Three Weeks Later

I don't even know if anyone is still checking this, but here it goes. I can't believe I have been back for three weeks. I did finally get to posting some new pics from my last week in Prague. I will finish posting pictures of Berlin, but not at this time. If you want to check out my last week in Prague pics, the best way to do that is to click on this -> June 2006 and look through them. Well I guess that is it for now, enjoy catching up on some of my Prague pics! I do have one final thing to say, I am glad to be home! I do miss Prague, I miss my friends even more though. I have been able to keep in touch with a bunch of them through our bantering e-mails we have been doing for three weeks. It's so nice, I really do miss the banter down in the Menza. Someone told me you always want to be where you are not, and she was right, that is so true! Ahoj!

Prague Castle
(currently my desktop)

Back Stateside

So, after having the longest Friday I have ever had (it was 31 hours long), I am back in the United States of America. It was an interest trip, filled with unexpected surprises, but in the end I made it back just at the start of Saturday (12:05am). It all started with having to shift items around in my luggage because they wouldn't let me carry on my smallest suitcase. So I had to shift all my breakables that were big into a bookbag to carry them for the day. I sat next to a girl on the way to Dublin from Germany who was moving to Ireland for a job, I was amazed at this. It has to be a really hard thing to leave what you know behind and start over somewhere totally knew, especially to an English speaking country when your first language is not English.

I then had a world class experience of United States Customes in Dublin, Ireland. Its not that it is a bad thing, I understand why, but I was so tired, so confused, so jet lagged and I just didn't know what was going on. But I did get it all sorted and I waited to get on our big 330 Aerlingus jet to America. I ended up sitting next to this sweet old Irish lady who was going to Chicago to visit her family. She was so cute, I hope one day I can be that old and cute.


When I got to America, I was overcomed by the English language. It was insane! It has been so long since I have spent any amount of time in a country that is English speaking. Dublin, Ireland doesn't count because the accent makes it hard to understand (although I do understand the Scottish accent so much more). So I was overwhelmed and kept catching myself eavesdropping on others converstations. I really didn't like it to much. Usually it was loud wherever I was, but atleast I didnt' understand it since it was in a different language, so it was just noise to me, here I couldn't feel any peace of mind, I was overwhelmed with a mixture of words I understood, but didn't feel like I understood it at all. It was just a jumbled mess. So after getting my bags going through customes again, then rechecking my checked luggage, I found out that my flight was pushed back again! I was originally only supposed to have a two hour layover when I booked my flights in January, now it was up to six hours. I did not expect me to spend my first quarter of a day in America at Chicago's airport. So I called my parents to let them know I made it safe and then headed to a cash machine for money so I could eat dinner. American money seemed so foreign to me. I only had about a dollar in change on me, but to see a $20 bill was weird. I was used to the colorful European money such as the Czech money or the Euro. Here it's just green and plain, but it was a happy sight to see. I ended up eating at Chilli's at the airport (it's funny my first meal in America was also my last) and I order a ceaser chicken salad with a diet cola (catching myself saying cola light and getting the stragest look from the waitress). I was hoping a salad would ease me back into the processed food of America. You know the kind that is made to keep for a really long time on the shelf (I don't know why we would insist on putting that into our bodies). I've spend four and a half months eating very little processed foods and I didn't want me to be feeling sick, because I'm not used to eating American food. It was alright, but I couldn't eat the American sized portion of food they gave me, and only drank one diet cola with my meal. Afterwards I went to my gate to wait until my flight would leave. I called friends and family to let them all know I was back safe. I wanted to try to let my friends back in Europe know, but I don't have texting on my phone here, and a call would have costed a lot! I then found a plug in and hooked up my laptop to watch Evil Dead. I was trying to stay awake, beacause I felt like it was the middle of the night, but it was still daylight outside. Even thought the movie helped keep me awake, I caught myself nodding a couple of times. After a long wait and even more of a delay, I finally borded my plane. But first someone sang a song for us over the intercome at our gate, God Bless the USA (which brought tears to my eyes) I should have told him it was a greatest welcome home from a stranger then I could have ever gotten, but didn't.

