Go Team USA

Last week was pretty busy at work for both of us so it was a low-key weekend for the Machak family. Friday night was movie night--we watched The Constant Gardner, about a British diplomat whose wife was murdered in Kenya. It was Hotel Rwanda-intense, but not as gory. Saturday was softball but we're not talking about that. Finished the season in 2nd place, tournament starts next weekend. Saturday night David and a few others from the team headed to the Lir, which is now fully established as our neighborhood favorite. Christy headed to Hackesher Markt for dinner with Senator Reid and others in his Codel. The Swabish spaetzle was delicious. We met back up afterwards for some scotch and wine on our neighbor's balcony. Not too much though because it was time to rise and shine early Sunday morning.

We caught some of the Olympics on AFN this weekend and meanwhile David played on a Team USA of his own--the U.S. Embassy soccer team, that is, which proudly took bronze at a round robin tournament today.


setting up for the awards ceremony--we had to wait a while for it, meanwhile forced to listen to a German men's singing group sing Ole, Ole, Ole .... auf Deutsch. It was um, interesting.
The embassy team members receiving their trophy.

celebrating at The Bird afterwards--best hamburgers in Berlin
the dogs are so civilized, they even use forks....

our marine friend and a jar o' pickled eggs. David says they were good.

We are psyched for this coming Friday as we'll be going to see ERIC CLAPTON!!!!

BEER FEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The first week of both of us working finally came to and end, and we've both been enjoying the weekend. Friday night we had a happy hour with the First and Second Tour Officer's group. Saturday was gray and muggy day, and our softball playing just about equalled that. However, the day brightened when we realized it was time for..... BEER FEST!!!!!!!!!!

That's right, Saturday night we attended the 12th Annual Berlin Interational Beer Festival. BEER FEST!!!!!! It was literally a mile of road completely lined with beer tents from all the local breweries as well as beer from all over the world. It took us almost 5 hours but we made it the entire way, then stopped at our new neighborhood favorite, the Irish bar Lyre, to finish off the night.

The pictures can only scratch at the surface of the things we saw:

Started the night off right

We found boots of beer!!!

The beef was delicious
There were thousands of people there
Best Mustache Collection ever
I made a crazy hat friend
They even had nuns selling beer

Garlic Pickles What a mohawk

I was a pirate

On the train platform on the way home...We had a blast...to say the least we loved BEER FEST!!!

Paris

We just got back from a fun weekend in Paris. It was great to see Heidi and John. Pics below tell that story.

David got his long-awaited security clearance and started work today, first in the Political Section for 6 weeks. Ah, the joys of cable writing....

The diplocat is not so pleased about this new development. He misses David being home and has been attached at the hip all evening.

Here are the pics:

I am so sophisticated
Christy at the open air market
The crowds for the Tour de France were amazing
There were so many interesting floats
They were riding bicycles

Christy at Versailles
We had a blast
John watched Heidi do all the work :)
Marie Antoinette's farmhouse
We had fun at Versailles

We had duck for dinner this night
Christy and Heidi at the Versailles Palace
I enjoyed the tour, thoroughly
Really cool Hall of Mirrors
Not a bad backyard

The view from Monmarte
Ahhhh, Paris in the summer
The Moulin Rouge was pretty cool
It was really great to see Heidi and John again

Notre Dame was still in the same spot as 5 years ago...who'da thunk it
We took a great boat tour of Paris
I had a hat that looked just like the Eiffel Tower
If you have never done Paris in the Summer, I must say you have never truly lived
We're in love

Rooftop pics and ROCK BAND

Christy and Moe are very happy that David is finally back in Berlin. Things have been pretty chill since then--last Saturday Christy threw David a surprise "welcome home" party at The Bird--best hamburgers in Berlin. And Sunday we hosted a dinner party for eight for some of our new neighbors who just got to post--Christy feels grown up and glad for the opportunity to use all her wedding presents. The week was pretty quiet, work is back to normal now except that all the summer transfer people are leaving and everyone else is on vacation. David and Fran had an adventure up on the roof to check out the newly installed AFN satellite dish and take in the view. Friday night we went to a party at the Marine house and Saturday morning we played (and beat) the marine softball team. Our neighbors showed us a cool Sixties American Diner not too far from our apartment. Sunday morning we went to church--this amazing soprano sung Ave Maria for a baptism. And Sunday afternoon it was time for none other than.... Rock Band! (the video would have said it all, but I'm having technical difficulties so the picture will have to suffice....)



... next weekend is Paris!!!!





from our rooftop... the bombed out church
the Reichstag
some hill---I think it used to be a spy post or something

the satellite

Rock Band!!!! (no one will ever hear me sing.....)

Bush '41 pic

Christy and a colleague with former President Bush. I also have an action shot but it's in a word document and I'm (Christy) not computer saavy enough to get it on the website.

5th of July Amerikafest

On July 5th the Federation of German - American Clubs hosted an "Amerikafest" on Pariser Platz. I headed there after our softball game (other team was a no-show so we won by forfeit; next week David will have returned so we will be back to full force). Of course it was back to being sunny and beautiful (the 4th was the only rainy day!) so we had a good time.



No McCain booth but the Obama supporters were out in full force.

Susan and I -- festively dressed
and enjoying a sangria-like wine--mine was white wine with strawberries

the Baywatch cast showed up...
and no we are not Elvis gruppies