stop the presses... hold the phone... [insert cliche about breaking news here]

That’s right—twice in one week… this must be some kind of record.

A few evenings ago, one of my friends and I went into town to wander down Unter den Linden (a main street). We also walked around Humboldt University and many fantastic cathedrals, museums and theatres.

As it was dark already, I couldn’t take any pictures. So I went back today to capture some daylight shots. To be honest, everything seemed to have much more life at night, though. As always, the camera doesn’t quite catch how impressive it was.

For me, the highlight—or lowlight—was seeing the courtyard outside Humboldt University where a massive book-burning took place on May 10, 1933. Walking past the area, I didn’t see the memorial at first glance as it is actually under the ground.

But in the courtyard at night, I saw a soft glow. Walking closer, a three-foot by three-foot glass pane sits in the center of the area. Kneeling down to peer through, I was shocked by the brightness inside. Through the window in the ground sits a large room of pure white, empty bookshelves.

Each wall was eight shelves wide, twelve shelves high, and every shelf was absolutely bare. The visual effect—especially at night—was stunning. For a lover of books (and free thought), just knowing of that many books were torched is not very fun. I might have shed a tear if that were my style. However, I’m writing a blog, not an emo song—so no tears.

So that’s a little of my sight-seeing experience, and I hope you enjoy the pictures.

We don’t play until Monday this weekend. It’ll be the first Monday night game in NFLE history, which is only slightly cool since we play again that Saturday. That being the case, I’m planning on attending my first-ever soccer game in Europe tomorrow after our practice. Hopefully the hooligans don’t get me. I’m going to be quite sure to wear home-team colors.

Also, I went to church for Good Friday for the first time in my life this evening. I’m going to return to celebrate Easter (what’s Good Friday without Easter?) and continue the celebration by visiting Museum Island, which I hope is as wondrous a place as it sounds. I’m a nerd.