TOUR OF NATO - AFTER MUSSELS IN BRUSSELS!

NATO HQ-Brussels, Belgium; Today we had the opportunity to visit and learn more about NATO! The North Atlantic Treaty organization is made up of 26 member countries from across Europe and North America. NATO is a political and military alliance that I believe (unfortunately) the average person back home in the states does not have a full understanding of.

NATO members work together to maintain unified security and defence forces. NATO brings together both continents to strengthen political and security cooperation abroad. That does not mean NATO will not consult and cooperate with non NATO members because it does. NATO works to avoid conflicts between member countries and beyond those borders as well. NATO also has a military alliance force too. NATO soldiers keep the peace when they are called upon. NATO can also help allies work through difficult times of disasterous situations.

An ambassador from each member country is part of permanent delegation at NATO HQ.

NATO is chaired by the Secretary General of NATO, who helps members agree on important issues. All decisions are based on a common consensus. Members can offer up soldiers as NATO forces voluntarily. Those soldiers will return to their native countries once their mission is complete.

Here is the list of NATO members and the year they joined:
Belgium -1949
Bulgaria-2004
Canada -1949
Czech Republic -1999
Denmark-1949
Estonia-2004
France-1949
Germany-1955
Greece-1952
Hungary-1999
Iceland-1949
Italy-1949
Latvia-2004
Lithuania-2004
Luxemburg-1949
Netherlands-1949
Norway-1949
Poland-1999
Portugal-1949
Romania-2004
Slovakia-2004
Slovenia-2004
Spain-1982
Turkey-1952
United Kingdom-1949
United States-1949

here is a list of our rundown for the day:
1.Meet with Mr. James Snyder a U.S. Information Officer with the Public Diplomacy Division

2.Meet with Mr. Robert Pszczel -Polish Information Officer with the Public Diplomacy Division. He spoke briefly about 'Selling NATO in a changing environment.'

3. Meeting with Mr. Gordon Breet with the NATO Operations Section. He gave us a briefing on NATO's Operation in Afghanistan.

4.Meeting with Ms. Rebecca Ross, the Deputy Public Affairs Advisor, U.S. Mission to NATO. She spoke on the American Perspective on NATO in the run up to the 60th Anniversary.

5. Lunch in the NATO Restaurant

Delicious Dinner at African Restaurant in Brussel's.
Kreik Beer - Delicious
Sightseeing - chocolate tasting - shopping and a night on the town

European Commission/European Union

We spent our first night in the lovely Sofitel Hotel in downtown Brussels. We are situated in the heart of the city's premiere shopping district. There is a Dior, Louis Vitton, Salvator Ferragamo and more all around us!

We met in the lobby fairly early this morning and walked over to our first session of the day. We met at the entrance of the Euroean Commission building. Our first meeting was led by Mr. Joe Vandercappellen who spoke to us about the role of the Commission within the European Institutions.

Learn about the European Commission
- Attend daily press conference
- Meet with several officials throughout the day
- RIAS Dinner at Rose Blanche in the main square of the downtown

Rainy Day in Prague!

Our first stop of the day was another exceptional adventure. We met with the country's Deputy Vice Prime Minister! I cannot believe the access we've been given to officials who hold such high offices. This fellowship has created so many different learning opportunities, not only involving various cultures, but politics and their economies as well.

Czech Deputy Vice Prime Minister Marek Mora met with us and brought along several government aides at an official building in Prague. He spoke about the way the Czech Republic has changed since it became a member of the European Union. Currently, Government officials are very busy promoting the future Czech Presidency of the EU. That will take place in the coming months. It was quite exciting to meet with a top government official and to learn so much more about this beautiful country.

Prague also known as Praha is about the size of Virginia. There are ten million people living in the country (1.2 million in Prague) and a big chunk of its gross domestic product is thanks to tourists.

According to the Czech Republic Official website nearly seven million visitors came to the small central european country throughout 2007.

This bit of history comes straight off the U.S. Department of State Website:

"The Czech Republic was the western part of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic. Formed into a common state after World War I (October 28, 1918), the Czechs, Moravians, and Slovaks remained united for almost 75 years. On January 1, 1993, the two republics split to form two separate states.'

After the morning session ended, we had the rest of the day to ourselves, before flying to Belgium later that night (NATO and the European Union are later this week).

I spent the remainder of the day walking around the central part of Prague. I was with other fellows Gerri Shaftel (FOX Los Angeles) and Kathleen Graham (RTNDF). We browsed different shops downtown (Prague is widely known for its crystal creations) and of course, even hit a local Starbucks store. One thing I did notice is there are similar stores in every direction you walk. We hit what looked like the same jewelry stores again and again. We also saw a lot of lace stores and the ice cream here is amazing too.

