31 March 2004, Wednesday

Our traveling party consisted of Kurt and Sheela Matthia, Karen Matthia Aland (Kurt's sister), and Charice Washburn (Kurt & Sheela's granddaughter). We flew out of the Salt Lake City airport 8:50am. After changing planes in Atlanta and again in New York, we finally left for Europe at 8:10pm, New York time.

1 April 2004, Thursday

Our flight arrived in Frankfurt on time, at 11:15am local time. We picked up our reserved car at Sixt rental at the airport. We had rented a station wagon so we would have enough room for our luggage. It had cost us $1037.28. We then hit the Autobahn for Berlin. We had some leftover Euro from last year's trip to Germany and stopped in Friedrichsdorf to get some food - brötchen (rolls), wurst (salami, etc.), and käse (cheese). Before leaving Friedrichsdorf, we found a Geltautomat (ATM) and withdrew Euro against our bank accounts in America. They cost us about $1.20 apiece. The ATM is the easiest way to get money in Europe and the Visa exchange rates are favorable.

We arrived at our Pension in Blankenfelde, just south of Berlin, at dusk. We had made the reservations here ahead of time, using the Internet. There were two nice rooms complete with a small fridge, dishes, etc. It cost 65 Euro per night ($81.25) for the four of us. Kurt went out and got gas, more cheese and bread. Gas was one of the more expensive things on the trip. It cost about $5.00 per gallon.

Charice standing in front of the Pension in Blankenfelde.

Kurt, Charice, and Karen at breakfast in our rooms in Blankenfelde on April 2.