First day in Berlin!!!

I am here in Germany, the very place we planned to visit until health concerns put an end to those dreams for the rest of the year. Or so we thought! The big surprise came in mid-April when the German consulate in _____ invited my husband Eddie to visit Germany on behalf of the government. Of course, how could we refuse? Fortunately, the health problems abated in time and we had no other commitments. We arrived yesterday after a long journey.
The invitation is an expenses-paid trip to Berlin (with side-trip to Dresden) as part of Jewish Life in Germany, a program of reconcilation. I will be writing about the individual events as I attend them. (I will not go to each one, although I am welcome to do so.) I have paid my plane ticket and hotel upgrade.
Yesterday, stunned from being awake more than 25 hours, E. and I walked about Mitte, the middle part of the metropolis that is Berlin. Our charming hotel is in a centrally located street, Auguststrasse. It may be very convenient for reaching the U-bahn (subway) or the trams, and more than a few major sights are in walking distance if you are a walker (we are walkers on good days), but it is quiet and low-key.

Hotel Augustinehof, Berlin

After we crashed, almost literally after arriving at the hotel on Monday morning (thanks, Naomi, for picking us up at the airport!), we went for a walk in the neighborhood. We saw the trademark "odd Berlin" details, such as this cafe, which has interesting food and freaky toys for sale at the back. Some trendy-looking people were eating at tables made from polished logs. One bench was an old leather "horse" from a gym! 

Later in the evening, we walked along Friedrichstrasse and saw a bike go by, pedalled by 4 or 5 people! I was so stunned, I stood with my mouth open - a perfect tourist. I saw another one, alas, only with the minimal foot power of one.

A bike suitable for 5 (?) people.

We slept a lot after eating Italian food in a courtyard restaurant (quiet, except for fountain & birds). I was able to use my rusty Italian to order. Contrary to what I was told, English is not widely spoken. I will have to learn Deutsch, whether I like it or not!!