"If tomorrow all the things were gone I'd worked for all my life,
And I had to start again with just my children and my wife,
I'd thank my lucky stars to be living here today,
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom and they can't take that away.
I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today,
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A.
From the lakes of Minnesota to the hills of Tennessee,
Across the plains of Texas from sea to shining sea.
From Detroit down to Houston and New York to L.A.,
There's pride in every American heart and it's time we stand and say:
I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today,
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land God Bless the U.S.A.
I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today,
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land God Bless the U.S."A.

After a short 58 minute plane ride, I was back where it all began Kansas City. I was so happy to see my parents and brother (who had grown another 5 inches I swear!). My dad made me a welcome home sign and it was just great. I had imagined my homecoming a little different, but this was just perfect. After getting my baggage, we headed to the trail blazer (it's been soooooooo long since I have been in a car, taxis doesn't really count, they drive too crazy) and headed to the hotel to go to bed. I gave my family their presents, which they liked a lot and headed to bed. I then woke up this morning at 7am. I am so jet lagged, I went to bed at 130am Central time in America, which is like 830am Central time in Europe. So, waking up at 7am is like waking up at 1pm back in Prague (which I never slept that late). So hopefully after a couple of days, I'll be back to a normal sleeping pattern. I got up and around (which I don't think anyone else is actually up) and we will be going to be going back in Manhattan and moving me back into my old apartment. Then tomorrow we'll be heading to Nan's for the Fourth of July and of course my home welcoming even more. I can't wait to see my family, they were the last ones to see me off before I left for Europe with an amazing Bon Voyage party, and now I can't wait to be welcomed back to America the Sullivan way! I'll be going back to Manhattan probably Thursday and be unpacking my apartment and hopefully getting my job back at Hastings. I also get to go have chips and salsa with Juils, Brian and Madeline, which will be great to catch up with them. I can't wait to see more friends and catch up with them, I'm so used to having friends so close to me, so putting myself back in Manhattan with be a bit of a shock since we are all spread out some. Well I should go, and make sure all my stuff is situated, I can then go enjoy some breakfast. See ya!

My Last Blog from Europe

Guten Tag! (Good Day!)

Ok, so today will mark an end to a lot of things. It is my last blog for MandysCzechExperience (well there might be one more after I get home, but we'll have to wait to see). It is though my last Blog from Europe. It is my last day in Europe. I have learned a lot these past few months and I guess a change of scenery has made me look outside the box. I was so comfortable where I was back at home, but things change, but then sometimes things don't change too though, after all my homesickness over the semester I have to say I am ready to come home. I can't wait to see all my family and friends back at home. I've missed them so much! My flight is on Friday the 30th of June at 11am Central European Time from Berlin's Sconefeld Airport and I'll be coming by way of Dublin, Ireland, Chicago, Illinois and finally Kansas City, Missouri (KCI). My flight from Chicago was pushed back a lot, so I won't be getting in at KCI until really late 11pm Central Time (wow never realized I was in two different central time zones, this is a first). I'll be heading back to Manhattan on Saturday to move stuff out of storage into my apartment. It's going to be so weird going back there. After so long, I'm coming home. I then will be heading out to my Nan's farm for the Fourth and of course a celebration of me coming home! I'll celebrate it with you all in Manhattan the following weekend! I want to thank eveyone that has helped me a long the way over the semester. My parents for all the support they have given me (including the finacial) and the love across the miles. All my other family who has given me support and more love across the miles. My friends taking care of my apartment for me and giving me support as well (oh and don't forget the love as well...everyone loves me, how can you not ;) ). Wow I'm thanking eveyone for giving me suport, but it's hard being a million miles away from all you know. I've really growned up this semester (wow never saw that coming), I am still the same Mandy, just a bit older and wiser; I'm sure you'll all see a change in me. I'm sure a lot of things have changed back at home, and I'll adjust to those, just as I have adjusted to being overseas. I do want to thank also my friends that I acquired during my study abroad experience, you guys were amazing, and I know we'll all meet again one day (can anyone say "Mandy is treating herself to a trip to the UK after she graduates?"...plus it's so much easier in this day and age to keep in touch, thanks to the internet).

