DAILY JOURNAL

Travel Day (7/08/06)

    Of course my trip starts out bad!  I get a phone call at 9:30 am while I am in the shower saying that my flight from New Orleans to Atlanta has been cancelled due to maintenance on the plane!  They did have an earlier flight that would give me time to make all of my connecting flights, but I would have to be at the airport at 11:00 to make an 11:45 flight.  NO PROBLEM!!  I still had to finish packing and get everything together.  Luckily I stayed up last night until 3:00 packing!  Needless to say I made my flights even though I had to sit in Atlanta for five hours!

Arrival (7/09/06)

    I arrived in Prague around 10:30am there time.  I have been on planes and in airports for about 14 hours.  I found our guide Christina.  She took us to the dorms.  By the time I got into my room in was about 12:00pm.  I did not get out of bed until around 6:30am (the next day)!  Even though I did not get any sleep on the plane and for the first night I felt fine.

Orientation (7/10/06)

    Orientation began at 9:45.  We got to meet with all of our teachers and find out a little about them.  After that we took a City Tour with a local tour guide Milosh.  He took us practically everywhere.  We walked for about 6 miles from what I was told.  Later that night we had an opening dinner party and Cafe Louvre.  You would think that this place was a local restaurant but nope, it is a modern style place with very colorful chairs and tables.  We had the whole first floor to ourselves; which is only about 40 people.  The neat thing about this place is that they have a roof made out of the glass cubes.  the weird but kind of cool thing is that they have people walking on top of you!  There is a second floor at the restaurant that has tables on the glass.  We also played a little game where we were matched up with a partner ( of course I get my Architecture Professor).  We were given a list of questions to ask and then we had to introduce one another to the group. 

Day 1 (7/11/06)

    We went to the computer lab on the fifth floor of a building and come to find out it is the only room in the place without air conditioning (supposedly)!!  We took a tour of the city again today and walked about 4 miles.  We strolled down the crowded streets, went to the digital lab that sold cameras and camera equipment.  We then went to the lab where the local newspaper is printed and also can print our orders.  There are allot of advertisements around the city.  They seem to be everywhere for example, there was this very old building with very nice murals and statues and right in front there is a sign for KFC!!  I could not believe it!  They actually have a KFC in the Czech Republic.  So that's what I had for lunch today.  The class was nice too.  she gave us hints on how to get around town easier and quicker (even though you have to walk everywhere). The professor wants us to know about several things about our cameras: ISO, White Balance, Exposure, and Raw/Jpeg just to name a few.  Luckily I already know about all of them and know how to use them. 

    We started out by discussing our project that will count as most of our grade.  The guidelines for the project were pretty clear: choose a spot in the city that has "set boundaries" and for the four weeks that we are here we have to study this site and what it consists of (color, shapes, size, location, styles, etc).  We then went over a power point presentation for the rest of the class.  With no air in a dark classroom listening to a professor speak in a monotone voice we thought that it was NAP TIME (not me of course).  She showed us (the people who were awake) photos that she had taken within the several years that she has been coming to Prague and other European cities.  Most of the places that she showed we will be visiting within the next few weeks.  Tomorrow we are going to the Castle (not sure which one).

Day 2 (7/12/06)

    We went over our cameras today and learned how they work and how they differ from one another.  We also learned the different terms and functions.  Our classroom is on the fifth floor in a copula with no air conditioning!  With twelve computers and fifteen people it gets very hot.

    We went to St. Vitus Cathedral; which is on the grounds of the Prague Castle.  It was so awesome!!  I could not believe the size.  We went inside and walked around for 20 minutes.  On one side of the Cathedral there is a small chapel.  This chapel has red stones that make up the walls and come to find out the stones are actually garnets and rubies.  The statues were gold and the stained glass windows were gorgeous.  When class was over half of the students had to go to there next class and the rest of us stayed with Carol (the professor).  We went to this little restaurant right outside of the castle walls.  Some had dessert and I shared some Buffalo Mozzarella Cheese with sliced tomatoes.  I could not believe how good it was, and so cheap.  After we ate we took this dirt trail down into the mote of the castle.  The mote is dry of course.  Underneath the bridge to enter the castle there is this tunnel.  The tunnel looks ordinary from the outside, but the inside was an oval shape made out of bricks painted orange.  as you walk through the tunnel you can see a little stream running underneath your feet.  After that we walked around the castle again and went to an overlook where we could see the entire city.  We could actually see our classroom from there; which is across the river.

