Today we spent the day in Venice. Our shuttle was off at 10:30 this morning (since the earlier shuttles were booked) and we were back at 10:00 tonight. It was quite the day and we had a lot of fun seeing the sights and enjoying the food.
We started off with a goal to make it to Marco Polo square and again put away the map and just made our way through the winding streets and over the bridges. It was wonderful. We found some really cool shops and though most of the souveniors were the same at about every little stand along the street we found things that were uniquely "Venice" and "Italy" to remember our trip.
Andi put up with Curtis' need to get every beautiful shot he could with his camera which we would love to upload to the blog, but it does not seem to be working from our computer here at the hotel. Hopefully we will find a place tomorrow.
We also ran into one of Andi's sister Kelli's friends, Candle, and also some BYU Masters students who are studying in Florence. We asked them to take a picture of us and then found out we were from the same part of the world. Curtis had made the comment to Andi earlier about wondering how many people from Utah were here? Guess he got part of his answer huh?
We have met backpackers and people from all over the world along the way. From London to Argentina to Idaho and New York. One student that was traveling with his mother was literally on a "whirlwind" trip around Europe after studying for a semester in Warsaw. They had been to 7 countries in 7 days all accross Europe and were headed to Paris for a day, then to Vienna, and then back to Warsaw. We decided that our trip to 3 countries was just right for us. We have been on enough planes, trains, shuttles, cars, busses, trolleys, and trams to last us for the rest of the year and maybe into 2008.
The interesting story about today was that by the time we made it to Marco Polo Square we were quite surprised to see that it was full of not only people but pigeons! Yes, they were selling bird seed and people were feeding HUNDREDS of pigeons. If they stood still enough and held out their hands with seed in it the pigeons sould just land on them, several at a time, and eat the seed. Andi commented at how disgusting it was. Her quote went like this: "Ewwe! That's gross! Pigeons are like the rats of the bird family!" Yes, I had to admit though it could have been and experience I don't think I want diseased birds attacking me for bird seed. However there were those that did and that made for some great pictures and we even got some video of it. It was kind of fun and gross all at the same time.
We ate some authentic pizza as well as cheese and tomatoes at a nice restaurant and grabbed some, you guessed it, Gelato (icecream), and Italian Ice for desert and continued our walk. The weather was humid, but not too hot. We were still pretty sticky and are off to shower and hit the hay! We will be in Mestre, the city outside of Venice tomorrow and then it will be time to come home. We are excited and sad at the same time. Our trip has been great!
C&A
Friday, May 25, 2007
a night in venizia
We posted this morning about our Plzen expedition and following that we were off to Venice. That consisted of waking up at about 5am to be packed and out the door by 6 to catch the Metro and then a bus to the Prague airport. The airport was pretty quiet and we were checked in, on board and off in no time. No delays at the gate which was pretty surprising considering we had spent 2 hours sitting at the gate in JFK. EasyJet was a great little airline and we made it in about 20 minutes early to the Milan airport and caught the bus to the main train station. This took a little longer than expected, but it was okay because we had plenty of time to wait for the train. We decided that though we would have liked to explore Milan while we waited that without being able to find a locker we did not want to pack our things around the city.
The train ride was beautiful and we saw the coastline for part of the way. Andi slept most of the way and Curtis just enjoyed the scenary. We arrived at the Mestre train station where we got off a stop early as we are staying in a hotel just outside of the island. There is a cosway to get to Venice and our hotel has a shuttle that we can book for a few dollars to take us there and pick us up, so we caught one of the craziest buses we have ever been on to our hotel-Villa Dori. The Italian buses do not have the stops posted near the stop, on the bus, nor do they announce the next stops to come! We knew ours was the 2nd to last stop, but did not know when that would be. Finally another American kid on the bus asked if we were as confused as he was. We showed him the map that Curtis had printed off and it gave us a good idea of where we were at. The bus ended up stopping right in front of the hotel, otherwise we probably would have been completely lost.