Well today I have a lot planned, I'm going to be heading to the airport to drop off some of my luggage in a locker. This makes my trip tomorrow morning easier with less luggage on the metro system here (no more going up and down stairs too many times, although the kindness of strangers is always nice to see). I then have to move to my new hotel for the night. The one I am staying at didn't have room tonight, maybe it has something to do with the World Cup, I haven't really mentioned it too much, but it's a BIG thing right now in Berlin (although I knew that in Prague as well, it's just 10 times worse though here). I then plan on exploring some of the area around where my new hotel is. There is a few things I would like to go see, and I might even go to a Natural History Museum, since I never made it to the one in Prague (I have never seen a dinasaur skeleton, I've always wanted to though!). Then I'm meeting Kate at 7pm at Alexanderplatz (yeah a friendly face on my last night in Berlin!) and we are going to get dinner and hangout. Ok, well I will post pictures from my whole trip after I get home, I started to upload them and you can find a few days on the right -> under Berlin, but I will put pictures and fun captions on each day (including today which will just be a day of pictures and no blog) and a few of the last ones in Prague. Well I should go and get around, finish rounding up my stuff and head to Sconefeld with some of my stuff! I can't wait to see you all again!

Tschuss! (See You!)
Big morgen! (Until Tomorrow!)

Yes that is right I did pick up on more German in the few days I have been here, then I could with Czech...but then again I do have the German blood in me! I have to say I almost understand what people are saying around me, but that might be a bit of a stretch, we'll see!

***will post pics later

Berlin Day Three

Well today was a really eary start. I arrived at the Reichstag after my 1/2 hour walk there by way of passing a few things I would visit later that day. The Reichstag's biggest attraction these days is the cupola, a modern dome on the top of this old building that let's light into the meeting hall. I think it's one of the most amaizing things I have seen, and you'll be able to tell by all the pics I took :)

Next I headed to the Jewish Memorial which is a bunch of stones in a plaza that when you walk into it you are going to a lower ground plane and the stones rise above even higher too. It is a very moving place, and I took some amazing shots in the morning daylight.

I then moved back to the DZ Bank. I had to wait till it opened at 10, so I back tracked a bit to go get a glimpse of the "Horsehead". I wasn't allowed to go past a certain point, but I can say I went and looked at it. Why he designed this, I'll never know, but then that's Gehry for you!

Next I moved on to Banhof Potsdamer Platz, which has the Sony Center. This is a major hub of growth from West Berlin. Everything, but one building was destoryed during the war. I went into the Sony Center to take some pics, unfortunantly the BIG football craze here has this big set of chairs and tv screens in the very center of it for watching games. But you do get the idea of the very modern setup they have here. I then grabbed some dunkin donuts (yep they have them here!) and a cola light and walked around the area a bit. After a couple of hours I started getting hungry for lunch, so I decided to go eat lunch in Arkaden, which is a mall of types.

I then went and bought a metro ticket and took a bus to the Bauhaus Archieve and Museum. I wanted to do this, since I am an Architecture student, and it was pretty interesting. I got to see some models of some buildings I have studied along with drawings that went with them.

Next I started off on my big adventure. I was on a search for my Grandma's candy she requested, Marzipan (but it has to be the little pigs she used to get as a child). So I found a place that sold them, or I thought, the other day so after my trip to the Bauhaus Archieve, I hopped on a above ground metro and headed out to it. I arrived at the place, and found out they didn't sell the kind I wanted to get, but the lady that worked there spoke excellent English. She told me the place I wanted to go was a few streets back, and they would have them there. So I set back to go where I started, and I found them! I bought some extra (pigs are traditional at Christmas time, so I bought some teddy bears as well to give, since they didn't have that many pigs) for some others. I even bought a mixture of Haribo gummies for them as well (I know they sell it in the US, but these are made in Germany!).

