, June 18, 2010 || This morning discover the city of Goethe and Schiller. Start with a tour of Goethe's house. In the afternoon you will explore nearby Erfurta city of flowers and universities. Return to Weimar. (B) || Weimar ||
 * 6 || Saturday, June 19, 2010 || Today's drive takes you to Eisenach for a visit of Wartburg Castle, where Martin Luther translated the Bible. Continue to Rothenburg, a town that appears perfectly frozen in time. (B,D) || Rothenburg ||
 * 7 || Sunday, June 20, 2010 || Sightseeing of Rothenburg is easily done on foot. Its fountains, towers and turrets charm you; and its gingerbread architecture so perfectly gives the impression of another time that you almost feel you are in the Middle Ages. Continue to the capital of Bavaria, Munich, for dinner. (B,D) || Munich ||
 * 8 || Monday, June 21, 2010 || Today's optional excursion takes you to Neuschwanstein Castle and to the small Bavarian town of Oberammergau, where once a decade the world comes to watch the historic Passion Play. Otherwise enjoy a free day of exploration time. (B,D) || Munich ||
 * 9 || Tuesday, June 22, 2010 || Discover the excitement of Munich with a local guide, from Rococo-style Nymphenburg Palace to a walk through old Munich and the famous Glockenspiel in Marienplatz. In the afternoon, drive to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial, a vivid reminder of Nazi atrocities during World War II. (B,D) || Munich ||
 * 10 || Wednesday, June 23, 2010 || Depart for the USA. (B) || Departure ||