GAPP: Final Thoughts on NMTCC's 17th German Exchange

Well, there you have it ! 

One small GAPP blog for mankind (ha-ha). 

But really what an adventure, our students and teachers will never be the same. 

The experiences will stay with them for a life time. 

 Their lives and ours have been entwined within a global perspective. 

We have seen a small part of another country and its culture. 

Recommendations will be made for the next exchange in 2014.

 Here in lies the rub, as Shakespeare wrote.

What will happen.

What will we teach others.

What have we been taught.

IMAGINE......

Sorry, to say this is the last day for the blog (unless I put a few more pictures in).

http://www.goethe.de/ins/us/lp/prj/gapp/enindex.htm

Roses are red

Violets are blue

Thanks for traveling

And now I bid you adieu!

Auf Wiedersehen

THE END!

Or is it just THE BEGINNING !!!!!  Anfang!

Yes, it is the beginning.
It must be.
It simply must!

[rn]

GAPP March 18, 2011 Friday

Our most impressive and tired group from North Montco Technical Career Center are flying home to their loved ones, holding back until they can talk about their exchange - every word, every picture will tell a thousand words....

It has been an adventurous trip - so glad you were able to come along (if only on-line - ha-ha)

We are home to the USA, will post more later.... Are you glad to see our tired smiling faces????


(rn)

GAPP March 17, 2011 "So Long Germany" Thursday

Today is Thursday, we are scrabbling to pack and repack and say our goodbyes to everyone: administration, teachers, cooks, students, etc.  I have a little surprise for you - how about a little poem about Deutschland as we are preparing to leave.  As you read the poem, please "feel" it.  I know most of us do not read poetry much any more but "read and feel"......A colleague wrote this and I just had to share it with all of you reading our blog...

"OUR LOVE FOR DRESDEN" POEM


It's Wednesday night in Dresden. It was a good night.

I want to paint a picture in words for you.

Imagine...

The rain is falling softly on old cobble stone streets.

The ancient churches and towers glistening in the glow of soft flood lights shining from below.
The bells of the Frauen Kirche tolling 7 o'clock.

The sound of an oboe playing classical music as people walk by talking in hushed tones.

Cafes & restaurants opened with the soft light of ambience glowing & beckoning you to come in.

The looks of people happy & content eating their dinners & enjoying the company of their friends and loved ones.

Couples holding hands and whispering of love.

We all fell in love with Dresden once more as we stand holding our memories.  (mt)

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We will be posting until we get home safe and sound!
Oh by the way, Happy Saint Patty's Day !!

(rn)

GAPP March 16, 2011 Wednesday

Well, folks it really is time to start packing up our clothes, papers, souveniors and most importantly our memories.  But memories will fill the mind not the luggage or our flight would be so overweight, the plane would not get off the ground.

When flying overseas, there are many restrictions - and our group is evaluating all options.  This is the last full day of classes at the school.  Tomorrow, we will say an official goodbye (Auf Wiedersehen).


I do not think that I talked about the German Music. Our teenagers as one can imagine, are listening
and listening to many kinds trying to compare with their favorites.  It is a good skill to appreciate music from different cultures. Some forms of German-language music include:

• Neue Deutsche Welle (NDW)
• Krautrock
• Hamburger Schule 
• Volksmusik
• Classical
• German Hip-Hop
• Trance
• Schlager
• Neue Deutsche Härte (NDH) 
• Diverse varieties of folk music, such as Waltz and Medieval Metal.

(rn)

GAPP March 15, 2011 Tuesday

Well, our NMTCC students have completed their presentations to the school. Yeah! I know that they worked hard on the pronunciations. The presentations were videotaped for those that would like to see them at a later time.

This afternoon our group will be taking an industry tour of Feldschloesschen Brauerei. Hopefully there will be pictures tomorrow. Stay tuned - is your radio on a German station yet? Can you hear us singing yet?

And guess what ?  That beautiful sun is still shining on us! What a treat to have such nice weather for an exchange.


Yesterday evening, some students went to a circus - they saw goats, camels, horses, dogs, and clowns.  They had amusement rides there also, just like back home......

