Day 1 - Berlin

We arrived in Berlin in the afternoon, after an overnight flight from Newark to London, followed by a layover, and on to Berlin.  The weather is rainy and cold, just about what we left in New Jersey.

Representatives of Viking met us at the airport and arranged the transfer to the Hilton hotel which is right in the heart of the city of Berlin, in what used to be East Germany.  We took a brief walking tour, even in the rain, to see some of the magnificant buildings nearby.

White asparagus is currently in season, so we dined tonight on a great plateful, complete with Hollandaise  sauce.  It was a real treat

We will spend the night here, so we've had just a small chance to see some of this major German city.  Tomorrow begins a full day of sight-seeing, starting with Potsdam.  A fuller account will come on Day 2.