So Cold My Schinkel's Falling Off, But At Least I'm Fashionable

So this was the last week of orientation classes. On monday we start the real schedule and actually have less of a time constricted life. So since being in Germany we've learned that everything in the city was designed or built by Friedrich Schinkel.

So Tuesday we went to the German Parliament. It's called the Reichstag and it is a super historical building which houses the Bundestag (The Parliament). And on the way we passed under the Brandenburg Gate, which is the former medieval gate to the city of Berlin. It is such a cool building. It was designed by Lord Norman Foster and the whole building is almost completely self-sufficient. There is a metallic mirrored core in the middle of a large dome which reflects sunlight in to light the parliamentary chamber and at night reflects the artificial light out to show the people the parliament is there. This building is so energy efficient that it actually powers the near by buildings.

Then Thursday we took an extensive tour through the city visiting a majority of Schinkel's prominent buildings in Berlin. Eventually ending up at the Altes Museum on Museum Island. Schinkel's buildings are magnificent. They all have this Neo-Gothic style with this hint of classicism through proportions and materials. But regardless of all of this when its 20 degrees outside it's not fun when your professor stops and explains the history of each brick outside for 20 minutes.

Also this week was fashion week in Berlin. So on thursday we happened to end up right beside a photo shoot of models and Mercedes'. Needless to say this was a pleasant change from Museums and Churches. The model was like 6'5" and like 95lbs but she was gorgeous. We wanted to go in but 25 twenty-year-olds dressed like eskimos weren't on the guest list or dressed nice enough.

So Friday was another trip to another on of Schinkel's Museums on Museum Island. But these Museums housed some incredible stuff. Since being here I've become quite the artsy type. I have a great appreciation for artwork now. The first one had recreated Babylonian Temples and Islamic artwork like rugs and jewelry. Then the second had incredible amounts of Egyptian relics. Everything from sarcophaguses to mummies it was amazing. The upper floor also contained a history of the world from like the first people up until present day. But unfortunately everyone was starting to whine so we had to go. But a return trip is most definitely planned.

So far even though its freezing here now Berlin is a pretty incredible city.