Our room was really nice, everything done in the Italian style. We have a huge bathroom and even have a beday! (I may have spelled that wrong). We scheduled to take the shuttle into Venice and see it at night from 8pm to Midnight. It was a long night of walking around the twisting, turning streets. We decided to chuck the map as most people do and just wander. Since it is an island and there are some main sites that there are always signs for we decided to just get our bearings by following the signs. It was pretty fun. We grabbed some real Italian pizza from a street vendor and sat on the side of the canal to eat. Then of course we could not miss out on the GELATO! (Icecream!) Yes, it is THAT good! We really liked it and decided we would have to have it at least twice more the next day (today).
It was pretty humid and after a while of walking around we decided to head back and wait for the shuttle and rest our tired feet. It was a good trip to Venice and we were ready for bed.
C&A
The train ride was beautiful and we saw the coastline for part of the way. Andi slept most of the way and Curtis just enjoyed the scenary. We arrived at the Mestre train station where we got off a stop early as we are staying in a hotel just outside of the island. There is a cosway to get to Venice and our hotel has a shuttle that we can book for a few dollars to take us there and pick us up, so we caught one of the craziest buses we have ever been on to our hotel-Villa Dori. The Italian buses do not have the stops posted near the stop, on the bus, nor do they announce the next stops to come! We knew ours was the 2nd to last stop, but did not know when that would be. Finally another American kid on the bus asked if we were as confused as he was. We showed him the map that Curtis had printed off and it gave us a good idea of where we were at. The bus ended up stopping right in front of the hotel, otherwise we probably would have been completely lost.
Our room was really nice, everything done in the Italian style. We have a huge bathroom and even have a beday! (I may have spelled that wrong). We scheduled to take the shuttle into Venice and see it at night from 8pm to Midnight. It was a long night of walking around the twisting, turning streets. We decided to chuck the map as most people do and just wander. Since it is an island and there are some main sites that there are always signs for we decided to just get our bearings by following the signs. It was pretty fun. We grabbed some real Italian pizza from a street vendor and sat on the side of the canal to eat. Then of course we could not miss out on the GELATO! (Icecream!) Yes, it is THAT good! We really liked it and decided we would have to have it at least twice more the next day (today).
It was pretty humid and after a while of walking around we decided to head back and wait for the shuttle and rest our tired feet. It was a good trip to Venice and we were ready for bed.
C&A
plzen!
We are finally in Venice! Yes, we made it. The last few days have been very crazy and very WET!... and not because it has rained...it hasn't! If you get my drift.
On Tuesday morning we were up and about to catch a train to Plzen. We got there about noon and Sister Bubenickova and Sister Komancova met us at the train station. It was wonderful to see them again. Sister Komancova was as animated as ever and took us back to her house to put down our things and have some lunch.
One thing we knew was that Plzen=FOOD! and lots of it. It all started with the traditional cake that Sister Bubenickova and Sister Komancova call "misonar" or "missionary" because they have probably baked hundreds of them over the last few years for the missionaries. Then it was soup to start and then pototoes and pork. It was really good food. Andi was surpised because this was the first time anyone had also included "real" vegtables in the meal. Curtis let her eat his tomatoes as he usually does.
After lunch we headed in to see the "Thank You America" monument and to the town square. Plzen was the last stop of the American troops 11 months after D-Day. There stands a monument on the main street to the troops who saved their city which reads, "Nikdy Nezapomeneme", translated "We'll never forget." I think of all of the places I've been in Europe it is these people who understand the price that was paid for their freedom, and though the years to follow after the communists took control were difficult, they have never forgotten those who fought for them. Still as you talk to people on the street they will smile and sometimes cry when you tell them you are American and they make sure that you know, that they know, what was done.
We then headed back for dinner and bed. Of course Sister Komancova had made fruit dumplings for us and even though I had requested she not make a lot she managed to make 29! Well, we ate over half of them before we felt like exploding. She told us she'd save them for us for breakfast. Even though it was a lot our stomachs were full and we were happy and headed to bed.