I then set off back to the hotel with the weight of the candy in my hand, and my pocketbook a little lighter (I always wanted to say that). I rested a bit after my long day, before I was going to head out to get some dinner and go up in the TV Tower. I ended up leaving later then I thought, so I ended up going up in the TV Tower first (and got some good pictures of the sunset) and then headed to dinner at this little resturant my guidebook suggested for good German cuisine called Mutter Hoppe (Mother Hoppe). I had a Berliner Kindl Beer, tomato soup, and a cold roast beef dish with horseraddish, some white sauce, sour veggies (I had to try it even if it was cauliflour, tasted like it was pickled to me), and roasted potatoes. I was amazed at the portion of the dish and ended up eating a good 2/3 before calling it quits. I wasn't used to huge dishes back in the Czech Repulic, but they were filling come to think of it (has to be the potato dumplins). I then headed back to my hotel for a bed, since I was tired from my loooooong day.

Big Morgen!

***Will post pics later!

Berlin Day Two

Today I decided to visit another area of Berlin near my hotel. I started off with heading towards Museumsinsel, which has several museums and the Berlin Cathedral. I walked around outside for a while, seeing all five museums from the outside. Then I headed to the Berlin Cathedral, Berliner Dom in German, to go inside it. For a small fee I could go to almost the top of the dome, which you could view the city of Berlin all around, and all the way down to the lowest level, which had the crypt, café, and gift shop.

Afterwards I decided to head to the Fernsehturm, which is the huge tower that has a football (soccer ball) sphere almost at the top. I arrived at a fountain in front of the Fernsehturm and sat by it for a while to cool off in the breeze that caught water from it. I noticed a church nearby, which happens to be one of the oldest churches in Berlin, built in the end of the 13^th century and decided to go over to it. The name of the church is Marienkirche, or St. Mary’s church. After visiting the church I headed over to Fernsehturm to see the hours and cost of going up in it. I found out that it would cost me 4 Euros, which would probably be worth the view at 666 ft, and I asked the ticket lady what time sunset was, but she didn’t understand me. Luckily a guy behind me in line told me in his American accent (he had a Pennsylvania shirt on, probably a student in Berlin) that sunset was at 930pm, but I probably want to show up around 900pm to go up in it. So I made a plan to come back later. Luckily the walk to the tower is on a large wide big street so don’t worry about me being out after dark mom and dad, I promise I’ll be careful!

I decided that I was starting to get hungry and I thought that a bratwurst sounded like a good lunch with some pomme frites (French fries). So I walked over to the Metro station that was right behind the tower and wandered around until I found a little pub that had decent prices for what I wanted. I had my lunch (which was really good!) and headed towards Alexanderplatz.

Alexanderplatz was born in the 1960s after the war (it was completely bomed during the war), and became East Berlin’s counterpart to West Berlin’s Potsdamer Platz. In the square there is Erich John’s World Time Clock, that has different big cities around the world on it and it moves, so you could see what time it is in Seoul, South Korea, or Denver, Colorado, United States. Another attraction to this square is the Fountain of the Friendships of Peoples, I thought it was an interesting fountain and thought the breeze that caught the fountain water made the heat more bearable.

After deciding it was just way to hot, I decided to head into the huge department store (that reminded me more of a mall, but not having separate stores) that was on Alexanderplatz called Galeria Kaufhof. I asked the front desk this morning where would be a good place to buy German candy, since my grandmother who is German requested a certain type of candy. Well I thought it would be fairly easy to find this candy that my grandma told me was a pig in shape, but unfortunately I couldn’t find any. I guess I should try to find the note that I wrote of what it is called so I can ask for it by name (since the lady that was by the candy portion didn’t speak English. After buying a mix variety of gummy candy for myself, I headed up to the very top floor (I think I was 6 or 7 stories up) to get a good look at the atrium space glazing. It was amazing, and took a few pictures hoping that I wouldn’t get in trouble for doing so (I remember in the Czech Republic they didn’t like me taking pictures inside stores.

