Berlin:
From Saturday September 27th to Tuesday September 30th.
On our first day in Berlin our class met with an urban planner named Christian Hajer. He took us on a tour around Berlin to show us some garden projects, parks, post war architecture styles, and parts of the Berlin Wall. It was extremely interesting to be in a city with such a unique history. For dinner we went to Der Kartoffelkeller (The Potato Cellar)... YUMMM!
The next day we toured the Berlin Olympic Arena, then we went to a building by Le Corbouser, an architect who tried to build using human proportions.
The last full day in Berlin was very different. We got to go to a waste water treatment plant that was renovated into a ecological design testing facility. Then we went to the top of Potsdamer Platz, which is a tall tower that overlooks Berlin. After that we went to a few other research facilities including one on green roofing.
Tuesday was our last morning in Berlin before we left for Prague, so we had some free time. I decieded to go to the Brandenburg Gate and The Holocaust Museum. It is strange that not even 20 years ago people would get shot by trying to walk under the Brandenburg Gate to West Berlin. Also, the Museum was so powerfully done. It was difficult to see, but I am glad I went. I really enjoyed Berlin overall. It is very similar to New York with the architecture, culture, and overall pace.Prague:
Tuesday Evening September 30th to Friday October 3rd
We arrived in Prague very late on Tuesday, so we had a group dinner at the hotel and then went to bed. My first impression of Prague was: Why are we here, its so desolate! This soon changed.
Wednesday morning we had our first guided tour. Once we came to the central part of Prague the entire architectual style changed. The buildings are beautiful! We walked through the city "golden cross", the Jewish Quarter, the town square, and then saw the Charles Bridge that connects new town and old town Prague together. Wednesday afternoon we had some free time, so I went to see the Frank Gehry building, the Dancing House. It was so beautiful. Then I went to Hotel Europa to get a cup of 
coffee with some of my studio mates. This Hotel Cafe is designed to look like the Titanic's dining room. It was spectacular, but the coffee was expensive. Then we had a group dinner at teh Pilsener Restaurant which was so much fun. There was music, and traditional Czech food.
On Thursday, we had another guided tour accross the Charles Bridge and into old town. It is hard to explain old town so I will make sure to add many pictures. We had the entire afternoon off again, so I went to the flea market, and a few other stores. It was freezing in Prague so I bought some well needed gloves. We ended our stay here with a Puppet show of Don Giovanni at the National Puppet Theather. It was so much fun to watch a puppet opera. I really did love the beauty of Prague, but the culture is so much different than what I am used to. Also the Czech language and currency is much more confusing than in the places I have visited in Western Europe.
Friday was a travel day. We got back into Cologne at 2:10pm, and then I left for my 10 day break at 6pm! Only a few hours to get ready.
It's already getting late here, so I will continue my travel update (Italy & Greece) tomorrow.