On Wednesday we were up early to visit a few other members including Sister Markova, who has been a member of the church since the 1940s when she was baptized as a young girl. She was interogatted during communism and labeled as an American spy because she was a Mormon. Her travel privileges were taken away and she was watched closely by the police. She conitinued to live the Gospel and stayed in contact with other members of the Church in the Czech Republic. We visited with her as well as two other senior sister missionaries, one of which is the daughter of a former mission president from before WWII, President Toronto. She lived here as a little girl with her family and Sister Markova knew her at the age of 9. Now 55 years later she is here as a missionary herself. It was fun to sit an talk with them.
From there we headed over to Sister Bubenickova's for lunch before we were off to the train station to head back to Prague. It was great to see and talk with old friends and for Andi to see one of my favorite parts of my mission. It was a great little side trip that we really enjoyed.
We made it back to Prague early as the train was actually on time and checked back into the place we had stayed the two previous nights before Plzen. We thought we'd better go get some shopping done before meeting Curtis's mission companion, Jake Frahm, and his dad for dinner at the Czech Kitchen. We met up with them to eat and then went over to the old town square to see the Astronomical clock and then over the bridge (the third time for us!) It is always a beautiful walk and we had a fun time visiting with Jake and Dave. They were glad to see some familiar faces as they had quite the day trying to find their place and then crashed from the jet lag.
We headed to the internet cafe to clear the memory cards and burn pictures on CDs so we had room for Venice pictures and then it was off to bed!
We will hopefully get some more pictures posted today and we'll tell you all about our trip to Venice. We are glad to be here and have a few days to relax before going home. There are lots of canals, streets, and things to see here. We will see you all next week!
C&A
On Tuesday morning we were up and about to catch a train to Plzen. We got there about noon and Sister Bubenickova and Sister Komancova met us at the train station. It was wonderful to see them again. Sister Komancova was as animated as ever and took us back to her house to put down our things and have some lunch.
One thing we knew was that Plzen=FOOD! and lots of it. It all started with the traditional cake that Sister Bubenickova and Sister Komancova call "misonar" or "missionary" because they have probably baked hundreds of them over the last few years for the missionaries. Then it was soup to start and then pototoes and pork. It was really good food. Andi was surpised because this was the first time anyone had also included "real" vegtables in the meal. Curtis let her eat his tomatoes as he usually does.
After lunch we headed in to see the "Thank You America" monument and to the town square. Plzen was the last stop of the American troops 11 months after D-Day. There stands a monument on the main street to the troops who saved their city which reads, "Nikdy Nezapomeneme", translated "We'll never forget." I think of all of the places I've been in Europe it is these people who understand the price that was paid for their freedom, and though the years to follow after the communists took control were difficult, they have never forgotten those who fought for them. Still as you talk to people on the street they will smile and sometimes cry when you tell them you are American and they make sure that you know, that they know, what was done.
We then headed back for dinner and bed. Of course Sister Komancova had made fruit dumplings for us and even though I had requested she not make a lot she managed to make 29! Well, we ate over half of them before we felt like exploding. She told us she'd save them for us for breakfast. Even though it was a lot our stomachs were full and we were happy and headed to bed.
On Wednesday we were up early to visit a few other members including Sister Markova, who has been a member of the church since the 1940s when she was baptized as a young girl. She was interogatted during communism and labeled as an American spy because she was a Mormon. Her travel privileges were taken away and she was watched closely by the police. She conitinued to live the Gospel and stayed in contact with other members of the Church in the Czech Republic. We visited with her as well as two other senior sister missionaries, one of which is the daughter of a former mission president from before WWII, President Toronto. She lived here as a little girl with her family and Sister Markova knew her at the age of 9. Now 55 years later she is here as a missionary herself. It was fun to sit an talk with them.
From there we headed over to Sister Bubenickova's for lunch before we were off to the train station to head back to Prague. It was great to see and talk with old friends and for Andi to see one of my favorite parts of my mission. It was a great little side trip that we really enjoyed.