Tomorrow, we start major discussions about PACKING. You know that, don't you. Where you must fit 75 lbs of stuff in a 50 lb luggage bag.  So what stays....what goes......what gets recycled.  Yikes.  It is fast approaching. Do you miss us -- our faces, our comments, our fresh smiles, our noices, our complaints, our ways that brighten up your day -- hope so. See everyone soon. Yes, before you know it, we will all be back in our own little beds like peas in a pod wrapped in an extra layer of maturity.

(rn)

GAPP March 14, 2011 Monday

Tomorrow, our six students will be presenting to the Germans in the auditorium of the school. They are working hard practicing now to make sure that it will be perfect since they will be speaking in the German tongue of the audience.

We had some technical difficulties with our equipment working with their electronics.  Reminder when doing a Powerpoint presentation - save it on your flash drive, email to yourself (if not too large), keep a copy on your laptop and facebook it - that gives you four options, especially in a different country with different software.

Anyway, let´s talk about the train system -- it is supurb and many people use it every day. Here is a shot of our students that reminds me of having fun as a teenager. Do you remember being a teen and you thought that you knew everything in the whole world? Then one grows up or matures...maybe, maybe not....

And just one more picture to show you the most famous train station (Bahnhof).  They are fast and efficient and quite comfortable, I might add, and notice the double-deckers.

The end of our exchange is fast approaching. I want to thank all of you for coming along for the ride - had to get the pun in, ha-ha, BUT I do mean every word.  I hope there was opportunies for you to expand your horizon as much as we did. "The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams!" Oprah Winfrey


(rn)

GAPP March 13, 2011 Sunday

It really is SUNday, today.  The sun is showing his face to the masses below, and also below the people are touring around the many churches. Some of us went to Dresden just for the purpose of seeing the many facets of all the different architecture.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wanted to share with you some statements from our students, who have been absorbing all the culture as we are about to bring to a close, our three-week exchange.

STEPH: (who always seems to go first for everything - ha-ha)
"My favorite thing about Berlin was Check Point Charlie, because my grandfather was there". Below is a picture for her grandfather with his granddaughter in it with the students and one teacher. How cool is this?

MAGGIE:  "I like Berlin's TV Tower (Fernsehturm) because I like heights". Here is a picture of the students eating lunch at the top of the tower, as it rotates 360 degrees around the city. Can you feel Berlin yet? Can you feel the motion?

EMILY:  "I like the monuments in Berlin, Prague and Dresden because I like architecture, especially old-school architecture".  Below is a world clock monument in Berlin by the TV Tower.

JAKE: "Berlin is a great place to enjoy the history, the first thing that comes to my mind is the Berlin Wall". Here is an old picture showing the wall separating the East from the West.




NATE: "I was very interested in the trains and the train stations; and the steel framing that is so intricate.  I luved the food and the cars such as the Lotus and Bentleys".

PEYTON:  "The architecture is magical and there are small differences that one notices such as toilets and light switches".


(rn)

GAPP March 12, 2011 Saturday

I must, yes must, tell you about the most unusual thing that we have seen in Germany. On the Autobahnen to Berlin, our bus stopped at a rest area. First for those that do not know, one must pay to use the bathrooms. The cost is about 50 Euros (ie. 70 cents), at this stop it was automated.  All of us Americans are looking to see how to pay. What a site. Then when one flushes the toilet, one sees a must-entertainment: a self-cleaning toilet.  Please click and see for yourself, this video is from you-tube but one of our students did video tape it themselves.  I almost paid to go in the bathroom again just for the entertainment. Click below for your special surprise!

Another unusual thing that I just became aware of is the cemeteries in Freital, Germany.  I am not sure if this is the case in all of Germany but one buys the cemetery plot for either 10 or 20 years.  Then after that time, the stone comes off and gets recycled.  I am not sure why or how this works but it seems most unusual.

As I am typing this, our three teachers are returning to NMTCC.  It is about an 8-hour flight - give or take - if one does not get delayed.  Our group will leave next Friday, so stay tuned every day for the lastest and greatest in our small world.

And to make you just a little bit jealous of all the good food in Germany, below is a picture of the one teacher's favorite market.  Please have a smell of all the good sausages.

