day+3+-+26th+June

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 * Hallo aus Berlin!** We went to lesson one this morning with our partners - some of us had to learn Spanish, others Maths, Science etc....... Then in the second lesson we were once again guests of honour! They arranged a special **5th anniversary celebration** assembly for us at which the choir sang again and there were speeches made by **Herr Schwarz** (Frau Marsh translated) and also by the headmaster, **Herr Reich**. After this there was a prize-giving ceremony - Herr Schwarz had organised a special English competition for all their pupils and they had to write a poem, a story, a play or anything and then they were judged. Some of them wrote some amazing stories.=====

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 * Above is the link to a story written by Sharleen Belde, Debbz Trzeciak and Luise Schwarz**

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At 09.45 we went into **Berlin** to **Potsdamer Platz** and we had some free time in the **Potsdamer Arkaden** - a wonderful shopping centre. After this, it was time for some culture and history lessons! We sent into the big **Sony Centre** square where all the restaurants and cinemas are. This used to be the centre of Berlin's social life in the 1920s and 1930s. However, during the war a lot of it was destroyed and then during the 28 years of division the wall went right through the centre of this square - it was a deserted no-man's land. In 1989 when the wall fell (20 years ago this November), they started rebuilding this area - there were cranes everywhere for a long time. Now it is once again the vibrant centre where people go to meet friends and relax. We stood on the line of the former wall - one foot in the west and the other in the east. We also saw some former sections of wall which still remain.=====

This is the first traffic light in the world which stands on Potsdamer Platz.

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We walked past the Jewish memorial (completed in 2005) and saw the **Brandenburger Tor** (up close for photos). We arrived at the **Reichstag** at 13.30 where were invited in through the north door for our own VIP guided tour! All the other people were queueing out the front for hours just to go up to the dome! We have friends in high places. It was a really interesting tour and all the history was explained to us. The **Reichstag** was badly burned in 1933 and then further destroyed in the war - especially during the Battle for Berlin (the last days of the war). During the division, half of the **Reichstag** was in the former west and half in the former east! We finished the tour with a walk up to the top of the dome and we had a super view of the city. An amazing day.=====