We made it back to Prague early as the train was actually on time and checked back into the place we had stayed the two previous nights before Plzen. We thought we'd better go get some shopping done before meeting Curtis's mission companion, Jake Frahm, and his dad for dinner at the Czech Kitchen. We met up with them to eat and then went over to the old town square to see the Astronomical clock and then over the bridge (the third time for us!) It is always a beautiful walk and we had a fun time visiting with Jake and Dave. They were glad to see some familiar faces as they had quite the day trying to find their place and then crashed from the jet lag.
We headed to the internet cafe to clear the memory cards and burn pictures on CDs so we had room for Venice pictures and then it was off to bed!
We will hopefully get some more pictures posted today and we'll tell you all about our trip to Venice. We are glad to be here and have a few days to relax before going home. There are lots of canals, streets, and things to see here. We will see you all next week!
C&A
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
such a pain in the...foot?
They say that backpacking Europe is not for the weak-in-feet...okay I (Curtis) just made it up...anyways. Yesterday Andi spent most of the day waiting for Curtis to either catch up or stop complaining about the very LARGE blister he has under his big toe.--and oh what a blister it is! It started on Saturday afternoon when Curtis thought his flip-flops were sufficient to make it around Prague, but he was wrong! By Sunday night the blister had been rubbed all day and was quite large, needless to say Monday he spent most of the day hobbling around the city.
Andi went to the grocery store and the bakery all by herself in the morning since Curtis was being a big baby about his blister. She was able to purchase pasteries using hand gestures and a grunt or two. She did a great job and we had a good breakfast. She wanted Banana juice, but her German with a "russian" accent sounded more like "pear" in Czech so that's what she got.
We spent the morning getting a box of things together to mail back to the states so we didn't have to pack it home. We ran to the grocery store and the mall and then it was off to the post office. We grabbed some "crocodiles" (sandwiches) and took them back to our place to eat so Curtis could give his sore foot a rest and so take a nap as well. We know we are only in Europe for a few weeks, but the nap was needed and we felt lots better afterwords.
Again we headed out to see some of the sites where we went to the National Theater (seen in the movie Mission Impossible) and Namesti Republiky (Square of the Republic) where the missionaries used to sing and preach on the street near the Prazska Brana (powder tower--where in the 16th centruy all of the cities arms were stored along with the gun powder). These sites were fun. We thought we would walk down again through old town as the tourist crowd seemed to be thinning out and then wandered over to Charles Bridge again where all of the street vendors had left for the day leaving more space for few people to walk. It was a beautiful night and we wandered off the bridge and down to the water to look at the city lights. What a sight! It is really pretty here. Everyone should get here at least once in their lives.
It was getting late and we still hadn't eaten so we stopped near the bridge at a small pizzeria to get some food and sat on the curb of the street near the bridge, enjoyed the view and had a romantic street-lamp-lit dinner. The weather was perfect and it was fun to just be in the middle of everything. There were still a few tourists around, but it was pretty quiet to say the least. We decided we'd better get back since the Metro stops running at 11pm and we didn't want to have to walk (especially Curtis) back to the other side of town to our room.
C&A
Andi went to the grocery store and the bakery all by herself in the morning since Curtis was being a big baby about his blister. She was able to purchase pasteries using hand gestures and a grunt or two. She did a great job and we had a good breakfast. She wanted Banana juice, but her German with a "russian" accent sounded more like "pear" in Czech so that's what she got.
We spent the morning getting a box of things together to mail back to the states so we didn't have to pack it home. We ran to the grocery store and the mall and then it was off to the post office. We grabbed some "crocodiles" (sandwiches) and took them back to our place to eat so Curtis could give his sore foot a rest and so take a nap as well. We know we are only in Europe for a few weeks, but the nap was needed and we felt lots better afterwords.
Again we headed out to see some of the sites where we went to the National Theater (seen in the movie Mission Impossible) and Namesti Republiky (Square of the Republic) where the missionaries used to sing and preach on the street near the Prazska Brana (powder tower--where in the 16th centruy all of the cities arms were stored along with the gun powder). These sites were fun. We thought we would walk down again through old town as the tourist crowd seemed to be thinning out and then wandered over to Charles Bridge again where all of the street vendors had left for the day leaving more space for few people to walk. It was a beautiful night and we wandered off the bridge and down to the water to look at the city lights. What a sight! It is really pretty here. Everyone should get here at least once in their lives.