    The guest lecturer today was Marta, the Czech Language Professor.  She taught us how to say several different phrases and gave us a brief history of Prague and the Czech Republic.  For instance Dobry Den, Dobry Den means hello.  Also she showed us a few cartoons made in the Czech Republic.  It was very interesting.  After the lecture was over the entire group went to a pub for dinner.  I had fried cheese.  Basically what it is, is a big triangular slice of cheese breaded and fried!  My calorie intake has skyrocketed so far.  After that a group of us went to a pub near the dorms for a little while.  We were all extremely tired so we did not stay long.

Day 3 (7/13/06)

    Today we had a guest lecturer.  She was one of Justina's friends.  We went back up to the castle and went to a museum.  The museum was filled with priceless paintings from Rembrandts, to Goya, and many many other ones.  We walked and we walked and walked some more.  And with no air in the hot son we all just wanted to pass out.  She tells us after we walked about 200 steps that we are only a third of the way there!  Oh Joy!  It actually was not that bad.  After that we headed back down toward the Charles Bridge and stopped at a McDonalds for lunch.  It tastes a little bit different from back home.  Also anywhere you go they charge you for everything, including tap water, ketchup, bread, and BBQ sauce.  Tomorrow is our first shooting assignment.  We told her that we would meet her at the castle and we plan on taking the metro and trolley instead of walking.

    Today we had some technical difficulties.  We were locked out of our classroom for the first ten minutes until they could get us into another one. Then in the other classroom the computer mouse did not work so that delayed us another twenty minutes.  Finally we got everything to work and then class was over.  We went over the different styles of architecture from Romanesque to Gothic and Baroque to Renaissance.  Tomorrow we are going to go to Our Lady of the Snows Cathedral to see the different styles that we learned about.

    After class today a group of us wanted to go get some coffee.  We found a Starbucks!!!  Well, not really, the name was Coffee Heaven.  Yes, we were in heaven!  It was similar and had frozen coffee.  It was so good to finally have a good frozen coffee.  now we know where to go before class to get coffee (that's if we get up on time).

Day 4 (7/14/06)

    For one thing the people in Prague are stuck in the 80s.  The men wear Capri's, the women wear funky stuff, they all seem to have mullets, and it seems that all men wear overalls (some without undershirts).  Also the music that they play is mainly from the 80s or 90s.  If it is not from that time period then it is Christmas music YES I said Christmas music.  The coffee shop that we went to yesterday played Deck the Halls, Silent Night, and many MANY more!  Today we went to a place that was playing some rather decent music like Frank Sinatra and Bob Marley.  This place was called Legends.  It is a good old American style pub.  American food, American drinks, even American menus!  As we walk by shop after shop all you here is American music, MY music.  Today I heard Lean Wit it Rock Wit it!!!  I was so happy I was dancing in the streets (almost got hit by a car).  Then the people who I was with told me to stop (I was embarrassing them).  I was that loud obnoxious American.

    Today we went on our first photo shoot.  Well first of all we decided to take the Trolley up to the top of the hill instead of walking with Justyna (professor).  She likes to walk . . . we were tired of walking.  When we got there she told us just to go around and shoot whatever we wanted.  Well, I started to make my way around the Cathedral and it started to rain.  Of Course, why would it NOT rain on our first photo shoot!  It poured, but it made for some interesting photos (take a look).