FYI: Currywurst is a fast-food dish of German origin consisting of hot pork sausage cut into slices and seasoned with curry sauce an curry powder.  It is frequently served from food trucks. Yum-Yum!
(rn)

GAPP March 11, 2011 Friday

TGIF! Well, today started out with some professional pictures of our group with the school´s director.  We then go to classes and lunch at the "canteen", the school`s cafeteria.  The food is especially good. Our group was trying to download the many pictures of Berlin but it does task time to do this. Here is a group shot of us at the famous Brandenburger Gate in Berlin which they always show on New Year's Eve.

Above is our group in front of The Reichstag, check out the dome, which I talked about yesterday.
Below is another picture of our group by The Gate and next to the US Embassy.  The students thought it would be a cute picture and I agree. And, no, I have no idea what the sign is advertising unless it means to attract people to go to the Western European country. Yes that must be it.

GAPP March 10, 2011 Thursday

Well, this is our second day in the Berlin City.  Don't know if I have mentioned how wonderful the weather has been, cold but the sun in shining its way for us to see the most historical of sights.  Our first stop is The Reichtag, which is the German Parliament (Bundestag) Building.  Our small group was searched and checked in, then received a most gracious lunch: meat or vegetarian as we sat overlooking the Spree River.
We were then escorted to the Bundestag Hall where all the seats have a purple color situated underneath the "Dome".  A Bundestag guide introduced all the historical and present day significance of the buildings then a highlight was a trip around and up through the Dome.  Talk about views and the "green environment" significance. One of the students, Jake, will present his green education learned from The Dome to his "Design and Drafting" Lab. He mentioned that the only thing missing was to incoporate a windmill in the mix. Go Jake! Below is a picture of us at the "top of the dome"!

The day was ended with some free time at the KaDeWe, the most unbeliveable shopping experience ever held on 7 floors.  The Germans pride themselves in technology and having the best and most innovative items and inventions.  As one sits having a coffee and cake by the window - one feels the past, sees the present and hopes for a successful future.  Church steeples stick up into the sky like candles on a birthday cake waiting for someone to notice and blow a kiss.  What a sight!  This is NYC's Fifth Avenue to the umpteenth degree (for those math techies).    http://www.kadewe.de/en/

I have not forgotten, the surprise for you but it will not happen until this weekend.......Gute Nacht!
(rn)

GAPP: March 9, 2011 Wednesday

We are LIVE from Berlin! Lunch at the Fernesehturm (TV Tower) with continous views from 368 meters up. And the biggest news, we saw where THE WALL was and got our picture taken at Checkpoint Charlie which is show below. No personal photos today, sorry but I do have a surprise for you soon, so please stay turned. Signing off Berlin time: 22:18.

GAPP: March 8, 2011 Fat Tuesday

Our troup went to Buchenwald Concentration Camp today near Weimar. Need I say more www.Buchenwald.de

GAPP March 7, 2011 Monday

This most impressive American groups' picture was in the paper when they went to visit the Mayor of Freital, Herr Bernd Mattig.  I know that the picture here is small and not clear, but wait until you see it in person, watch out Hollywood! The newspaper is Sachsische Zeitung, you can try clicking on the website but be forewarned that to see the whole article in full living color, they want you to buy a subscription.

www.sz-online.de/nachricten/freital
(Article Titled - Von Ubersee ins Freital Rathaus)

(rn)

GAPP March 6, 2011 Sunday

Prague is an amazing collection of little side streets like mazes crawling around in every nook and cranny.  The town squares are immense and full of life, smiles,and smells of good food.  But the most immense area is at the very top of the hill overlooking the town below, very good for protection, uh.  This is the place where the King of Bohemia, Holy Roman Emperors and presidents of Czech roamed, where the Jewels are kept.

At one small corner in the Old Town Square (below the Castle), there is Prague's Astronomical Clock dating from 1410 BC which is pictured here.  Every hour, the clock has music chiming and one of the 12 apostles and other figures move from East to West daunting the audiences for centuries.  People start gathering around 15 minutes to the hour waiting for the entertainment to begin. But tourists must be careful of their possessions as there are pick-pockets here, as in any big tourist city.