It was getting late and we still hadn't eaten so we stopped near the bridge at a small pizzeria to get some food and sat on the curb of the street near the bridge, enjoyed the view and had a romantic street-lamp-lit dinner. The weather was perfect and it was fun to just be in the middle of everything. There were still a few tourists around, but it was pretty quiet to say the least. We decided we'd better get back since the Metro stops running at 11pm and we didn't want to have to walk (especially Curtis) back to the other side of town to our room.
C&A
Sunday, May 20, 2007
the Prague Saints
Today was a beautful Sunday! We were up early to catch the Metro to the church buiding and be a little early to say HI to everyone. The first person that met us at the door was Jirka Matejcek who is about our age and served a mission in Tempe Arizona. It was good because he spoke English with Andi so she wasn´t too lost. There were several missionaries there as well as one of Curtis´ MTC teachers and his family. Dan Reeves is from Hooper, just down the street from Roy and he and his family are here while he studies for his Masters degree at Charles University. It was fun to see him again.
Curtis also got to talk to Tomas Vit, whose father was baptized while Curtis was here. It was good to catch up with him too. Also Sister Canek, the brach presidents wife greeted us as well as Eva Matejckova, Jirkas mom and his little brother Martin who is now 19 and is contemplating a mission.
Since we thought that President Yost and Sister Yost werent coming back until Sunday night we were surprised to see them walk into the meeting just before it started. Tomas Vit conducted the meeting and had all of the visitors stand, including two other former missionaries who were visiting. One of them was an assistant to the president when Curtis first got to the mission. He and his wife have been traveling around Europe for 3 weeks and have 2 more to go. We decided they were CRAZY and that 2+ weeks is perfect. More than that and we´d be really tired. Especially since the Morleys had been robbed on a train in Italy and were out their video camera, ipod and 250 Euros! That is something we DO NOT wish to experience.
During the meeting Curtis was called on to speak for a few minutes and bear his testimony. It was a great experience for him and though he was nervous it was assuring to see familiar faces in the crowd. After the meeting President and Sister Yost came up to talk with us. They were excited we had come to visit and recognized Andi from the MTC where they had eaten dinner together several times. It was fun to see them. They are WONDERFUL people and President Yost is doing great things with the mission. Things are different from when Curtis was here, but different is good and changes are a continual thing. President Yost will be leaving in a month or so and a new mission president will make some changes of his own. We wish them all the best.
Ed Barner, the resident American in Prague took us, the Morleys, a Czech-American and his wife, and two of his friends that were visiting to Slavia Cafe, a famous restaurant on the Vltava River with a great view of the castle. Curtis thought the food was AMAZING! Andi wasn´t so hot on it, but blames it on the fact that there were no vegitables on her plate--welcome to the Czech Republic! If its not sauerkraut it doesnt belong in traditional dishes.
We went back to the room to change and then to wander the city and do a little "window" shopping. Tomorrow means new ties for Curtis and maybe a few other things....
Now we are off to get some night shots of Prague and then to bed...
CandA
Curtis also got to talk to Tomas Vit, whose father was baptized while Curtis was here. It was good to catch up with him too. Also Sister Canek, the brach presidents wife greeted us as well as Eva Matejckova, Jirkas mom and his little brother Martin who is now 19 and is contemplating a mission.
Since we thought that President Yost and Sister Yost werent coming back until Sunday night we were surprised to see them walk into the meeting just before it started. Tomas Vit conducted the meeting and had all of the visitors stand, including two other former missionaries who were visiting. One of them was an assistant to the president when Curtis first got to the mission. He and his wife have been traveling around Europe for 3 weeks and have 2 more to go. We decided they were CRAZY and that 2+ weeks is perfect. More than that and we´d be really tired. Especially since the Morleys had been robbed on a train in Italy and were out their video camera, ipod and 250 Euros! That is something we DO NOT wish to experience.