    Today we went to Old Town Square.  We took a tour of the Old Town Haul and saw the astronomical clock (take a look).  After the tour we went up into the tower where the clock is and had a beautiful view of the city and the castle.  After we made our way down ( by elevator of course) we split up.  Several students had to go to class and the rest of us went to Legends.  We sat there and had some drinks and then went walking around the city.  Carol showed me where to get a U.S. plug adapter.  I needed it because the one I bought at Radio Shack did not fit.  The girls I was with needed to go to Tesco (European version of Wally World).  to buy a fan (the dorms are super hot).  Of course they were out, like every other day that we went.  We tried to look for another place, which we found, but they were super expensive.  NO PLACE in Prague has air conditioning!  Luckily my roommate bought a fan on the first day!  Well we got lost!  We could not find a metro stop anywhere.  we walked around for 45 minutes when finally we found one.  So to sum up the day, we walked from 9:00am until 6:30pm, got lost, and then when we got back to the dorm some others wanted us to go with them to eat, so we walked even more.  My feet are killing me.  Tomorrow I do not have to set my alarm!  We are going to try to go to this place that has a church made completely made out of human bones.  From what we heard it was from the Holocaust, this Jewish cemetery exhumed all of these bodies and made a monument for them.  If I wake up in time to go you will get to see pictures in a few days.

Day 5, Saturday (7/15/06):

    Finally, it's Saturday!  My first day off and my first day to explore the city.  A few of us decided to take a day trip to Kutna Hora.  This place is famous for a Chapel made completely made out of bones.  It's a little surreal.  CLICK HERE to read more about the Chapel.  We took a train to this small village about an hour and a half outside of Prague.  I have uploaded some photos, but they are very dramatic and a little scary.  (Link: http://www.ludd.luth.se/~silver_p/kutna-info.html)

Day 6, Sunday (7/16/06):

    I slept pretty much all day.  It was the best nights sleep I got this entire trip.  Now I have to work on my Photo Assignment and Architecture Project.

    There is one problem that arose today.  There is no hot water in the dorms!  We thought it would only last 2 days but it turns out that we will not have hot water until Friday!!  Like in New Orleans the cold water is pretty much luke warm.  Here the cold water is like sticking your hand in an ice chest, but it is your whole body!!  Everyone that has taken a shower has said it is hell.  I have to go take one in a few minutes. . . pray for me!!

Day 7 (7/17/06):

    Nothing interesting happened today in the photo class.  She showed us how to save pictures onto the computer and open them in Photoshop and make a contact sheet.  Basically I sat there the entire time.  She also started to critique our photos from our color project.

   On Mondays we have a an in class lecture and slide show.  Just like last Monday most of the class fell asleep (including me), but Carroll is very understanding and she inserts strange pictures into her slide show just to wake us up because she knows it is going to happen.

    I brought my laundry to the local Laundromat.  What an experience.  The only good thing about it is that the owner is from Mobile, Alabama.  All I had to do is drop it off and they washed, dried, and even folded my clothes (better than at home).  I will pick it up tomorrow at around 3:00 when I get out of class. 

Day 8 (7/18/06):

    We went to a little flea market today to shoot our next assignment.  The assignment is motion.  How are we supposed to shoot motion in a flea market?  I just could not understand it.  Well anyways I got a few good shots.

    We went to the Municipal House today where they hold concerts and other functions.  This place was huge and gorgeous.  We could not shoot pictures so you will not be able to see it.  It was very interesting.  Afterwards we went downstairs to a pub (of course).  I had dessert (of course)! 

    It only cost me about 300 Krouns, which is about $14.00 USD.  The hardest part about bringing my laundry is the walk.  It is about a half a mile to the place and it is very hot and heavy.  Once I returned to my dorm room I crashed.

Day 9 (7/19/06)

    Another critique day.  we finished critiquing our photographs and she went over our final assignment.  The project is a Tableau.  It is a very general assignment.  We are not sure what to do.  Hopefully she will tell us a little more on Monday.

    We went on another tour today and saw a Villa.  It was neat but again we were not aloud to take photos on the inside.   After we walked around the villa Carroll, Irene, Gretchen, and myself walked to this building that was built for the World Exposition.  It was beautiful.  We sat down and had some dessert and drinks.  I had Chocolate covered strawberries (not Godiva), with a wild strawberry syrup!!  Delectable!!  After that we walked up to the Prague Castle and went to our project place.  We have to choose a place in Prague and do a presentation on it for the Architecture class.  We went there to photograph it and get another look at it.  I chose this staircase.