We also had the opportunity to visit the spectacular gardens surrounding the mystical Prague Castle. The castle is the current seat of the President of the Czech Republic. It serves as the historical political center for both the city and country.

The Prague Castle is rich with history. It was here the Czech Kings, Roman Emperors and the leaders of both Czecheslovakia and the Czech Republic had their offices. According to the Gusiness Book of World Records, the castle in Prague is one of the biggest in the world. Of course it was raining today, but that did not stop us from soaking up the natural beauty of the castle and its splendid garden landscaping.

We learned there were several devastating fires and wars in addition to political forces that helped create a plethora of palaces and churches all across the site.

Here is a list of what you can see on the complex:

Saint Vitus Cathedral - which is the most recognizable landmark in the city. You can also check out museums, art displays, several palaces like Lobkowicz Palace and the St. George Basilica (classical concerts are often held here)

Back in the 9th century, the first known building on the site of the Prage Castle was created. In the 12th century a Romanesque Palace replaced it. Then again in the 14th century it was rebuilt in the Gothic style thanks to Charles IV.

The Jagellons reconstructed the Royal Palace at the end of the 15th century and there was even more work done following a fire in 1541.

Final touches came about under Empress Maria Theresa. She employed architect M. Pacassi. But after World War I, renovations to the castle buildings and gardens were overseen by architect J. Plecnik.

The views from the castle could take your breathe away. We snapped a few photos and moved on, to continue our adventure in Prague.

We also strolled across the famous Charles Bridge but did not have enough patience to wait and see what would come from the Astronomical Clock at the Old Town Hall Tower.

It was amazing though to see hundreds of tourists huddled around the square waiting to see the procession of the 12 Apostles every hour, on the hour. Apparently, once the door opens Christ marches out before his disciples, while the skeleton of death tolls the bell to a Turk replica. The beauty and intricate details of the Astronomical Clock are unreal. This creation I am told, dates back to the 15th century.

The Old Town Hall Tower is another of the most famous buildings in Prague. It was built back in the mid 1300s. You can also climb to the top to take in the astonishing views over Old Town Square.

Today the Old Town Hall is home to the Prague Tourist Information Center. What a sight to see!

On the way back to the hotel we came acorss a very large outdoor market. The people there sold everything from fresh vegetables to bags, cigarettes, wooden dolls, blankets and more. We then found a few more fellows at a nearby cafe, where some of us soaked up some tea (to keep warm and grab a bite to eat).

Then it was back to the hotel to gather our belongings and board a bus for belgium! Tonight we are heading to Brussels to learn more about the European Union tomorrow.

Crossing Country Lines into Prague, Czech Republic

This morning we packed our bags again and boarded a bus for the Czech Republic. Before we knew it we were stuck in traffic in the Capital city's downtown. It was amazing to see the sights and tourists all over Prague. There are a little over a million folks here who call this place home, but the amount of visitors is outrageous! I've never seen so many people in one place (aside from NYC of course).

Oh by the way, I didn't see very many traffic lights in the heart of the downtown either, but the drivers seemed to be very accomodating to the walkers.

After checking into our uber modern hotel (the rooms totally reminded me of everything you'd see on display at an Ikea store) we walked over to Radio Free Europe (headquartered right up the street).

What an experience! For those of you who don't know, the idea behind Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is to support democratic values through the distribution of facts and ideas. There are still so many countries around the globe where the government exercises full control over what information is delivered to the people living there. RFE believes in informing citizens about the issues taking place in their own "backyards" and beyond.

RFE reporters and employees work tirelessly and put their lives on the line to advocate for the understanding among people of all backgrounds. They work around the clock to gather objective news, analysis and to spark intelligent, lively conversations about local, regional and even national issues.

I didn't realize how much I took for granted my reporting job at WBRE-TV in Wilkes-Barre, PA. It's always been a given being a member of the media to "seek the truth and tell it" without punishment and t0 question people as often as possible.

Many of the dedicated journalists working for RFE/Radio Liberty are threatened on a daily basis. Some have been killed because of their chosen profession, while others have been fined and detained by their governments for bringing certain "issues" to light.

I also failed to realize the fact many members of their families are also threatened too. What a scary thought! I understand why for some, the stress becomes too much and they either leave RFE out of fear or at times go into hiding. These people are extremely courageous and I have so much respect for the work they set out to do.

Aside from most enjoying our time with a former Stasi prisoner, I was also touched when we paid a visit to the employees at Radio Free Afghanistan. You could see from the look in their eyes and the expressions on their faces what it meant for them to help promote democratic values across Afghanistan.

I was truly amazed when one employee pulled out a bag of letters from Radio Free Afghanistan listeners who wrote thanking them for the programs and news they provide. It was unreal! Shivers raced down my spine, the energy in the room was fantastic. I think as a group, we were all honored to be among these fantastic journalists who were doing so much for the people of their country.

