Around the World in 33 Day: Czech Republic

My first afternoon in Prague was consumed by de-bugging. I took the bus and then the metro to get to Lenka! After meeting up with her we went off to wash my belongings.

I spent almost 4 hours washing, drying, wiping, and throwing away everything that was in my pack. The purge resulted in $20 being spent on washing and drying. The repurchase of a hair brush (yes it’s a bedazzled Frozen brush). And the need to repack a perfectly packed pack. Over all nothing irreparable. And it felt damn good to get to Lenka’s flat and just relax and know that I would only have to endure the itching for another week or two till they healed. Turns out they stopped itching three days later. Bonus!!

But after Bugageddon Lenka and I took a little stroll around the city and my inner fangirl started to crawl out. Because my second most important reason for going to Prague was because Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor is set there!!!!! First reason being Lenka was there!! There will be a WHOLE post on the DoSaB sites! 

So then since we missed the customs office being open my first day my second day in Prague we got up early and went to collect the package that I had sent Lenka. It was a Thanksgiving essentials! Because the grand American Holiday was a day away!!

Fetching the package was hysterical. So we had to go out to the head Prague Post Office/ customs office.. I think. It was all very official. So we had to take the letter that Lenka got saying it had arrived to a document office where we got the original in coming paperwork then had to go to another office to get it stamped and Lenka had to prove she was Lenka. Then we went back to the first office and handed over the verified papers and collected the little bundle of joy!!

Then Lenka went to work and I trotted all over Prague!

Look at what an amazing and lovely city it is!

Thanksgiving Day dawned beautifully and I did nothing but try to scrape together my Asia trip. By this point I had only booked a ticket to Bangkok and I had no fucking clue what I was going to do! So I tried to make plans. But got nothing much accomplished except burning the pie crust.

So when Lenka got home from work it was time to start Thanksgiving!!

It was epic and delicious and come one!! We made that…

IN PRAGUE!!!

After we ate Thanksgiving we polished four bottles of wine and called it a night after wandering Prague to have a drink at a bar.

The day after Thanksgiving we got up early to catch the bus to Lenka’s house!! We were picking up the car so we could visit a Castle!!!

But first we took a funicular up a mountain!

And I beheld Lenka’s city and the majesty that is the Czech Republic!!

We went to the castle and I was in love and wanted to move in right then and there! Sadly I was unable to do so.

Instead we went to a Nativity Museum in the village right underneath the castle. It was another Christmasy adage to the trip and I loved it!

Speaking of Christmas… The Prague Christmas Market Opened!!!!!!!!!!

And I obviously had to drag Lenka there! We wandered and had a wonderful time people watching and mulled wine sipping.

The highlight of my first go round of the market was what happened on our way back. We inadvertently got involved with a bachelor part from the Netherlands. Long story short it was funny and he asked us questions and tried to get our numbers.

So the COOLEST part of Prague was the Magical Cavern! Never heard of it? Google it and go see it in Prague. It’s part gallery part art itself. The artist Reon Argondian used plaster and wire to turn the house into a work of art to display his art! It was worth the time to walk up the hill and worth the $1.12 to go in! So everyone should go see it!

The pictures really don't do it justice!

On my way toward the Christmas Market i stopped by to see the infant of prague!

It was much smaller then I thought it would be. It's there in the middle of that alter. He's maybe a foot in height.

And here are a few more photos of my various Prague wanderings!

^The John Lennon Wall^

To get to Saint Vitus Cathedral you have to go into the Prague Castle compound so you get a screening by the military, aka metal detector and bag check. 

More Charles Bridge!

As in many cities I fell in love with Prague and left a bit of my heart there. It's such a cool place and I loved eating all the Czech food! I'll be back again soon. But I had Christmas Markets to see in Dresden before I went to Asia!

Cheers,

Around the World in 33 Days: Copenhagen

Guess where I am!?

Dresden Germany! But I’ll get to that soon enough.

Obviously I left Jersey for Europe. I had left with a semi offer to work at a hostel in Prague. But then when I emailed back for confirmation on start date and a place… radio silence. If this had been a few months ago I probably would have freaked out and who knows made some stupid decision. Instead I bought a ticket to Bangkok.

What?! Why Thailand? Well there’s a few things that I’ve thought long and hard about. First off even though Christmas sucked last year I wasn’t 100% sure I could hack a Christmas on my own. I figured I’d just be crying all day and of 0 use to anyone. And honestly I don’t think I could handle that. So I won’t be! I’ll be home for Christmas. I’ve also met a guy. And so far he’s done nothing but challenge me, in a good way.  He kind of has his crap together and the worst part… he’s younger then I am. So I did a lot of thinking in Copenhagen. I know by no standards is 26 old. But I haven’t got much to show for it except a bunch of passport stamps. I ended up searching for a job and found a Travel Agent job in Union NJ. And I spent an excited and fitful night thinking over how to get home the earliest without sacrificing any adventure.

My solution was simple and clear.

And after prompting from my mum to just do what I wanted....

I booked a ticket to Bangkok the next day.

I take off Saturday. And I’m scared shitless. At the very least it’ll be a good story in the end.

I’ll be home for Christmas and a holiday party with afore mentioned handsome man. And I’ll be patiently waiting to hear back about that job.

Now that you’re caught up on where the fuck this is all going. Allow me to wow you with Copenhagen!

I went to the Street Food Market. If you’re in Copenhagen you should totally go there. It’s super hipster. But you MUST go hungry! Because damn is the food good!

You can’t go to Copenhagen without seeing The Little Mermaid!

And there’s a military base on an island right by the Mermaid and it was super cute to walk around.

I saw the very famous Nyhavn. It’s a waterfront built by King Christian V from 1670 to 1673. And the Danish were like meh digging this is so below us, so they had Swedish prisoners dig it! Also since it was the gateway to the area where they did all the cargo and fish business this waterfront was the place to be. Back in it’s hay day it was known for beer, sailors, and prostitution.  Get this the first bridge across it was built in 1875!! Two hundred years and there was no bridge between the sides.  And to wrap in the Little Mermaid to Nyhavn, Hans Christian Anderon lived there for a year and a half (the swanky bastard!).

Come on though it’s pretty…

And on Nyhavn there is an old light boat moored there. Instead of having a lighthouse in the harbor they would anchor this thing and turn it on to warn of sand bars and the like. How cool?!

I saw the Palace! Christianborg Palace is not only the palace but also the seat of the Danish Parliament.  And it might not look like much but it’s the only one of it’s kind in the world… in respect to the fact that under that roof is every branch of the Danish government. The Danish parliament (legislative), the Prime Minster’s Office (Executive), and the Supreme Court of Denmak. How cool is that! And there are still enough rooms for the Monarch to have the Royal reception Rooms, the Palace Chapel and the Royal Stables.

I also saw Rosenburg castle. It was a rather small castle to be honest.

And the City Hall reminded me a bit of a fortress!

And then I got up at 5am to make my flight to Rome!!!!

Cheers,