A hot summer night in Praha

My train ride into Praha was long and hot - the train's airconditioning was out so it made for an uncomfortable ride. The landscapes along the way however were amazing! ---- Read more below the pictures ---- (I hate blogger formatting or lack of)

Astronomical Clock

Row homes at Wencelas Square - this place was buzzing with a lot of people!

Czech Money - $1 = 20 Kuron ~ easy math right?

The view from my room - those thing on the right side column of the tower are giant baby statues crawling

Main Train Station

Bohemian Jazz Festival - Had a beer and listened to a very cool Spaniard quintet complete with flamenco dancers - it was about 9pm here

self portrait

Views from the Clock Tower

When I got to the main station in Praha, I sort of thought to myself: what the hell am I doing?!?! I am in a foreign far away land, don't know the language, I did not have any local currency on me, I have no idea how to get to my hotel, I was hungry, tired, and alone. (I think this reality settled in more since I am not with my family anymore). I'll be honest, I kind of panicked a little. When I got off at the train station, the building was old and it didn't boast all the amenities seen in the German train stations. Crap where am I supposed to get information...Hello Eastern Europe!

Then came the challenge of getting a cab. From what I had read, cab drivers are shaddy and not to be trusted in Praha. A cab pulled up and I asked if he knew the hotel and then how much I would be expected to pay and if he took euros - he told me 15 euros - I had it and said let's go. Well freaking it was something like a 2 mile ride - not worth 15 euros but I didn't care and didn't feel like arguing, I was thankful to be at the hotel (Amedia Hotel Theatrino Prague) - its really nice, it used to be a theather house!

Rested a bit and then headed out - I jumped on a cable car but in the wrong direction, it was going to the outside of the city instead of the city center. I jumped off and then turned around. I was wondering where all the cool places where at....after that detour, I ended up finally at the city square. OMG - lets just say I was floored - i think i had goose bumps for the 3 hours following. I walked around a lot - mostly becuase I kept getting lost - my sense of direction is way off. This was okay though becuase I got to walk the cobble stone narrow streets, take in the row homes and their old architecture, walk through shops and restuarants, have a beer in Wenceslas Square, walk up on the towers of the Astronomical Clock and to my surprise got the treat of enjoying some Jazz on stage at Pragues Bohemian Jazz Festival. I rounded up my walk along the Vltava River up to Charles Bridge. Yes, another city to fall in love with - ja!

It was after this full evening of touring part of Prague and a reflection of the days events that I realize why I am doing this. This is exactly what I came to experience...i love it!

Dobre vecer!!!

Time for bed!