That night, a group of us went out for a traditional Czech meal. I had bread dumplings and a type of beef roast in a yummy sauce. It was absolutely delicious. We walked around the center of town before retiring for the night.

Tour of the Volkswagen Phaeton Manufacturing Plant

Today was surreal. The RIAS fellows received a private tour of the Volkswagen Transparent Factory in Dresden; which houses the high end VW Phaeton. The most expensive of phaeton's can run you up to $157,000 Euros! Surprisingly though, when VW launched this car in America, it didn't sell so well, but Koreans seem to love this sedan.

The plant is called Glaserne Manufaktur or literally the transparent building. Between two floors we saw (almost) the completion of a VW Phaeton assembled by hand. The entire process takes about 36-hours and the people who create these "luxurious" cars wear pristine white cover-alls (and it's important to mention there wasn't a drop of dirt in sight.) These jobs are highly sought after and pay extremely well. The employees (also called "fitters" mostly worked in silence; gliding across beautiful wooden floors with robotic machines helping to transport the larger pieces of the cars to their proper places.

Every year, there are nearly 7,000 cars created here; but about 80 percent of them stay within Germany. Did you know Phaetons are also mostly made-to-order?

We also learned VW chose Dresden back in 2001 because the city is known for being inventive and innovative (first german locomotive, Europe's first white porcelain and the world's first small format single lens reflex camera). We had the opportunity to sit in a finished Phaeton and I admit it was pretty magnificent. The car (from the outside) seems like most others, but the inside had a refrigerator, climate control in each seat, televisions and more. The feel was extremely comfortable! A little out of my price range and taste though.

My favorite part of the entire operation was "the marriage." This is where the bodywork and chassis of the car are united. Also, when the car leaves the sectioned conveyor; it's carried by an electrical suspension rail through the rest of production. The plant also has a high-end restaurant and lots of open space and meeting rooms to "get to know" the future owners. All are invited to come to Dresden to pick up their cars, although I don't think that happens all that often.

Our tour Guide Thomas was terrific. He has been working at the plant since it opened up. There are public tours; that are free for everyone. Thomas also took us to an area where we got to drive a phaeton through a virtual "country road." What a trip that was! I went with my new fellow friend Gerri Shaftel from Fox Los Angeles. The roads were twisty-curvy to say the least, but she sure handled her self well.

We also got to snap a photo of ourselves standing next to a phaeton we designed on our own and we got to pick our favorite tourist attraction in the city to stand by (over the car). We all had a blast making faces and posing. Host Rainer Hasters stuck a stamp on his, wrote a quick note to his wife and sent it home to Berlin. I loved it!

After our amazing tour at VW, we had an appointment with officials from the Saxony Economic and Labour Department. The people there talked about the city and it's low homeless/unemployment rate. They also distributed this awesome publication (the first of its kind) created by Dresden officials and it was a wonderful read. Great articles, lively pictures to show tourists like me all the city has to offer. Dresden we learned is considered the "Florence" on the Elbe River.

Tonight, fellows Blake Warenik, Mark Garrison, Dan Tritle, Sarah Herndon, Allison Bryce and myself had dinner at this wonderful little Turkish restaurant in the New Town section of the city. I had my very first Doner Kebab for dinner and I absolutely loved it. Tasted very much like a Gyro. Slices of lamb on a pita with veggies and this yummy cream sauce. It certainly tickled my tastebuds!

Dresden does it for me! Sleep tight.

We walked back to the Radisson before it was off to Prague, Czech Republic in the morning!

Dresden Here We Come

I woke up a zombie, clearly not as well rested as I should've been; given the events from the night before. Some of us were out late exploring Berlin one last time (and trying to find the closest underground train home for what seemed like forever).

Anyways, that morning I finished packing my things before putting my larger (more obnoxious) suitcase back behind the front desk of the Relexa hotel for our second week of travels. Dresden is halfway between Berlin and Prague; and it's the capital city of Saxony.

The building style of architecture here is clearly Baroque (the details were fine and intricate) and there were lots of museums to see as well.

I learned so much of the city's background thanks to a guided tour named Carola Bernholz. At the height of the 18th century, Dresden ruled most of present day Poland and Eastern Germany from the Elbe River.

"Louis XIV" was also known as "Augustus the Strong" and what a reputation he had. He was not only the prince of Saxony but also the King of Poland. He was known as a womanizing, powerful Baroque man. Today, many call the city "Florence on the Elbe." Rumor has it August fathered as many children as there are days in a year (that's 365 allegedly!)

When the United States and Britain firebombed Dresden back in February of 1945 (during World War 11) tens of thousands of people died in the attacks and three-quarters of the city in Old Town (Alstadt) was destroyed. New Town or Neustadt Dresden wasn't touched though!

