It's amazing how fast the last week goes. WEDNESDAY (when we got back) was a regular school day and then that night Germany played Turkey in the semi-final of the European Cup. I think even the non-soccer fans among the Amis finally understood just how seriously everyone takes the sport here. And how much they love to celebrate a win. I know where I live, the honking horns and singing went on for at least 2 hours after the game. Ole ole ole ole...

THURSDAY one of the fathers of a GAPPster (Mr. Römer - Johannes' dad) came to school and we had a dance hour from 8:30 - 9:30. It was a lot of fun, but very strenuous and we all were sweating when it was done. (The windows don't open in the Little Gymnasium where we were.) An hour of that once a week would do a lot in losing weight! Then I took the Americans to a Villa where Picasso had lived and worked right across the street from one of the queens palaces. Not all of them, ok maybe only 5-6 of them, appreciated seeing 2 floors full of original Pablo Picasso paintings and one floor of those of Paul Klee, but at least they can say they were there.

We tried to go to the Art Nouveau museum next door, but the woman at the desk was being very German and didn't want to let the group in because I had not called to register first. The museum was totally empty, but Rules are Rules... If I had had a cell phone, I would have called here right then and "registered." Ah well... walked around the palace, took pictures, walked back to the train station, found a really nice "antique" store where some bought some really cheap CDs and other stuff.

After getting our ice cream fix of the day, we met the Germans at the Natural History Museum. One group got a German guide and one a guide in English. Good parts of the tour: our guide told us the history of the museum and its acquisitions. Bad part: it was a BIG museum and she wanted to show us only a few things in each room so she could cover the entire museum in one hour. The kids wanted to stop and see everything as we went along, but I had to keep hurrying them from place to place. Christine has decided to call me a German Shepherd nipping at their heels to keep them moving. They had another hour to see whatever they liked after the tour, but most were too tired and just left (probably to get more ice cream).

FRIDAY we went to the 1936 Olympic Stadium - again 2 tours as all the Germans were with us. One tour guide spoke English, was lively, told anecdotes and was cool. My group's guide refused to speak English and did not want to pause long enough for me to translate. She gave lots of facts, numbers - many of the Americans zoned out. We were going to the Pergammon Museum of Antiquities afterwards, but were told that groups were not allowed in because of a new exhibit that opened. 12 went with me anyway and the others went with their partners to the Zoo. As it turned out, any student with an ID 16 or under got in free (but had to wait in line with the regular customers); Taylor, Zeb and Tristan had to pay 6 Euro (but I supplemented with the money I still had for the group so it wasn't really that much). Frau Roberts and I did not want to pay 12 Euro each ($18 each) so went went to a cafe and had lunch (it was 1:30 by then). that was very relaxing for us.

SATURDAY was family day and now it's SUNDAY. This evening is the Farewell Dinner from 4-7 p.m. and then the Final Game for the European Championship at 8 p.m. We will have a big screen and projector in the basement of the school for those who want to watch it there. Mr. Blach, the principal, has agreed to let the Germans accompany the Amis tomorrow to the Fan Mile to "welcome the team home."

maybe more tomorrow evening (our last) or maybe not. we'll see how it goes.

be home soon.