Europe Trip 31.03.12 11:26 PM Saturday

First full day in Prague.  It was quite a day.  There is an Easter Market in Prague, so there are many stalls in the Old Town Square, a pedestrian only zone near the Vltava, or Moldau, River.

A view of beautiful Prague

This guy was either really drunk or his horse had a bladder problem

We started the day with a tour starting at the Castle District, going across the Charles Bridge, and ending at Old Town Square.  The tour was alright.  It had some great views of the city from the castle and the buildings had a dark feel to them in general.  After the tour, we went to a restaurant our guide recommended near the square.  I had a Moravian Sparrow, a meat dish served with red and white cabbage, potato dumplings with bacon, and bread.  Also had ginger ale, and it was the best ginger ale I ever had, it actually tasted like it had ginger in it.

This guy amused me, he stayed so still...

After that, we walked around a bit, looking in stores and stalls until our performance at a church near the square.  The performance was alright, but the acoustics were great!  We then walked to dinner which consisted of soup, meat on mashed potatoes, and a nut cake.  After getting to the hotel and getting all of the clothes ready for tomorrow, I started prank calling other people from our group on the hotel phones and talking to them in German.  They have no idea what's going on!

Sunbear eatin' some foods!

Tomorrow is April Fool's Day.  We have a church service and a parade at the square.  For reals. After that we plan to only talk in incomplete sentences to the staff on the trip.  It will hopefully be very interesting.




~another musing of the ill-informed~

Europe Trip 31.03.12 7:13 AM Saturday

Dinner last night was a buffet, so lots of food.  Not that I mind only eating a little bit.  Though the Europeans we saw did have quite a bit of food.  After dinner went to my room.  Sometime after that I fell asleep.  I slept past room check.  Them when I woke up after that I kept asking if we had room check yet.  I was pretty tired I guess.  Hotel wifi is REALLY bad.  You can stand right in front of the router and not get any signal.  Like I said, REALLY bad.

This morning the clock/alarm provided a bloodcurdling chirp that awoke my entire room at once.  We were quite annoyed. :O So we took showers and went to breakfast.  Nobody from our group was there yet, at least we couldn't see anyone.  So I think we ended up eating in the wrong room.  Oops.  I am pretty sure I heard one person remark, "Those stupid Americans!"  Not quite as stupid as they think, I am sure.  Anyway, the food was good, they had real apple juice instead of water in the apple juice thing like at dinner last night.  I really like the meats over here, they seem more substantial than stuff in the states.

A beautiful view of sunlight sneaking through the clouds taken from the castle

Currently watching German TV.  I think that most people here will be able to speak German and sometimes English, as well as the local language which is close to but definitely not Polish.  Was watching a cartoon version of the Jungle Book!  Sehr gut!  And now I'm watching a comedy about I guy who likes to pretend he does different jobs.  Hilarious!  Today we have a tour of the Castle District and then a performance at a church off of the Old Town Square.  Wiedersehen!

A view of the castle from a bridge over the Vltava (Moldau)

~another musing of the ill-informed~

Europe Trip 30.03.12 3:26 PM Friday

In our room at the Hotel Duo in Prague, Czech Republic.  I cannot read anything here!  Too many consonants!

AHHH! Consonants!

Sunbear in front of a building outside the hotel

We departed from Frankfurt a little late for an hour-long flight.  That was a doozy.  Pretty much liftoff, lunch, prepare for landing, all in rapid sequence.  It was quite fun.  Got of the plane (in Prague!) and had to get luggage (what a tedious process!), then get everyone in our group together, and then got on the busses to the hotel.  The tour director was on our bus and explained a few things to us, though I don't think anyone was awake to hear it.  We were all so tired.  Finally got to our room and unpacked.  Walked around then FINALLY took a shower.  Feel so good now.  Some kids were playing frisbee outside and I am now watching German TV.  Fascinating!  I am not even sure how they say goodbye in the Czech Republic (not even sure what language they speak. Maybe Polish?), so for now, wiedersehen!

EPIC FRISBEE!

~another musing of the ill-informed~

Europe Trip 30.03.12 8:41 AM Frankfurt Time Friday

Wow.  That was a long flight.  But I suppose it was alright for not being on a plane since I was 6.  I got stuck next to a German man who was used to being largely postured, pushing me and Sunbear nearly out of our seat.

Sunbear on the plane

As for the inflight entertainment, it was incredibly boring.  My entertainment consisted of me listening to Bartok, watching other peoples' movies, and watching the map of our flight path on my own screen.  This reminded me of the Indiana Jones map scenes, prompting me to think and hum the theme.

Doo doo doot doo! Doo doo doo!

Didn't really sleep too much on the plane because of the really bright screens on the back of peoples' seats and people named DEREK MCBLANE being really annoying (Names may have or may NOT have been changed).  So I'm sitting here at Frankfurt Airport waiting for the connecting flight to Prague.  One hour to go for what I think will be essentially takeoff and then get ready to land.  See you in Prague.

Sunbear on the plane at Frankfurt

(Btw, first time I've been in a foreign country)
(That is, other than America)

Tchuess!

The dress on that woman on the toilet sign is quite revealing!

~another musing of the ill-informed~

Europe Trip 29.03.12 14:42 Thursday

Waiting by the gate right now for boarding to begin.  Some German person next to me sneezed.  Gesundheit!  The short while before we get to the Czech Republic that I even know what language they're speaking. (German)

After the two hour bus ride to Newark, had a whale of a time getting boarding passes, going through security, and checking baggae.  That last part had a little bit of a snag.  They wanted me to keep my mellophone with me on the plane, but it was supposed to be checked.  After only a slight bit of consternation, everything was sorted out and my instrument was on its way down the conveyor belt.

Well I guess me and sunbear will try to rest before our 17:25 flight.  Haven't been on a plane since I was six, so I don't quite remember what to expect.  Until then, as the German people next to me said, "Tchuess!"

~another musing of the ill-informed~

Back From Europe

Just got back from Europe last night, so I will start uploading a journal and pictures from the trip starting tonight.  See you then!

~another musing of the ill-informed~