    Milosh, our tour guide, was the guest lecturer today.  we sat in the classroom listening to him for almost two and a half hours!!  It was interesting, but too long and too hot!  After that we went to a pub and had dinner as a group and just talked.  It was allot of fun.

    Still no hot water!!  We were told it was going to be out for just a few days, but our teacher told us that last year it was out for 13 days!!  I can not live without hot water. . . bad enough there is no TV or AC!!

Day 10 - 13 (7/20/06 - 7/23/06):

    We leave for Vienna at 1:00 pm.  I will not have a laptop so I will not be able to communicate with the people I love until Sunday night, but I will have a HOT SHOWER!!  I think that is the one thing that everyone is looking forward to in Vienna.  Yeah Yeah Yeah we want to see the town, but we will have hot water.  That is the important thing!!  See you on Sunday! 

    OK, we had hot water!!  The only problem was the train was not air conditioned.  I want everyone to imagine sitting in the last car of a train for 5, Yes I said 5 hours, with a bunch of other people with no air and no windows!  There was absolutely no ventilation so it was even worse.  Imagine HELL (but ten times worse)!  I can not describe how miserable it was.  Plus, our director brought her son with her so we got to entertain him for the ride.  I was running around crawling underneath the seats and having a good time, but it was extremely hot!!   

    Enough with the complaining, well, not really.  Once we got to the train station we took a hot tram to our dorms.  The dorms were half the size of the ones here in Prague and even hotter than them to (we did not bring our fans that we bought).  Everyone took a quick, but hot, shower and then we went to dinner.  We ate authentic Austrian food. It was delicious. 

    We woke up early and took a tour of the town.  It was very pretty.  After that we ate at a buffet, which was good but expensive.  Then we went on a mini tour with Carroll.  She took us around the city so we could orient ourselves and find our way around.  Then Carroll, John (Academic Director), and I went to the Sky Bar.  The bar is on the tenth floor over looking the entire city.  It was great!  We then made our way back to thee dorms, showered, and got ready for yet another authentic meal at a vineyard.  Everyone looked great, until we got on a hot tram and metro and headed to the restaurant .  This place was fabulous, it had grapes vines above us and people playing an accordion and violin.  After that we made our way back home and fell asleep, well not really, it was too hot and too noisy.

    We went on a tour of a Summer Palace of the Hapsburgs.  It was nice, but I would have rather toured the city a little bit more.  After that we went shopping downtown.  I spent entirely too much money.  But I got allot of nice stuff.  Later that night we went to this concert where they played classical music.  It was just these four people playing violins and a bass guitar. 

    Time to go home, but not really!  We had a few hours to kill before it was time to go back to Prague.  You could feel yourself getting closer and closer to hell (the train).  Well, come to find out the return train had windows and some ventilation!!  It was GREAT!  I stood by the window the whole time taking pictures.  I loved the ride back, it was hot but the air was moving so it was so much better.  When we got back to the dorms the first thing I did was check to see if the hot water was working. . . IT IS!!!! YEAH!!!!!  HOT WATER!!!!!!

Day 14 (7/24/06)

    Today I did not feel so hot, so I stayed in bed and missed both of my classes.  I talked to the teachers and they said it was fine.  My allergies were acting up and I was sneezing an awful lot.  I felt better when I woke up at 6:30 pm.

Day 15 (7/25/06)

    Nothing new today.  We went to one of the oldest libraries in Europe to shoot our last assignment (Tableau).  It was interesting, but not what I expected. 

    We took a tour with the Czech Language class to a library (two different libraries in the same day).  It was pretty neat but we were not aloud to take photos in this one.  After that we went to a pub for some drinks because we were extremely tired after climbing all of the stairs to the top of the tower in the library.  The library was Baroque and it was created by the Jesuits.

Day 16 (7/26/06)

    We went to a photo exhibit today.  The Photographers name slips my mind, but he had some really nice photos.  He mainly shoots wars and things of that nature, but he also had some photos from the Popes death and also of some other interesting things. 

    Today we went on a walking tour to see the Cubist era of Prague.  We walked through the neighborhoods and looked and different buildings in the Cubist style.

