pooped in prague

yep, a bit pooped. needed a break from guided and self-guided tours...any kind of tour for that matter of museums, churches, squares, and castles...so, basically just wandered around prague...had a nice, relaxing time here.

arrived about noon yesterday...did some organizing, had to find a place to stay...the tyn hostel...about 20 bucks...5 to a room, only 3 there last night...nice dude from great britian, weird guy from italy who must've eaten reindeer, made noises all night

yesterday explored the town square and saw the astronomical clock strike 2 and do its magic...walked around jewish quarter and across the charles bridge...pedistrian bridge with vendors, artists and up to the castle...decided didnt want to tour it, so back again. stopped at a great little cafe, owned by husband/wife team, had some ginger tonic, basically ginger ale with some apple strudel. big market going on in the town square...whole hams cooking on spits...opted instead for a polish sausage...maybe a czech sausage...large cup of beer, about 2 bucks

back to hostel for nap...woke up about 10 pm...walked around the corner and had some great pasta with a glass of red czech wine...then back to hostel, stopped on a whim at the bar next door...based in new york and prague...bar and books. nice visit with indiana gal, traci brown, who works in HR for colgate/palmolive, actually their hill's/science diet division in prague. martin was the bartender...scratch that...mixologist...and a darned good one...i had a triple threat...first one in at least a month...lots of ice....the ice was awesome...he tried to take it from me when done...but cant let go of marinated ice

2nd drink was his specialty...cant recall what he called it, but it was rum, cointreau, orange and lime...shaken, up...not bad, but once was enough...then, he insisted...did he ever have to twist my arm...on making me an old fashioned.

he claimed to make the best...i told him that janet coleman holds that honor but to give it a try...janet, if you're reading this, he came in a close second...used 3 different kinds of bitters, including one with cinnamon...gotta find me some of that...orange peel and makers mark...lots of ice...stirred and stirred and stirred some more...then more makers...more stirring...mighty good. janet also adds cherries and club soda...muddling the fruit with a wooden spoon used exclusively for that purpose.

today...more exploration on foot, to the jewish cemetery, to the national history museum...took a picture of it, didnt go in...then to church around the corner...incredible organ music...but no choir...didnt understand a word...except when the guy in front of me turned around to offer the peace...got that...communion...priest dunked the host for us into the wine...which had been watered down considerably. perhaps better to attend services in another language...more time to reflect/worship on your own.

was going to rent a paddle boat, but decided to sit on the dock and drink a beer instead

more street food, including potatoes cooked with cabbage...horrific...wish i could have given it to the lady with the cat described below


tonight, overnight train to krakow poland...

lady in stockholm train station had a cat in a cage/carrier. poor cat...and you know i dont like cats...was crying its heart out...could hear it all over the station...i wanted to shoot its owner

penny loafers with new leather soles that have gotten wet should not be put in large ziploc bags...perfect place for mold to grow...scrubbed what i could off with train towel...then walked all of prague in same weejuns...mold gone

have i told you about the tobacco in copenhagen? twas in a flower bed...smelled it before i saw it...needed to be topped...brought back memories of working for big allen campbell in tobacco...dirtiest i have ever been...but real money in my pocket at 13

hope to add map detailing countries visited...will work on that at suggestion of heather anderson...thanks again to heather for convincing me to leave the navy blazer at home...everytime i see a poor soul wearing one i am thankful...have sent emails to macey and uncle welton urging them to leave theirs at home too...i may organize a blazer burning upon return to raleigh...