I decided since I was going to go back out later that night I would probably head back to the hotel to rest some and to get out of the heat. On the way I noticed a lot of interesting things. The first was a cinema; I thought I might want to catch a flick one evening or even afternoon when it is really hot. Next I noticed my first Dunkin Donuts! I was told they have these in Berlin; I might have to buy some for my breakfast in the morning. On the way I stopped at this little store and bought an orange Popsicle (yummy). When I stepped out of the store I saw this adorable mini that was the same color yellow as the yellow in the German flag that was on it, so I had to take a picture of it. I arrived at the hotel and decided to relax for a while and watch the only English station other then CNN and BBC, MTV. Now some of the cartoon shows are dubbed in German, but others just have subtitles. I don’t really miss TV, but it’s nice to hear English spoken in a length of time. Well I’m going to probably do my hour on the net earlier today then I have, since I’ll be heading back out later to go up the tower at sunset. I might even go back to the department store if I can find the name of the candy I told my grandma I would get for her. I don’t know if I’d do anything else until then, but we’ll see if I feel like going out sooner or just hang around until it gets closer to sunset. Bis morgen!

Well my plans ended up changing, since the weather decided to let rain clouds roll in I'm afraid there won't be much of a sunset to see. So tomorrow night I will take pictures of the sunset from the tower, but I do have great news! I found out that I am not limited to internet for just one hour, I just keep clicking the sixty minutes and I have another hour to work. So do you know what that means?!? PICTURES!!!

Berlin Day One

Well today started later then I thought it would. I was up fairly late last night (ok so half past midnight is not late, but I was really tired from two short nights the days before) planning my week in Berlin. I wanted to make sure I got to do everything I wanted to do, so I marked on the map the places I would like to go to. I then grouped things together each day so I can do that and others along the way hopefully getting it all done. So I tried to get up at seven am, but I was too tired, so I set my alarm for eight hoping an hour would make a difference. It did, so I got up and around and headed down to see what I could do for breakfast. I arrived downstairs and found out that it would cost me almost 10 Euros for a basic breakfast, I decided to skip hotel breakfast and run to the supermarket that was nearby and buy some food and snacks to have in the room (I have a mini fridge so it will help with not eating out three times a day, and instead just once a day). I got some bread, butter, turkey meat, cola, chips, water, gummie bears, apples, and grape juice (I haven’t had this in forever!) and headed back to the hotel to eat some breakfast before heading out.

It was about a quarter till ten when I finally headed out for the day. I decided to do a day of walking tour to places in the area that my hotel is. I started out with walking towards the Jewish Museum designed by architect, Daniel Libeskind. It was amazing, I don’t think words could do it justice, I just hope my pictures do. I spent about two hours exploring the museum including the special exhibit on Freud.

Afterwards I headed towards Check Point Charlie, which is the entrance to the American Sector of Berlin before the Berlin Wall came down. I had someone take my picture with the only remaining part, the control hut.

Next I headed a couple blocks away to the Topographie des Terrors which was the site of three terrifying Nazi institutions had their headquarters. The three places that had their headquarters there were the security service, Gestapo, and Heinrich Himmler had his residence there. There is no longer buildings on the site, it is just a field, but underground there is still the cellars where during WWII prisoners where interrogated and tortured. I couldn’t go into the cellars since they are under construction. There was also a small stretch of the Berlin Wall still standing there, my first of probably many.

Next I headed towards the Brandenburger Tor, or Gate, which is a place in history for Berlin that has had many rulers and statesmen, military parades and demonstrations that have walked through its arches. It is also the site of many modern Embassies that flank around the Pariser Plaza, which because of the world cup, had a HUGE football (soccer ball for all us Americans) in the middle of the plaza.

I started to get hungry, so I decided to head down Unter Den Linden, a huge street that has many embassies, shops, restaurants, a university, and historical buildings. As I walked down, I kept reading signs out of the restaurants to see their range of prices that I thought would be decent. I found a place that I liked and picked a table outside under an umbrella. I order spaghetti and cola light and enjoyed my meal a lot (ok so it’s not German food, but it’s hard, almost all the places seemed to have Italian like dishes, or just way too expensive for my budget).