    Today the lecture was on Marionettes.  A puppeteer brought the different types of puppets used in shows.  We also watched a piece of a puppet show filmed in Brno.  It was very interesting to watch and to actually play with the puppets.

Day 17 (7/27/06)

    Today is critique day!  We sat in the hot hot hot computer lab and went over everyone's photos from the motion project.

    We went to the Muller Villa.  This place was gorgeous!  We were not aloud to take pictures but let me tell you it was awesome.  Basically it is a four story building with no fancy decorations on the outside.  It is painted white with bright yellow windows.  On the inside the whole thing is made out of different types of wood and marble.  The designer was an architect who wanted a house for his family.  The Prague Historical Society got the house in 2000 (or '01) and restored most of it to its original state.

Day 17 - 20 (7/27/06 - 7/30/06)

    I flew to Rome today.  The flight was not that bad, but once I got there I had to take a train to the hotel.  Once I got to the train station I had to catch a cab to the hotel because I did not want to get lost.  I got gypped on the cab ride.  Once I got to the hotel I fell right asleep (it was around 10:00).

    I woke up today and headed straight to the Coliseum!  It was gorgeous.  It was so crowded that I just walked around it and of course took pictures!!  I also walked around the Roman Forum, and saw the Arch of Constantine.  After that I headed to the Trevi Fountain.  Rome is kind of spread out so just like Prague I took the Metro everywhere.  I walked to the Fountain and you would not believe how many people were there!  It was awesome though.  Then I headed to the Pantheon, just a few streets away.  The Pantheon was breathtaking.  This huge dome with a hole in the top letting this ray a sunlight come in was so stunning.  It was free admission and the people were just pouring in.  I then went to Piazza Navona.  When you walk into the square it does not look like much and there not a whole lot of people either.  That's what made it so nice.  I sat down to have lunch overlooking the fountain.  I had a pizza naturally.  This was so tasty, you would not believe how different it is than back in the states. 

    The next place I went was the best. . . . Hard Rock Cafe!!!!  Everyone knows how much of a Hard Rock fan I am.  I spent nearly two hours in there shopping and trading pins from New Orleans and just have a good time listening to the music.  After HRC I headed back to the hotel to drop off my souvenirs.  Oh, I forgot to tell you where I am staying. . . a Best Western, but wait, there's more. . . it has Air Conditioning . . . and Hot Water!!!  Things could not get any better, or could they, I have a TV in my room (only three channels in English, but who cares)!!  After I took a shower I headed to this little place right down the street from the hotel the that the concierge recommended.  It was called Target.  No, not the department store.  This place was really fancy and the food was exquisite.  I had pasta with red gravy and spinach with parmesan cheese and almonds!  This was to dye for.  For dessert (you know how I am with dessert) I had there specialty, called Target.  It was a chocolate cupcake heated with hot fudge on top and sliced fruit on the side.  All I can say is C«««««C!

    Today I went to the Vatican!  When I said that the other places had a lot of people I was wrong.  It only took me a half hour to get into St. Peters Basilica.  This place was magnificent.  I can not put into words what I saw (go look at the pictures).  I tried to go to the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel but for some reason they were closed for the day (they closed a half hour before I got there).  After the Vatican I went to Piazza di Spanga.  I got to see the Spanish Steps which was not as impressive as I would have thought.  After that I headed back to HRC to pick up a few more souvenirs that I had forgotten and plus I was hungry.  I sat there for about an hour and had my usual.  Then I went back to the hotel for a little while to rest.  I went back to the Coliseum and took a guided tour.  It was raining, but it cooled things off, and got rid of a bunch of people.  I then headed to the Trevi fountain once again to see it at night (really nice).  I went back to Piazza Navona and had dinner overlooking a bunch of street performers.  By now it was about 10:00 so I wanted to go back to the Coliseum to see it at night but the metro was closed for repair (my luck).  I took another cab back to the hotel (not expensive at all this time).  I had to pack and get ready for my flight.

