Mi dispiace per il posto in ritardo...

What a week it has been! It is going to be a lengthy update!

FRIDAY. We arrived in Prague at 9 a.m. after a 12-hour bus ride through Austria and Germany. I awoke as we were pulling up to the Charles River. There was snow everywhere! And it was about 20 degrees outside. We quickly dropped our bags and met downstairs for a walking tour of the city. We started at St. Wencaslas Square, the famous city center where communism fell in Prague. Citizens gathered in protest (and celebration) in 1989 as the Berlin Wall, and communism, fell. The square is lined with shops, breweries, casinos, and traditional czech food stands (open 24 hours!). I suppose I should also mention that the Czech Republic, while in the EU, has yet to adopt the Euro (not out of their own will). Their currency is the Crown. A rule of thumb we used was 1 euro = 25 crown. My meals were usually about 200 crown...awesome.

We continued the tour to Old Town Square, where the Astronomical Clock and Tyn Church are. Vendors tend shops decorated in olde time style. It is so pretty at night!! Continuing on, we walked across the famous Charles Bridge to the east side of the city. After surmounting a perilous hill, we reached Prague Castle, the largest castle in Europe. On a pretty day, you can see the best views of Prague! It was overcast and snowy on Friday, but we appreciated it nonetheless!

Later that night, we went to traditional Czech restaurant. We tasted the world's strongest beer (33% alocohol), which was actually quite sweet. Brooke ordered duck for dinner...and the waiter brougt her an entire duck! We had a good laugh over that. Then, we experienced 80s night at the local discoteca.

SATURDAY. We woke up Saturday and had lunch at another traditional Czech restaurant (recommended by Rick Steve's, who turned out to be an awesome resource!). The garlic soup was AMAZING! Legend has it that the restaurant was haunted by a woman's ghost who ran the restaurant, selling food and "other services", while her husband was away. When he returned, he strangled her with the ropes he made for a living. The legend says that anyone with relationship issues should go and touch her portrait. None of us needed to touch her portrait.

We checked out a Salvador Dali exhibit...CRAZYYYYY. I spent 1200 crown on a pair of shoes. Then we met Hilliary and her friend, who is studying abroad in Prague, for tea at quaint little tea room (thanks, Rick!). It was a really cool experience.

We also went to the Communism Museum. It was intense. Prague has a unique history with communism. It is so recent, too! The museum showcased the plight of the everyday Prague citizen under communism, the mentality that they leaders possessed, and the techniques used to brainwash (or at least attempt to) the citizenry. It was bone-chilling. A section commemorated a 19 year-old man who burned himself to death in protest of communism. Another man did the same only a few years later. The gravity of the situation is truly indescribable. On our walking tour, we saw the Lenon Wall. I was confused for a long time because I thought it was the "Lenin" Wall. Nope. John Lenon. An entire wall is COVERED in colorful graffiti--artistic expression. Young people throughout the city chose a wall and took a stand. One of their mottos was "You can have Lenin, but give us Lenon." The Beatles, I suppose, represented Western thought and expression--freedom. Imagine all the people. I turned to see a phone booth. On it was written, "No one gives a flying, fucking shit. No? Forgive me. I am so full of hate. All I want is nuclear disarmament and free heroine required extravenous for all big business." I can't imagine all the people.

That night we took Rick's advice and went to Le Patio--if you are in Prague, you must go to this restaurant! It is French inspired, with Asian decor, and a little bit of Czech flair. It was amazing. Then we hit up a local pub and a 5-STORY DISCOTECA! Nothing will ever compare. Grazie, Praga.

SUNDAY. 12-hour bus home. We watched 6.05 movies while cruising through the German countryside and Austrian/Italian Alps. No big deal.