And We're Off

 

Monday: Both TheHub and I spent the day doing the last minute things you need to do before leaving town. Weirdly for this trip we are traveling with 4  different currencies, excluding US dollars. We have  done currency exchanges before but never more than 1.

Because a couple of the places we will be going have pay toilets, we do want cash in hand for necessities. I told TheHub (who was trying to figure to the cent how much we would need in each country) if he was chintzy getting currency and I had to use the restroom, funds went to my needs and he would be left SOL. We are now taking what I consider enough. Sometimes it pays to be demanding.

What I learned: I have been on a deep dive watching octopus videos on Youtube. I learned about the suckers on their tentacles and all the uses they have.

Listened to: Whatever Spotify's Discover Weekly sent my way

Dinner: Gathering the fragments

Whatever we had left that could go in a salad

Tuesday: We woke, did some last minute chores changed the sheets ( I love coming home to a laundered bed) and headed to Nashville. 

Our flight was much less expensive originating from there, and we were able to have dinner with Son3 and DIL3. 

After dinner we went to our hotel and sacked out.

What I learned:   DIL3 was one of the winners at the Kerrville  Folk Festival and as a winner she had to be back in Texas for the winners concert May 30

Listened to: Sirius Radio in the car. 

Dinner: They chose a Mediterranean place for dinner

Gyro plates or chicken shawarma

Wednesday: We woke early and drove to Son3s house so he could drop us off at the airport. The bonus is keeping the car at his house saving parking fees. 

The flight from Nashville to Philly was a snap, followed by a three hour layover and a long over night flight to Prague

What I learned: If a plane has a wheelchair accessible restroom, use it. It’s still  not big, but comparatively it is gigantic 

Dinner:  Plane fodder 

Thursday: After leaving Philly at 6 pm Wednesday, we arrived in Prague at 8 am Thursday morning

What a beautiful place!

After about a 45 minute bus ride we arrived at the hotel. We planned on getting here a day early to have some time to do whatever we wanted before the planned Tauck events began. Obviously so did a lot of other folks and the lobby was filled with people waiting for a room.  We met several folks we will be in close contact with for the next several  days. 

By the time our room was ready, we had been awake for 27 hours and were very tired.  We took advantage of the hotels luxury linens, took a shower and a 2 hour nap before heading out for dinner. 

What I learned: More and more about Prague’s history. Amazingly the city was spared from major damage during WW2 and what they call Old Town is absolutely stunning.

Dinner: I wanted to eat traditional Czech food but also wanted something not terribly heavy. When we spoke with the consigliere he suggested we ease into  Czech food saying there was nothing light about it. We wound up going to a small Italian restaurant. 

Seared tuna, penne arrabiata, and tossed salad ( chef’s kiss) 

Friday: TheHub and I spent the day exploring the Jewish Quarters, which is some of the oldest parts of the city. It was fascinating and sobering all at the same time. Learning about the history of the people, and the synagogues (The oldest which was built in the 1200’s and is still an active place of worship, and a newer one with the names of all Jewish residents who were killed during the Nazi occupation.

Afterward we had a lovely al fresco lunch before going back to the hotel for a little rest before getting ready for the tours dinner plans at Lobkowicz Palace. 

What I learned: So much about the Jewish population through the centuries 

Listened to: The palace sat on a hilltop overlooking the old town part of the city. The place was gorgeous and the view spectacular,

with a  string quartet playing in the background 

Dinner: Mixed spring greens, orchard fruit and almonds salad, chicken with veggies in a potato, mousse and cake.

Saturday: We toured the Old Town with our guide Ludmilla who was not only very knowledgeable about the history of the area but also shared her experiences living under Soviet rule, comparing it to her life now.

Also as part of the tour we were able to see the astronomical clock in action.

Once the tour was over, TheHub and I wandered around the square, before settling on a lively beer garden for lunch

TheHub toured a library in a monastery on the palace grounds.while I read.

Listened to: Street musicians 

Dinner: We found a small restaurant near the hotel

Salmon, steak and salad

Sunday: We left Prague headed to the boat with a brief stop in Regensburg for a quick walk about and lunch, before boarding the bus to continue the trip to the boat 

Once on board and unpacked the ship set sail and a new adventure began.