    The Rome Airport is crazy!!  I waited and waited to be checked in and then I had to go through passport control and almost missed my flight.  I would have missed it if it would not have been delayed for an hour and a half!!  The plane was cramped and we sat there for about a half hour waiting to take off.  I had a lady in front of me who could not decide whether she wanted her seat upright or reclined, then next to me the guy wanted the armrest and kept bumping into me, and behind me a father and daughter both wanted to look out the window so they kept pushing on the back of my seat.  I tried to sleep through most of it though.  I got back into Prague an hour late.  By the time I caught the bus and made it back to the dorms it was almost two o clock.  Needless to say I had a terrific time in Roma and would love to go back!!

Day 21 (July 31, 2006)

    Today we went into this neighborhood to shoot pictures for our last project.  The neighborhood was former communist houses.  We have to choose two photos from our different project to be displayed at our farewell dinner on Friday.  On Wednesday we are going to see another photo exhibit.  Thursday will be our final critique!  Today was also our last photo shoot!!

    Today we talked about our trip to the Muller Villa and our weekend excursions.  Also we talked about the architecture styles up to the present.  Tomorrow we are going to the Baby Tower.  Its really a TV tower with these huge babies on it (supposedly art).  Wednesday is our final presentation for a Prague space; and then on Thursday we are going to a mystery location!!!  for some reason she will not tell us where we are going.  She wants it to be a surprise!!

    Ok, I thought it was going to be tough to understand and to communicate with the Czech folks, and I was right.  It is extremely complicated to get our point across and to do anything that requires confrontation with them.  During the duration of this trip I heard German (Vienna), Czech (Prague), Italian (Rome), and all tried to speak English.  It has been really hard to get places and to order food but it has been a very unique experience.  It is very strange sitting on the subway not being able to understand anyone around you.  I have loved my time here, but I am very ready to come home. 

Day 22 (August 1, 2006)

    We turned in our two best photos from the different projects to be printed and displayed at the closing dinner on Friday.

    We went to the "Baby Tower" today.  It actually is a TV broadcast tower but years ago an art installation was put onto the tower.  David Cerny was the designer.   He put these huge black babies crawling all over the tower.  It was very interesting.  When the city went to take them down the town complained so they reinstalled the babies.

Day 23 (August 2, 2006)

    We went to yet another photo exposition today.  This photographer mainly does portraits.  It was OK.  I was not that impressed.

    Today our final project/presentation was due.  We had to present a place in Prague that we liked and give an in depth description of it.  We had to tell about it's size, weight, color, texture, and several other things.  I thought I did a good job. 

Day 24 (August 3, 2006)

    Today was our final critique.  She said that this was by best work so far.  I thought it was my worst!  Oh, well I am pretty sure I passed.

    We went on our "mystery tour".  We went on a boat ride up and down the river and got the Vlata perspective of the city.  The name of the river is the Vlata.  It was great.  Also the weather has just changed!!  It is now really cold!!  I am so happy that I can actually walk around and not be drenched in sweat.  It is great and the class was awesome!  We also got our grade back and of course I got an "A"!

    The Opera was the best!  We saw Don Giovanni.  This Opera premiered at the Estates Theater on October 29, 1787.  The Estates Theater is located in Old Town in Prague.  Mozart specifically created this Opera for Prague.  The version we saw was supposedly just like the original.  We went to dinner before at The Spider.  The Opera started at 8:00 pm and lasted until around 11:00.  Don Giovanni is based on a the Spanish Don Juan.  The Opera is a Spanish Opera performed in Italian in Prague!  I thought that was hilarious.  It was one of my favorite things I did on this trip.

Day 25 (August 4, 2006)

    Today is our last day and we have to pack and finish shopping for gifts.  I really do not feel like packing right now so I will wait until after our final dinner tonight.  The dinner will be at the Manes Building, which spans the Vlata River.  We are also having a photo exhibition of our best photos from the Photography Courses.  Also there will be a Slide Show of pictures fro all of the different events. 

Day 26 (August 5, 2006)

    My flight is for 7:15 am!  I will have to leave the dorms at around 4:00 in the morning to be sure that I am at the airport on time to make my flight.  This will be the last Journal Entry for me.  I will update it on how my flight went one day next week.