2nd day, 2nd City

The poor boy looked so tired at 6:30 this morning when I ordered him out of bed and into the shower... I believe I had to bribe him with a chocolate croissant... that he actually never got.

Once we were dressed and ready I perfectly navigated us to the metro station, switched lines and the arrived at the international train station... We validated our euro-passes and I bought the Bob his first euro Fanta and a couple of plum croissants.

We walked to the platform boarded the train and shared a cabin with the most adorable Czech, high school couple... made us feel pretty old but they were cuties.

Once they got off and we went to the next stop the conductor got on and asked us for our passes and pas (passport). We talked a little while and I asked if we had crossed into Austria.. he then proceeded to look over his shoulder, out the window and said..... ah, yes, now we are... ha! I love the Austrians! Its nice to be around personality again!

We arrived in Wein and got on the tram (the wrong way at first)
and made it to our hostel. Checked in we sought out the first Austrian restaurant and had the local beer
and bacon wrapped weiner and the bob had goulash... yum!

We then needed a nap, which we took and when we woke we went down to the hostel bar and shared some beer with other guest.. (the Bob's words -->) A spiritual leader from Poland, a student from Finland, and a couple of pricks from the midwest (think striped shirts and jaggerbombs).

After that we headed into the city center and the Bob was loving the architecture.. It was cool to be there to experience his first look at old Europe.. and it was especially more impressive at night with the dramatic up lighting.


So on to a fashionably late dinner at an adorable little Chinese restaurant... there we had our first Dunkle.. I am so happy not to have had a pilsner... not that I don't like them.. just variety is the spice of life...

for more photos check out http://picasaweb.google.com/allen.lorna/20090228_ViennaAustria#

The Bob in Europe like whoa!

So yesterday I made my way to the airport without any major issues... There I was, waiting for that little hottie at arrivals... My friend Andrew had created a custom identification sign (j.i.c. the Bob forgot what I looked like).

So he walked through the gate and he was the most beautiful thing I had seen a while... mainly because he had a bag full of American goodies for me and because he is also pretty awesome.

From there I impressed him with my worldly skills and bought him a metro ticket with my stunning Ceske. We then proceeded out the door where I lost my cool and couldn't remember the proper bus to take but alas... we made it on the 119 and then to the metro.

Off the metro I took him straight to the pension to drop his bags and such. We repacked for our little excursion to Vienna, Budapest, and Krakow (the Pollock Express). Then I took him upstairs to say dobre den to his other LAR buddies.

That night we took him to our fave neighborhood bar, Ordinary People, for dinner and his first Staropromen!!!

It was a blast and he loved it!

We also got him to take a shot of the beloved Czech Beckerovka.

From there we headed to our new underground bar that I have mentioned before. U Subu. We went downstairs and played foos ball all night.

After that I walked the Bob to the metro and we went back to the pension to put the finishing touches on our trip. Then it was lights out at 1 am... not a bad first day...

for more photos check out http://picasaweb.google.com/allen.lorna/20090228_ViennaAustria#

Carnival...

Yesterday was Mardi Gras.... a.k.a. Carnival. So it made sense start the night with learning to knit (Gold bless Gennie!) and a bottle of wine...

From there troupe 43 (MLA boys) lead a group of us through the streets of Prague where Ben points out the creepiest statue of a man hanging over the street... I think it will be a goal of mine to collect photographs of all the creepy Prague statues/art installations while I am here... there are a few that come to mind already...

Onward! To the Charles Bridge. So we cross it and take so sweet pictures and find that Mardi Gras isn't happening on Kampa Island like we had suspected... To the hostel some one cries!

So we go back to hostel, round up the rest of the group and head out to bar... I think Rema was leading... all of the boys were dressed to impress with head attire created for them by the AD girls... some of them were amazing.. like Jordan's Billa paper bag hat...

To the next bar! Really sweet spot that I would like to return to if I knew the name or better yet how to get back there... Jordan, Lindsay, John, Derek and I all found a sweet perch where we chilled out and watched the haps below... until all but John fell asleep... are we getting old?

To the tram! I wish I could say I remember this portion of the evening... but like many nights, once I get tired enough to sleep at the bar everything that follows usually is a blurry memory...

Monks and Books...

So Saturday came and tried to leave... but I woke up and rolled out of bed roughly around 1... that would be 7 EST but too bad I am in Prague.

Showered and ready, a group of us went to the American hangout Bohemian Bagel, maybe the only place to buy bagels in Prague. After a couple of King Charles the 4th and bottomless cokes (a hot commodity here in Europe) me and troupe 43 (all of the boys) headed toward the castle to find the monastery.

We went to Strahov Monastery which is situated near the castle. They apparently have a library that dates as far back as the 9th century...

It was beautiful and full of old, old, old books...