After lunch I continued down Unter Den Linden and ended up at the end of the street at a university and some other historical buildings. In the middle of the plaza Bebel, there was an exhibition of United Buddy Bears (www.buddy-bear.com) that has been to many countries over the past four years. I found the United States bear in a heart beat, depicting our dear Statue of Liberty in bear form and smiled at the fact that the United Kingdom was right next to it. I had someone take my picture next to our bear and headed around to see the many countries and their bears. I took some pictures of my favorite bears including a few special bears that were made for a specific ideal versus a country. I then headed towards Gendarmenmarkt where I ate dinner last night, and ended up finding a beautiful neo-gothic church on the way. It was free entry so I decided to go in and explore it a bit. The church is Friedrichs-Werdersche Kirche and was designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel which now houses a museum.

I continued on towards Gendarmenmarkt and walked around the plaza, unfortunately the church that I noticed last night is closed on Mondays, so I’ll have to come back another day to see the interior of it.

I went back to the hotel for a nap, it was a little after three making it the hottest part of the day and I was feeling it. After my nap, I decided that I would picnic in a park that didn’t seem too far away from the way it looked on the map. It turned out to be a 45 minute walk to this park, but it was nice to sit on rocks by the waterfall in the park and eat my dinner. I then read my Czech in a Nutshell book for a while and decided to head back before it got too late. I packed up my remaining food and my stuff and headed back.

The day would have been a perfect one (especially since the weather called for thunderstorms and there wasn’t a single rain cloud in the sky, just white cotton candy) if it wasn’t for what I found when I came back to the hotel. I opened my bad to get stuff out and found out that my strawberries had leaked! I had strawberry juice all over all my books, it soaked one of my guide books and got the edges of the others. I was a little sad, it even had some on the very bottom of my Czech in a Nutshell book. I set my books up to dry so hopefully the pages won’t stick together and cleaned my bag to my best ability. Hopefully it won’t feel stick in the morning, or I’ll be backpacking it for the rest of the week.

Well I am fairly tired, so I think I’m going to use my hour on the net and then watch a movie and head to bed. I have another day planned tomorrow, but with how long it took me today to do everything, I might have to come up with something else to do in the evening. Bis morgen!

***will add pictures later

From Prague to Berlin

Ok so it doesn’t work at well as “From Paris to Berlin,” but it does describe my day. I got up really early and got around. I went down and did a final check out and received my 1000 Kc deposit back. Varie, Iain, and I went and had breakfast in the Menza (my last meal there) and then headed upstairs to get my stuff. Wow it looks like I have so little with it all setting in the room, but it is a lot and I thought what am I going to do when I get to Berlin and I have to get to the hotel all by myself. Well I guess there isn’t anything I should worry about now, I don’t even know where I arrive at in Berlin, so I guess I’ll figure it out on the way. We headed down and waited for my flatmate Nastiya to come down, she told me last night she wanted to join us to go to the train station. We headed to the tram stop and waited for the tram. It seemed like the longest ride I have ever been on, and during it I caught my last glimpse of Prague Castle. We arrived at the train station and I transferred my final Czech crowns to Euros so I would have money when I arrived in Berlin, one last thing to worry about. We went up to the platform and waited for my train to come. When it did we loaded my stuff on the train and said our goodbyes. It was one of the hardest things for me to do here, it was easy saying goodbye to Prague. I had a great day yesterday wandering around Prague, but saying goodbye to my friends was hard. It’s not forever goodbye, we all have msn, e-mail, and I’ll come visit and vice versa, but it’s going to be a while before I see everyone again. Varie and I were both in tears and we texted each other back and forth a few times after they left for about an hour after my train left.

Me and Varie (Scottish)

Me and Iain (Scottish)

Me and Nastyia (Russian)

Prague's Main Train Station on the Platform

My Train

Me on the Train

The train ride started off ok. I read a bit of my Czechs in a Nutshell book and then I decided I would eat my food I brought with me. We stopped a few times to let people on and off the train. When we left Decin (a Czech town) we had passport control come through and I received a new stamp in my Passport! I don’t have that many, but it made me excited. Shortly after crossing into Germany we lost the cooling power in our car. There must have been some problem, because I overheard an English speaking person that the other cars were cool. So I had to put my hair up in bunches (that’s for Varie…pigtails) to try to help with the heat. The train ride was really beautiful, I’m glad I got to travel like this, we don’t get it that often in America. I finally heard where our final stop was on the train and I found a pamphlet that talked about all the stops in the pocket in the seat in front of me.