During the meeting Curtis was called on to speak for a few minutes and bear his testimony. It was a great experience for him and though he was nervous it was assuring to see familiar faces in the crowd. After the meeting President and Sister Yost came up to talk with us. They were excited we had come to visit and recognized Andi from the MTC where they had eaten dinner together several times. It was fun to see them. They are WONDERFUL people and President Yost is doing great things with the mission. Things are different from when Curtis was here, but different is good and changes are a continual thing. President Yost will be leaving in a month or so and a new mission president will make some changes of his own. We wish them all the best.
Ed Barner, the resident American in Prague took us, the Morleys, a Czech-American and his wife, and two of his friends that were visiting to Slavia Cafe, a famous restaurant on the Vltava River with a great view of the castle. Curtis thought the food was AMAZING! Andi wasn´t so hot on it, but blames it on the fact that there were no vegitables on her plate--welcome to the Czech Republic! If its not sauerkraut it doesnt belong in traditional dishes.
We went back to the room to change and then to wander the city and do a little "window" shopping. Tomorrow means new ties for Curtis and maybe a few other things....
Now we are off to get some night shots of Prague and then to bed...
CandA
Saturday, May 19, 2007
was or 2 or 3 hours we spent trying to find the hostel?
Today we finally made it to PRAGUE! (Yes I know that I use too many exclamation points!!!) Anyway, we caught a VERY nice bus to Prague for $3 each and also to Andi's amazement. When I told her that things are cheaper here I don't think she really belived me, but now she does. The bus was actually the nicest bus I have been on EVER here in the Czech Rep. It had leather steats, a nice footrest, a tray like they have on airplanes, they passed out headphones and played a movie on several screens, there were newspapers and magazines free of charge as well as a complimentary hot chocolate (or coffee or tea for those that wanted it). It was a nice ride.
About 2 hours later we found ourselves in Prauge and to make a long story short Curtis was in a part of town he had never been, missed our stop, went back, found our stop and got to our place about 3 hours AFTER we had got to town. He then realized that he could have gotten us here in about 30 minutes had he known the Metro stop was about 1/2 a mile away! We found it, were tired, but not tired enough to take a nap and we went out for a good time.
Our first stop was the Mission home because we wanted to visit the mission president and his wife, the Yosts, however they weren't there to our dismay, but will be back tomorrow. We are excited to see them and visit with them. So Curtis took Andi for "THE" Prague Walk that every new missionary gets when they get here. We went to the point that overlooks the entire city in a park that few tourists know about. Then we walked over the Prague Castle and down to Charles Bridge. Next it was over the very crowded bridge and into "old town" where we did some souvenier shopping, saw the town square full of tourists and went to grab some food at Curtis' favorite restaurant here. Curtis got to eat food he has been craving for 2 1/2 years! It was WONDERFUL! Then we walked up Vaclavske Namesti (where the shopping is) but it was already past 8:00 and most stores were closed as the night life was beginning soon. So we hopped the Metro to the internet cafe to check our mail and update the blog. Now it's off to bed to be up early for church!
C&A
About 2 hours later we found ourselves in Prauge and to make a long story short Curtis was in a part of town he had never been, missed our stop, went back, found our stop and got to our place about 3 hours AFTER we had got to town. He then realized that he could have gotten us here in about 30 minutes had he known the Metro stop was about 1/2 a mile away! We found it, were tired, but not tired enough to take a nap and we went out for a good time.
Our first stop was the Mission home because we wanted to visit the mission president and his wife, the Yosts, however they weren't there to our dismay, but will be back tomorrow. We are excited to see them and visit with them. So Curtis took Andi for "THE" Prague Walk that every new missionary gets when they get here. We went to the point that overlooks the entire city in a park that few tourists know about. Then we walked over the Prague Castle and down to Charles Bridge. Next it was over the very crowded bridge and into "old town" where we did some souvenier shopping, saw the town square full of tourists and went to grab some food at Curtis' favorite restaurant here. Curtis got to eat food he has been craving for 2 1/2 years! It was WONDERFUL! Then we walked up Vaclavske Namesti (where the shopping is) but it was already past 8:00 and most stores were closed as the night life was beginning soon. So we hopped the Metro to the internet cafe to check our mail and update the blog. Now it's off to bed to be up early for church!