There are symbols of the zodiac, sun and moon elements as part of one of the world's greatest clock. And for my first video on a blog - how fitting that it should be of the clock.  I am learning, aren't you proud. The video is only a minute or so - just click and be taken back to the time 600 hundred years ago.  Then you will be back in 2011 shortly thereafter - a small trip like Starwars. ENJOY!!

 Listen to the clock - "tick-tock".

                                                           No this is not Kesha's version Tik-Tok (ha-ha).
(rn)

GAPP March 5, 2011 Saturday

Wow - this will be short and sweet! Our most impressive NTMCC group has made it to one of the top tourist and historical attractions in all of Europe -- PRAGUE.  We walked across the most gorgeous Charles River Bridge. The Czechs call the bridge  "Karluv Most", and their city is called Praha.

Princes
River
Amazing
Goulash
Uniqueness
Emperors



P.S. The students are finally starting to try different foods yeh!  They had rabbit and beef tongue.
[rn]

GAPP March 4, 2011 Friday Morning (Freitag)

Here is a significant picture, our NMTCC group with Mr. Mattig, the Mayor of Freital, Germany.  The picture we are holding is a canvas of The Lansdale Borough Hall where our own mayor resides.  We are trying to be a partner city, wouldn´t that be a very influential and international alliance if it could happen.  Our group met him two years ago with a different exchange.

GAPP March 4, 2011 Friday Afternoon (Freitag)

Willkommen (Welcome back) today is Friday and our most impressive group has been here for one week, joined by some more impressive teachers from NMTCC who had a very long wait at Munich Airport (German word for airport is Flughafen).

You might be wondering what is this picture that is attached.   Well, it might be very exciting for the HVAC, Industrial Electricity and Small Engine Labs at NMTCC.  It is how the Germans heat their flats (apartments).  They have one in the bathroom, two in a bedroom and possibly three in a larger room such as a living room.  For temperature adjustment one just turns the knob at the top right to a higher or lower number -- #4 is the max.  The Germans keep their flats very cold, cold to us of course, not to them.  Usually, the bedroom is kept at 1 to 2 degree C which is about 35 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The Germans dress very warm in the flats and agree that colder air is actually better for you. A note of history -- Fahrenheit was a temperature scale proposed in 1724 by the German physicist Daniel Fahrenheit.

Note that on the right side of the heater is the recycle bag for aluminum and plastics and in another place is a separate bag for cardboard.  These heaters in their foyer are very seldom turned on so do not be alarmed by the bag on the heater.  The Germans waste nothing - we Americans should follow their fine example.

Tomorrow, we travel by bus to Prague, which is situated on the Vltava in Central Bohemia, being the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic.  The city has a great train and tram transportation system, which we will be utilizing as we travel to the Prague Castle and many Squares.  We will hope to enjoy the delicious Czech food at a local cafe. We are staying in a lovely place called Arpacay Hostel. You can see it yourself by clicking on the link:   http://www.arpacayhostel.com/en/ .......Goodbye (Auf Wiedersehen)..see I am learning how to do colors and backgrounds!

P.S. Not sure if there will be a chance to post tomorrow so don´t be sad (ha-ha), will give you more on the next blog dose:))

(rn)

GAPP March 3, 2011 Thursday (Donnerstag)

Well, we are all excited about the other three NMTCC teachers that will be arriving today.  They will come directly to the school to meet up with our group and the Germans.

Some of the students saw this beautful Lutheran church named Dresden Frauenkirche, which literally means Church of Our Lady. It was built in the 18th century but destroyed in the firebombing of Dresden (as were many, many other buildings in Dresden).  The church was reconstructed in 2004 on the outside, the inside later on and on October 30 and 31 was reconsecrated with festivities through the Protestant Observation of Reformation Day.  Once a month a ceremony called Angelica Evensong is held in English. Much thanks to Emily, a student in Commerical Art for this photo. The picture below is an aerial view so you can feel the emotion of the whole area! Thanks to Wolfgang Pehlemann for this aerial shot.

Well you must keep your ears on for more news from your most impressive group in Freital, Germany.
Feel free to share this blog with other teachers and friends.  A history teacher in New Jersey might be showing this to her class and following along with us.  I say HI to her, if that is the case.