Castle along the way.

A suspension bridge that I liked.

Last Czech town.

First German town.

So I started to devise a plan to where I was going to get off in Berlin and how I was going to get to the hotel. There were three stops in Berlin, and after looking at the maps, I decided it would be best to just go to the final stop and get off there. I would have to take the metro one stop (this is where my hotel I’ll be staying at on Thursday night) and then switch to another and take it several stops to a stop that I hoped would be close to my hotel. After feeling pretty confident in my decision, I situated my stuff and went back to reading my book. When we got to the stop before mine, most people got off since it was the main train station in Berlin (I’ll go take pictures of it, sometime this week, it’s brand new and really interesting) and I gathered my stuff up towards the doorway and got myself ready to get off in two trips. I arrived at my train station and I dropped half my bags on the train platform and went back in for my big suitcase.

After getting off I looked around. Where to now I thought? I had no clue. I was used to trying to understand Czech signs and everything was in German here. So I thought maybe if I headed up to the surface I could look for signs and try to figure out where to go. I found up on the top a machine that did transportation passes, but they didn’t have the 7 day option, so I did a 120 min option so I could have enough time to make it to my hotel. I took an elevator down and tried to figure out if I was on the right platform. There were several to choose from and I wanted to make sure I went the right direction. Well it turned out I didn’t pick the right one, but with the help of a kind stranger I figured out where to go and went and waited. I hopped on the metro and got off the next stop. I then had no clue where to go. So I did what anyone else would do in a new city, ask someone (and I picked someone young hoping their English would be ok). The girl told me to go up to the street level and then cross the road and go up the elevator to the platform. So I did so and made it just in time for a metro. I road the metro several stops and finally arrived at my stop. I got off and then looked right and left. I had no clue which way to go. So I walked to one end and found a map on the wall. I found out I walked the wrong way, but I took a picture of the map so I could look at it (my map in my book just cut off before the street my hotel was on). I went to the other end and then started the treck up the stairs. I first took my smaller bag up to the landing then went back for my other suitcase. A nice older gentleman asked if he could help, but it was way too heavy and I told him thank you, danke (in German) and went on up to the top. I turned around to go get my other bag, and a younger man was walking up with it in hand. I said thank you, danke and he smiled and went on his way. Wow, I have never meet so many nice strangers before. In Prague everyone is pushy and in a hurry and wouldn’t really stop twice to help someone, but here I have received help from people even if I didn’t ask for it. So I grabbed my bags and started to walk towards my hotel. I realized I didn’t know where it was, so I asked someone on a bike at a crosswalk to see if they could help me. They didn’t speak a lot of English, but they could tell me how to get to my hotel. It turned out that I was pretty much looking at it; I just didn’t see the entrance.

A map to help me find my hotel.

My Hotel for most of the week.

So I arrived and checked in. Wow was I tired and hot! I received my room key (I’m on the sixth floor) and then the lady at the counter asked if I wanted a salty or sweet snack and I decided that sweet would be the way to go, then she asked if I needed help with my bags. I said yeah with the bigger one and I headed up with everything else. A few minutes after I walked in a man was at my door with my suitcase and I was all settled. I then started to shift through things and a few minutes later a lady was at the door with my snack and two bottles of water. Water! I really was thirsty and I was so happy to see it. Then I asked her about the internet. She said that there was a plug in and a cable in the wardrobe. She told me I had one hour free and then I could pay 15 Euros for the rest of the day. Oh boy, I’m going to have to cut my time down to one hour a day on the net and feel pretty disconnected to everyone this week. I was really hoping for free internet like at many hotels I’ve stayed at in America. So I decided I’ll just have to write blogs before I get on at night and then just post the text so I can do other things as well on the net. I started to get hungry so I packed up my purse and headed downstairs to the front desk to find out about a grocery store, or a restaurant nearby.

