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PRAHA, Ceska Republika _ my new home

 

Entrance to Prague Castle – Here I watched the changing of the guard.

St. Vitus Cathedral at Hrad Cany (Prague Castle)

Inside Sv. VITUS

Huge facade of Sv. VITUS, I finally captured it in a sketch, nearly impossible for a camera to capture

Astronomical Clock

KARLUV MOST _Charles Bridge

Me in front of the VLTAVA River, which passes under the Charles Bridge.

 

Hello all, i’m still finding it hard to believe, but I’ve finally begun my European adventure.  Its been years in the making, and many worries about actually getting the change to cross the sea, but now i’m here in the flesh, seeing all that the world has to offer.

 Things have been very crazy this first week, I arrived in Prague after being awake for nearly 20 hours, and did not go to bed for another 15 or so.  The International Student Club (ISC) has organized many events and parties for all of the new students during this week’s Orientation Week, and they haven’t let us have a moment to rest.  This first week we took an official tour of the city (which lasted more than 4 hours!) which is why i finally have pictures to share with everyone.  I won a trip to the famous Karlovy Vary for thursday’s day trip, so i will share that with you when i return. 

 Plans are in the works to visit BERLIN before classes begin next monday, so i will actually get a chance to use the German i’ve been studying for o so long (this Czech language is very difficult, but i’m still giving it a shot each and every day)

Hope all is well state-side, and i’ll keep you posted on my journeys.

View over Praha, with Sv. MIKULAS’s copper domes at the front.

 

KARLOVY VARY

 

Hello to all.  Last thursday, i won a trip thru the ISC Club to go to the famous spa town of Karlovy Vary.  It took 4 hours by bus to get there, but was well worth the trip.  We visited the 12 thermal springs throughout the town, took a tour of the world famous Becherovka brewing factory, and ventured outside of town to the medieval castle of Loket, which had two floors of torture chambers in the basement, how fun. 

TJ trying some mineral water at one of the 21 springs.

Grandhotel Pupp _ One of the most expensive places to stay in Czech Republic

Me outside the Jan Becher Museum / Brewery with a giant bottle of Becherovka, yummy

 

BERLIN

     

This past weekend Mariann and I took a trip to Berlin, Germany’s largest city, its capital, and a town with a very diverse and difficult history.  We took a 6 hour bus ride and arrived friday night, and simply found our hostel, met our new roomies from Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden, and went to bed.  Saturday morning we started off our day with a 4 hour guided tour of the city.  We saw the Brandenburg Gate, the new Jewish Memorial Musuem, by Peter Eisenmann, the Berliner Dom (the city’s official cathedral, built in many many styles, but very beautiful), Daniel Liebeskind’s Jewish Museum, the ruins of the Gedacht Kirche (a church bombed in World War II, surviving today as a monument to remember the events that happened) and the opera house.  The only thing i didn’t like about Berlin was how hard it was to find a traditional place to eat.  This was a big city and it was full of fast food and internet cafes, but not many sit down restaurants.

 

Holocaust Memorial by Peter Eisenmann

The remnants of the BERLIN WALL

 

This past week, classes finally began, i sat thru about 7 studio classes until i found the one i will take, we had a figure drawing class, 2 computer classes, history (focusing on baroque and gothic), and a photography course.  Nothing too intense, but plenty to keep us busy and thinking.  Who knows what this weekend and the week ahead have in store for us, but we’re ready for anything.  Farewell for now.

DER REICHSTAG – Germany’s Central Governmant Headquarters

At the top of the REICHSTAG

ME at the top of the REICHSTAG

BERLINER DOM _ Berlin’s Main Cathedral, so many styles to choose from, PICK ONE

A cathedral bombed in WWII, forever standing as a memory of what occurred.

SONY CENTER _ brand spankin’ new

Daniel Liebeskind’s Jewish Museum _ too big for one day!

Farewell Berlin, I’ll miss you, but Germany, I’m coming back soon!