(rn)

GAPP March 2, 2011 Wednesday (Mittwoch)

Here is our small but impressive group outside the school with the Director.  You can see the sun is shining.
Some of the students are hosted close to school, others may drive longer or take the bus or train. 

Let us talk about the prices that we are seeing here in Germany.  The price of gas for your car is on the average of $8.00 a gallon.  Let me repeat that in case you are scanning this and not really reading every word (ha-ha).  The price of a GALLON OF GAS IS $8.00!!!  The Germans cannot believe how cheap the Americans pay for the gasoline to operate their vehicle.  Imagine this price the next time that you are filling up your tank, and you will know that you are getting a bargain.

Food prices, I think might be higher or lower than our prices depending on what it is and realizing that we have only been here for 5 days - so we are still learning. They have some amazing large food markets in with large department stores.  It is quite unlike our food stores in Lansdale, but I also think there are only small markets for locals to buy on a regular basis.

A GAPP presentation was given today for BFZ Freital faculty this afternoon. It was explained about our North Montco group to the teachers (not the students).

Hope you stay tuned for tomorrow´s news (aren´t you glad that I finally found the apostrophe), at least on this keyboard.
(rn)

GAPP March 1, 2011 Tuesday (Dienstag)

Well, this is our 2nd day at the BFZ Freital School and the sun is still shining, I think the Americans brought good luck to Germany, anyway, I hope so.  We are learning so much about the students, teachers, and the culture.  Here is a picture of the students in our homeroom, where we meet every morning and have some food, thought you might enjoy the photo....notice all the smiles!

Our homeroom also has many computers for our group and a refrigerator for drinks, etc.  What do you think?  Do you remember eating different foods for the first time?  I have to also tell you that we had the best German potato salad today - one of the students mother made it for us, self-made as they say.

Just remember as you sleep, we are exercising our minds and bodies in Deutschland.  Some students ate German Chinese last night, others eat pasta, and others had nice sandwiches.

We are also trying very hard to deal with the German computer keyboards. By that I mean, it is hard to capitalize letters, find our letters and as I type, I still have not found the apostrophe and some others.  For example, their letter Z is a Y on the keyboard and vice-versa, and other items are not what they appear to be.

In Mr. Thommys English class, some students spoke very nice English to the Germans - they did gut!.
Well, ta-ta for now, more American teachers arrive Thursday, so please stay tuned as NMTCC explores Germany! Danke!

(rn)

GAPP February 28, 2011 Monday (Montag)

Well, we all went to school today at BFZ Freital.  We had a nice tour of the school, lots of good food, and class time with the German students.  Their class time can go from 7am to 5pm, very different from USA.  This picture of our group inside their school with Herr Thommy and the Director of the school.  The ages of the students can range from 16 to 23, even 27 years of age.

We are all practicing our German, and they their English.  While you were all watching the Oscars last night, we were sleeping or at least trying to.  Of course, we are getting over the jet lag and settling in to our new normal routines.  We have different foods, different beds, different rooms and schedules.  But we are in Germany --- so exciting!  The Germans are very frugal and resourceful, they recycle everything including the water from the sky - more on that later - don´t want to bore you on our first day of school.  Remember what it felt like to start 1st grade???? Try, you can do it.  We are all young at heart!
(rn)

GAPP February 27, 2011 Sunday (Sonnetag)

Well, it is beautiful, sunny and cold in Freital, we are all catching up on sleep.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Some of us went to Dresden to see the Schuller und Garten Park Pillnitz:

[rn]

GAPP February 26 Saturday (Samstag)

We have arrived to beautiful and sunny
Freital, Germany! We are tired but excited.

Here is a picture of us at NMTCC before we left for Germany.

(rn)

GAPP: February 25 Friday (Freitag)

Well today is the day !!!  Germany here we come - ready or not.  Remember the different ways to communicate to your family and friends back home.  The cheapest way is in an email from a host family or the German school.  Cell phones are very expensive - ATT charges $.99/per minute with a $6.00 monthly international fee.  And retrieving one voice mail - can cost from $3 to $9.00 on your cell phone.

