Day 7: Helsinki weather in Berlin

Berlin, Germany: With no morning session at the track, we were able to wake up late... umm... I was able to wake up late. After DT had his morning jog, he roused me out from under the very comfy duvet and pointed me toward the shower so we could hit the streets in our search for the best Wiener Schnitzel in Berlin.

Mercedes Coffee Cart in Berlin: You can sleep when you're dead

We had to walk the interesting streets of Berlin for a few miles to find the wonderful Cafe Einstein, but were rewarded with the best Wiener Schnitzel of the trip. (So far.)

Now that's a schnitzel!

Cafe Einstein is in an old house in a neighborhood filled with homes and apartments. The place is simply fantastic because the house itself is so beautiful. Cafe Einstein makes everything from scratch and they have a pastry chef producing some of the most beautiful deserts you will find in Berlin... but we did not have dessert. We couldn't even finish the schnitzel. The portions were massive. Our luncheon at Cafe Einstein is the first meal we have eaten indoors since arriving in Berlin one week ago!

We took a different route back to our hotel, along "Embassy Row" and saw the Saudi, Japanese and Italian embassies. Very interesting walk... but the weather was quite cool and it started raining!

Landwehr Canal in Berlin

Because the events began so late this evening, we were able to have a rest back in our room and enjoy a coffee at the Starbucks across the street before taking the subway to Olympic Stadium. The sky was so dark, but it did not rain again until we took our seats. Then the sky opened up, the temperature dropped and we felt as if we were back in Helsinki at the 2005 World Championships where it rained for a week straight. Our seats are covered, but at one point (because of the swirling wind) we were becoming absolutely drenched and had to retreat to the concourse.

I am not exaggerating


It was pouring rain


Soggy Panorama

We spent nearly an hour outside the stadium with our friends avoiding the soggy stadium. It was announced the program would be delayed 40 minutes, as it was simply unsafe/unfair to the poor javelin throwers. While we were waiting outside, the sky turned completely black and we saw several lightning strikes and thunder roared! Every evening has been so beautiful since we have been in Berlin. I keep dragging a sweater to the stadium every night and have never used it once. Tonight, I did not bring a jacket and was really a bit chilly!

Tonight's events included the men's javelin qualification rounds (in the pouring rain), the heats of the men's 4x100m relay, men's high jump final, women's 1500m semi, men's 800m semi, women's discus final, women's 200m final and men's 400m final.

They ran three heats of the relay, and every race was amazing. It used to be a given that the USA would win the event... then we began dropping the baton in the heats and not making the final. Today, we made it all the way around and will compete in the final - but the German team was not so lucky. A huge disappointment in the stands, obviously. The shocker (to me) was the Japanese team - they simply flew around the oval and were very impressive in their heat. The final will be the US, Jamaica, Italy, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Great Britain, Canada and France. (Yes, France.)

Usain Bolt received his second gold medal (for his 200m victory/world record) of the games on his 23rd birthday. After his medal was awarded, the entire stadium sang Happy Birthday to the champion. How's that for a sing-a-long??? Bolt was over-come with joy and surprise at 80,000+ people singing to him on his birthday. It was a wonderful moment!

Usain Bolt had another good time

The US will have a woman, Christin Wurth-Thomas, in the 1500m final, Allyson Felix won the 200m final (for the third time) and LaShawn Merritt beat Jeremy Wariner (finally) to become the 400m world champion. Way to go, LaShawn!

Of course, DT and I were focused on the 800m semi-finals. Nick Symmonds competes for Oregon Track Club and we are huge fans. Nick ran for the US in the Olympic games, but did not advance out of the heats. However, Beijing was a year ago and Mr. Symmonds is quite improved. He had a fabulous race. DT says Nick is also a great hurdler as on the back turn two runners went down. And I mean all-out flying, splat on the track. Nick had to hurdle over a few careening runners and came out of the turn in the lead. Still not sure what happened back there, but Nick won his heat and will advance to his first-ever World Championship final. We are so happy and excited for him and know he is as ready as he will ever be for the challenge.

Nick Symmonds winning the semi-final in Berlin


The handsome Mr. Symmonds charming the press in Berlin

After the meet we took the train back to our hotel and had dinner with the crew at a great local place we have been enjoying all week. The waiter (our new best friend in Berlin) told me I wanted to have the steak. Okay. So I did. He said DT wanted to have the shrimp pasta. So he did. (This guy does not steer you wrong and he is so funny and honest. One night our friend wanted a lamb dish and potato soup and the waiter said it was too much and would not bring him the soup. He is the Berlin waiter equivalent to the Soup Nazi.) The restaurant, Lutter & Wegner, is housed in the only building in Potsdamer Platz not destroyed by bombs during World War II. The setting is just lovely, but they are famous as a wine shop and DT and I have been slurping down their Italian varieties quite a bit since we have been in Berlin.

Our waiter never asked how I wanted my steak, but just delivered it "medium".
Perfect - with tons of crunch veggies


You may have seen this dish before... second time DT has ordered it at this restaurant

Another great and late night in Berlin. Until my next update, I remain, your OTC correspondent.