C&A
baden-baden!
Take a trip with us down memory lane (yesterday for us) to May 18, 2007
The city was beautiful and we walked lots to see all the fun places. Karlovy Vary is a spa town which used to be run by the Russian mafia and is still frequented by lots of Russian tourists. Also as a spa town there are very nice hotels and spas everywhere as well as natural springs that come out of the ground and have been piped into beuatiful fountains. There are many promanades that you can walk down and you will see people walking around with small oddly shapped mugs getting water from the taps and sipping on it all day long. They think this mineral filled natural spring water will cure their old, tired bodies--the fountain of you if youth if you will. We personally thought the water was---not good.
We also saw the places where Casino Royale was filmed and the one promonade was right out of our balcony window. I got some great pictures at night of this spot.
Hans-Jurgen woke up early on his day off to drive us to Zwickau to catch the train across the boarder. For all the money we had spent on trains in Germany the trip to Sokolov CZ cost us $10 each! More surprsing to Andi after that was that we only paid $1.50 each to get from Sokolov to Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) which was the same distance. What was more infuriating about the $1.50 though was that we had approximatley 20 minutes to change trains but only had Euros. Curtis left Andi with all the bags (except his heavy backpack) and ran about a mile to the bank to change money and back to the station--barely missing the train!!! We had to wait an hour for the next one but it was okay. We made it!
We arrived in Karolvy Vary, took a short bus ride and ended up down in the beautiful city center. So we decided to get a phone card to call Hans Jurgen and tell him we made it--only problem we bought the card opened it to use and realized it was for a mobile phone. I thought I'd ask to exchange it and then remembered that we are in Europe and they wouldn't even think about exchanging it.
The next step was to find our hotel. Curtis checked out the map, decided it wasn't far at all and that we could walk....then we walked, and walked and walked and finished our walk with a hike up a very steep cobblestone hill only to find out that they had given our room away due to a booking error! They found us an apartment right downtown on the river and we got to walk...guess where...back down the steep cobblestone hill. THERE IS A HAPPY ENDING THOUGH!!! Here it is: To make up for our lost reservation they gave us an entire 2 bedroom apartment on the 4th floor of a building right on the river with a living room, kitchen and balcony! I know I'm (Curtis) am not British, but "posh" is the only word to describe this place. If I didn't want to get out and see things so much we would have just stayed in the apartment. On average this place would have probably rented for 200+ Euros a night ($270) they gave it to us for the same price as the hostel...drum roll.... 37 Euros ($50) ! What a steal.
The city was beautiful and we walked lots to see all the fun places. Karlovy Vary is a spa town which used to be run by the Russian mafia and is still frequented by lots of Russian tourists. Also as a spa town there are very nice hotels and spas everywhere as well as natural springs that come out of the ground and have been piped into beuatiful fountains. There are many promanades that you can walk down and you will see people walking around with small oddly shapped mugs getting water from the taps and sipping on it all day long. They think this mineral filled natural spring water will cure their old, tired bodies--the fountain of you if youth if you will. We personally thought the water was---not good.As we were eating dinner at a restaraunt by the river a man walked by. Curtis thought he looked familiar and realized it was a famous Czech actor named Zdenek Sverak who's film Kolja is probably the most famous Czech film that won and Academy award in 1996 for best foreign film. Curtis owns this movie. All of the Czech people were stopping him to talk and it was fun to see such a "star" so up cloase and personal (at least for Curtis since Andi had no idea who it was). Karlovy Vary is the home of an international film festival where lots of Hollywood Actors come every year and stay in the Grand Hotel Pupp (pronounced like Poop!)
We also saw the places where Casino Royale was filmed and the one promonade was right out of our balcony window. I got some great pictures at night of this spot.Andi was tired so she went back to the room and Curtis wandered down to the bus station to figure out when the bus left in the morning for Prague. When he got back to the room it was off to bed so we could hit the road in the morning.
C&A
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