After the war was over, the Soviets controlled Dresden. Communists ruled the city for the next four decades. Even today there is a high unemployment rate within the city, but local economic officials are working on that! There were lots of tourists like our group out exploring the city and it certainly was one of the most fascinating Old Town European places I've ever seen!

I loved the atmosphere and feel of Dresden, it was also great if you wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of Berlin (and I would later learn Prague too). Some of my favorite sights to see included the Lutheran Church known as the "Church of OurLady," the Semper State Opera House and the government buildings as well. Oh and the Zwinger Palace was stunning too and I loved having a cup of tea in the heart of Theaterplatz! It was really an amazing experience.

More about The Zwinger - it was ruled by the Wettin Dynasty and is now made up of many museums. The Wettin family ruled Saxony for more than 800 years, till' the end of WW1. Isn't that wild? A King didn't rule Saxony but a prince elector did.

For Dinner we ate at this delicious restaurant called Sophienkeller. The theme of the restaurant was Baroque from top to bottom! The style of dress worm by the waitresses to the furniture all across the restaurant was Baroque themed. The atmosphere was amazing. I had pork fried in cheese with potato dumplings. It was delicious. We also gobbled up this fresh bread and drank some fine Dresden wine too! "Augustus the Strong" was walking around the restaurant interacting with each table too. Of course, he was working.

One of my favorite things at the restaurant was the turn-style table at each setting. We kept putting our food on this huge round table and passing it around to eachother. It was fun.

We then retired to our luxurious rooms at the Radisson hotel just down the street. A wonderful time was had by all.

Tomorrow we're off to the VW plant in Dresden. Exciting stuff right?

Chameleon Theater To See "My Life"

Saturday was a lazy day. I worked on my blog all day long, then took an hour break to get some exercise in before we went to the Chameleon Theater to see a fantastic show.

"My Life" was honestly one of the best shows I've ever attended! It was right up there with my favorite Broadway musical "Rent." And the best part about "My Life" was that there wasn't any scenery, only a small stage, and very few props. Just a lot of raw talent, energy, great vocals, athleticism, and enthusiasm.

So here's how the show went on: 6 individuals made up the entire cast. Three women, three men. One of the gals looked like a supermodel. Really dark brown hair, perfect complexion, high cheekbones, very tall and thin. Another woman was petite and defined as ever. You could tell she was a former gymnast or maybe even a dancer. Regardless she was the spunky, sassy one.

The first woman was definitely portrayed as the sex goddess. The last girl was your typical "girl next door." You could definitely tell she was the youngest female in the theatre troupe. She had the face of a beautiful little porcelain doll. She was just so excited about being on stage, doing what she loved. It really was a sight to see.

The first of the three men was very outgoing, boisterous and high energy. He sort of got the crowd going in the beginning. The next man looked like your typical German male. Blonde hair, blue eyes, very athletic and attractive. The last gentleman was my favorite. He was built as well with much darker facial features. To me he looked like a former hockey player. Turns out he was from Canada (so I wouldn't be surprised if he grew up on skates).

The show was a combination of singing, dancing, difficult routines with hoo-la-hoops, on ropes and basically a lot of "flying in the air."

One of the men juggled, the other did this ridiculously difficult routine on a steel hoop, while the high energy man danced all over the sky on his ropes. I forgot to mention one of the other men did this hilarious skit with a mirror image allowing himself to look like he was doing all these crazy things (like one finger push-ups and more).

The women were very very talented as well. They sang, danced and showed their upper body strength with strenuous routines on the ground and in the sky. It really was an awesome evening. Thanks again to RIAS for the opportunity to see such a wonderful show.

After that - we went across the street and ate at this delicious Italian restaurant. Our host Sandra was with us the entire evening and brought her Mother along as well. Although she couldn't understand much English I explained to her what a wonderful job she did raising her daughter. Sandra Fettke is a wonderful person and an exceptional Host. She and Rainer Hasters have done so much for us and I can't thank them and RIAS for making everything happen! What a phenomenal experience.

Oh - I forgot to mention also I saw my first glimpse at a few prostitutes working the streets of downtown Berlin. That was quite different. I can't get over how:

1. attractive these young women are.

2. that prostitution is legal in Germany

3. many of them wear high white leather (maybe even pleather) go-go boots

4. how blown away I was at what I saw

The night ended with a group of us walking around looking for maybe another local watering hole, but it turns out we were all pretty pooped and just wanted to get back to our hotels for some shut eye. We had a little trouble finding the closest S-Bahn train home but once we did we were good to go.

Then I got home late and packed for Dresden, Germany our next stop on the tour.

I didn't get to bed until 3:30 am and got up at 6:30 am to get a small workout in, update my blog and board a bus to Dresden, Germany for another stop on the Fall 2008 RIAS Tour.

Night !