• Email
• Texts  ($.50/per text with plan)
• Phones  ($.99 a minute or more with a plan)
• Skype  (not sure about data charges or roaming charges, cheapest is to a landline)
• Calling Card (1 minute of US talk = 12 minutes on the card)

NO MORE COUNTDOWNS !!!
WEATHER: It is what it is
CURRENCY: Hold onto it and prorate your spending over three weeks

SLEEP or NOT on the plane, but you will feel better if you sleep
[rn]

GAPP February 24, 2011 Thursday (Donnerstag)

Well, folks !! It is one day until take off!!!  I packed and repacked my luggage twice last night.  Do I really need this, do I really need that..... Today, my check-in luggage weighed in at 46.2 lbs, it just made it.  The limit is 48 lbs for check-in.  Maybe I'll revisit tonight -- need some room for a few souvenirs.  I have a carry-on luggage with wheels, and wanted to not carry a pocketbook but I might have to. Decisions, decisions, decisions!!!  Our whole group is going thru the same process.

Right below is a map of Germany. To refresh your mind, we will be staying in the Saxony region (#13) for most of our exchange.  We will travel to Berlin (#3) and Prague (see lower map).

CURRENCY:  1 Euro = $1.38  and  $1.00 = 17.77 Koruna
WEATHER:   32 degrees F or 0 C
TIME: It is now 5:06 pm in Freital, Germany and Prague, Czech Republic
COUNTDOWN:  Tomorrow !!!   (morgen)
[RN]

GAPP: February 23, 2011 Wednesday (Mittwoch)

Well, Friday is fast approaching, are you ready? Don't forget your passport. Remember the luggage requirements. Let's talk about the airports today!

We fly into the Munich Airport [MUC] from Philadelphia. Franz Josef International Airport otherwise known as Munich Airport is situated on the Northeast of Munich and is the 2nd largest airport in Germany. It won the "Best Airport in Europe" status in 2007. How cool is that! This is where we will go thru customs, too. Thermal imaging cameras from FLIR Systems are being used to protect the perimeter of the airport. This picture shows the Munich Airport in full garb.

Next we fly into the Dresden Aiport [DRS], which is the 15th largest airport in Germany located to the north of Dresden. It was primarily a military airport during World War II. It became a commercial airport in 1957 and the center of East German aviation. After the reunification, it underwent considerable expansion, modernization, and now operates three terminals. From here it is very close to our final destination, Freital. You will be served dinner after we leave Phila., make sure you get plenty of sleep on the plane, if you can - I know this is such an exciting trip for all of us.

CURRENCY: 1 Euro = $1.36 and $1.o0 - 17.86 Czech Koruna

WEATHER: It is very cold - be sure to dress in layers: 15 degrees F
COUNTDOWN: 2 days (zwei tage)

[RN]

GAPP February 22, 2011 Tuesday (Dienstag)

It snowed here in Lansdale, USA and we had a 2-hour school delay - more time to practice our German! Today I want to discuss more of the Berlin Wall.

Construction began on the Berlin Wall early in the morning of Sunday, August 13, 1961. It was a desperate - and effective - move by the GDR (German Democratic Republic) to stop East Berliners escaping from the Soviet-controlled East German state into the West of the city, which was then occupied by the Americans, British and French.

The version of the "Wall" was in fact not a wall but a 96-mile barbed wired fence. Later in the '80's as the Iron Curtain cracked - the fall of the wall looked inevitable. In the evening of November 9th, 1989 Gunter Schabowski, Minister of Propoganda read a note announcing that the border would be opened for "private trips abroad".

The days that followed saw chaotic celebrations as Germany celebrated the political fall of the wall. These events were the first steps to the reunification of Germany which was formally concluded on October 3rd, 1990. Today remnants of the Berlin Wall can be found at Bernauer Strasse and in the front of the Neiderkirchnerstrasse, the former Prussia Parliament and current Berlin Parliament.

CURRENCY: 1 Euro = $ 1.36 and $1.00 = 17.97 Czech Koruna

WEATHER: 21 degrees F or -6 degrees C

TIME: 6:55 pm (6 hours ahead of our Eastern time)

COUNTDOWN: 3 days (drei tage)
[RN]

GAPP: February 21, 2011 Monday (Montag)

Well, let's look at some of Germany's top experiences today thanks to "Lonely Planet".