Mommy and Daddy need grown up time...

that translates to Grad Night Out! It had been a little while since all of the MLA kids got together, shared a meal, and some general grown up conversation... "that's what she said"

Yeah right. So Jordan made reservations at a little place up the street that we all have grown fond of.. Sudicka. Its a cozy, cave like atmosphere with awesome food and even better vegetarian cous cous.



From there we decided that we had not gotten enough of hanging out underground so we went to a local place... U Soba or something like it ... and weaved our way down winding steps, through corridors and little rooms until we were as far underground as you can get in Prague.

We ordered wine, joked with the locals, and played foos ball... it was a good time for the most part...

Prague 7 ... not so cool.

So last night I thought it would be a good idea to check out a different portion of Prague... We have this website called www.expat.cz This is where we find out about bars and restaurants in pragerland... And we found this one called Andelusion Dog.. supposedly chill, eclectic hangout, chill music, good cocktails... It all would have been fine if we wouldn't have stopped previously at the worst restaurant ever... At least the beers kept flowing...
At the end of the night when we had decided that we had enough, we hopped on Tram 51 back to Peranova (our stop). There was this awful smell on board.. something had gotten on the tram to die.... weeks ago.. this is what we were smelling... so bad. Every person that got on the tram immeadiately covered their noses and gasped... We think the source of this foul smell was a homeless fellow who was cruising around on the tram sleeping...

First PINUP!!!

So today we had our first Prosek pin up.... My group unfortunately was the last to go and had a whopping total of 9 minutes to complete our presentation....
People were chomping at the bits... grrr ready for lunch... quote "My hands are shaking I am so hungry... and hungover" - Andrew.

OK so summary: Prosek has lots of open space, no variety, prospect and refuge not apparent, and everyone likes Stare Mesto better... right?

check out some pics ---> http://picasaweb.google.com/allen.lorna/20080218_FirstPinup#

So its been awile...

I promise to get better about posting... Prague has been wonderful to get to know and explore.
The kids in the program are are vibrant and exciting to be around. I am enjoying all of them. We have done several group things since being here such as bowling night, Communist Museum, Budweiser Brewery tour, dinner in a monastery, Astronomical Clock Tower tour,
skiing in southern Bohemia, Prague Museum and Model, Czech National Museum, Charles University Botanical Garden, Kampa Modern Art Museum... just to name a few. It would be much better if I had an explanation for all of these but alas I don't have the time. So, if you are interested in any particularly, then just ask... I will share.

"Prosek is nothing like skiing"

So this is Prosek... A little portion of Praha (Prague 9) created in the 20's during the Communist era.


Complete with a vast variety of Soviet block-housing.

This semester my goal is to make Prague 9 feel as if it is in some sort of association with Prague 1,2 and 3 (Tourist areas: Old Town, Charles Bridge, Prague Castle).

Tomorrow is pin up for analysis... "What is the sense of the city?"

Cesky Krumluv

We are supposed to be awake and ready in the lobby by 6 am to catch our train... but my roommate Lindsay and I dare to roll out of bed around 1/4 till just to make things interesting.

A group of about12 students and the legendary Art Rice took the metro to the central station in Prague. That was when it was determined that Andrew decided that it would be a good idea to leave his passport back at the pension...



He made the train in record time. Our train took us through southeast Bohemia where we got off in a little town called Cesky Budejovice, the origin of the beloved American Budweiser.



So heck, let's take a tour and drink Budweiser Budejovice straight from the tank... the best and freshest Bud I will ever have.



From there we wandered around the town's centre and went back to the train station to catch a train with ONE CAR! This wound us further southeast to the town of Cesky Krumlov.

Off the train, there is snow everywhere and we walk with our packs on our backs, winding down the hillside when suddenly the largest castle in Europe is standing before us...
So we walk along a river and cross a bridge through the aqueducts of the castle. This is the entrance of the most beautiful mid evil village I could ever imagine.



All of the buildings are painted bright colors and there is snow, cobble streets and breath taking vistas back towards the castle.

We settled into our hostle called Krumlov House (awesome) and then headed to dinner in old cellars and had pretty much a medevil feast. It was amazing. From there we went to a gypsy bar and listened/danced to a gypsy band and drank the local beer.

The next day I woke feeling awesome so I went on a run with Art Rice (training for a marathon on his 60th bday), Lindsay and our new pal Bryan. We ran for about an hour, twisting and winding through all the cobble streets in the town. This was probably my favorite part of the trip. That day it snowed and covered the entire town in powder. So we headed to a cafe with our sketch books and drew the afternoon away.

Later that night we climbed the largest hill south of town and overlooked the snow sprinkling down on the village. So... we sled down the hill.. caught some major air. Then warmed and dried ourselves off and headed to dinner in the coolest restaurant ever! It was far below ground in these catacombs and our dinner was served by a wench. Awesome.

Our last day, I took the opportunity to climb up to the castle and took some amazing pictures of the city. Then we hopped on a bus for 3 hours back to Prague.

What a wonderful trip it was and I would recomend it to anyone who visits this part of the world. It was amazing!