(1) BEWITCHED BY BERLIN: It is utterly amazing, one can walk anywhere and enjoy an amazing building or piece of architecture or a part of history. Your heart wants to cry for the history and smile for the present and future.

(2) SEDUCED BY SANSSOUCI: Potsdam's glorious Sanssouci park and palace shows what happens if a king has good taste, plenty of cash and access to the finest architects and artists. One never tires of seeing Frederick the Great's petite retreat atop the vine-draped terrace.

(3) FLOORED BY A WALL: It's been more than 20 years since the Berlin Wall collapsed, but you can still sense the ghosts of the Cold War when standing in the shadow of a surviving section of this grim and grey divider of humanity.

(4) BUCHENWALD CONCENTRATION CAMP: There is a museum and memorial erected above the mass graves of some of the 56k victims from 18 nations.

(5) DRESDEN'S ARTISTIC ALCHEMY: If you like art, artitecture and history and want to be blown away, then the Dresden Zwinger is a must! If it wasn't a beautiful fountain, then it was a cute cherub to look at.

(6) VERSED IN "WURST": One of the top priorities is a must-visit to a sausage stand. There are a lot of varieties of "wurst" but a good choice is Currywurst, a pork sausage cut into slices and seasoned with a sauce of ketchup and curry powder.

(7) POTTY OVER PORCELAIN: There is a porcelain factory in Saxony where sculptors and glazers produce incredible porcelain.
.

CURRENCY: 1 Euro = $1.37 and $1.00 = 17.93 Czech Koruna

WEATHER: 12 degrees F or -11 C

COUNTDOWN: 4 days (vier Tage)

S T A R T ..... P A C K I N G !!!!

[RN]

GAPP: February 20, 2011 Sunday (Sonntag)

Well, in this fairytale town known as Prague, yes there is shopping if you can steal your eyes away from all the beautiful scenery and old buildings. Remember we are using our Czech "koruny" to go shopping.

Together with the opening up of the economy after the collapse of the communist regime the supply of all goods in Prague has been fundamentally extended. Recently, big western brands, luxury boutigues, fast foods are appearing around the city. Most shopping malls and arcades are located in the center of Prague in Wenceslas Square, in streets Na Ponci, Narodru trida, around the National Museum, Pariszka and by Old Town Square.

There are many shops selling souvenirs, t-shirts with "Franz Kafka" on them, Mucha merchandise, Russian dolls, flaunting puppets, and Czech porcelain, glass and wooden toys. If you are looking for more unusual shopping head down hidden passages, and to the arcades and backstreets of Lesser and Old Towns. In this little shops you can find many bargains, and curious and interesting things.

Again remember that just as like any big city - there are many pick-pockets. This is a real danger so please keep all valuables inside your coat and shirts!! This is a big tourist center, and you wouldn't even feel them taking your valuables. The emergency phone is "112" like our 911.

CURRENCY: 1 Euro - $1.37 and $1.00 = 17.8 Czeck Koruny
WEATHER: 18 degrees F or -8 degrees C

COUNTDOWN: 5 days (Funf Tage)

[RN]

GAPP: February 19, 2011 Saturday (Samstag)

Well, today we'll discuss what is Prague (Praha) all about. Prague is one of the most cutest medival and most popular city in Europe; also it is the capital of the Czech Republic and its largest city. Since it was not destroyed in any war - the architecture, buildings, quaint streets are spectacular. Prague will be about a 2-hour ride from Freital, Gemany.

The town grew from a settlement stretching from the Prague Castle in the north to the Vysehrad in the south. This picture is looking at the castle with Charles Bridge in the foreground.

The Prague Castle was started in the year 885ad - can you imagine? Not even I was born then. Remember that the "Bohemian Crown Jewels" are kept here. No there will be no shopping for us with these jewels. This castle is the "largest complex" in the world - even larger than China's Temples. - Tomorrow, maybe we will talk about shopping?? Get your currency converter app ready.

CURRENCY: 1 Euro = $1.37
WEATHER: 28 degrees F and -2.22 C

COUNTDOWN: 6 days (sechs tage)
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