I went to the front desk and asked about a grocery store. She pointed one out on the map and then I asked about an area that might have several restaurants to choose from. She showed me three areas, with one being within walking distance. I said thank you and headed out to go towards the grocery store. I thought that I would try to cut down on eating out too much and just grabbing some sandwich stuff at a grocery store for my dinners during the week. Well when I arrived at the grocery store I found out that it closed on Sundays at 4pm (2 hours ago) so I said oh well, I’m just glad I asked about restaurants. So I continued on and crossed the road and arrived at a square. It was beautiful! It had three older buildings in it, and I took some pictures thinking I’ll have to look up what they are later. I walked down one side of the square stopping at the little restaurants along the way looking at prices on the menus that were setting on little tables outside the restaurants. I didn’t see prices I liked too much, most of them costing over 10 Euros for food and I’d still have to get a drink. So I continued on until I got to the last corner of the square. There was a little restaurant on the corner and I thought the prices looked good, so I headed in and asked if they were serving food and if I could seat myself. The waitress said yes and to choose a table, so I picked a table outside on the portico and looked through the menu more closely. I decided on a dish that had chicken, rice and vegetables and ordered a cola light (yep cola is cheaper then beer in Berlin). It was delicious, full of flavor and mixed veggies. I was so happy to seem them! I finished and the waitress came and cleared my plate. After I finished my drink, I went in to pay. My meal ended up being 9.10 Euros, and I rounded up to 10 Euros (I read in a book it’s polite to round up to the nearest Euro for a tip) and left.

Where I ate dinner.

I walked around the square taking a few pictures and headed back to the hotel so I could relax for the evening.

Buildings in the square.

Street performers.

When I saw this pigeon it made me think of Varie (who absolutely loves them!).

Well I should get this posted, call my parents, and look up some information for tomorrow, I only have an hour, but I do promise to add pictures after I get home (so you’ll have to check back after next weekend to see my pictures). Bis morgen (until tomorrow in German).

My room.

View from my window.

Priceless

Passport and Visas: $210.

Round trip plane tickets to Europe: $925.

Paying for a semester studying abroad in Prague: ~$6500.

Making amazing friends and memories, while having the time of your life: PRICELESS!

Saying Goodbye

Ok so I am not good at saying goodbye, I’m actually a crier when it comes to it. It was so hard to say goodbye to everyone before I left to go home, who knew that it would happen again four and a half months later. On Friday I had a fairly busy day with getting my room checked out by the lady in charge and I had to say goodbye to Ben, who was leaving for England. I then spent the rest of the night working out Berlin plans. I found a website that had a lot of museums and places to go to that included prices and directions. I was lucky to find it! So I started to get around for going out for the night, my last night to go out in Prague, and we decided to go to Futurm (almost like Lucerna, but smaller and a little nicer). I have never went, but Varie vouched for it, so we decided to give it a go. We headed out at about 1130 and arrived at the club. It was really nice, I had an amazing night and wish we had tried to go to this one sooner, I would have probably went to it more then Lucerna. We got home as the sun was rising and I went to bed thinking, this is going to be a short night.

Lucas (Czech) and Varie (Scottish)

Anna (Russian) and Anton (Russian)
The cutest couple I have ever met.

Ben (American) and Iain (Scottish)
Iain is enjoying his ham.

Me and James (Scottish)
James is so funny sometimes, he practically was sitting on my lap for this pic!

Me and the crazy Czech drunk!

I got up 4.5 hours later to say goodbye to Prague. It was an amazingly beautiful day outside, a bit warm, but sunny and breezy. I got around and decided to have lunch in town at a Czech Pub that I have been to a few times before and liked the food and prices. It was near Old Town, so after my lunch of Czech Gulas and beer, I headed towards Old Town for one last time (at least on this trip). I decided to go up Old Town tower since I haven’t done that yet.

Mmmm...good Czech beer!

Old Town Hall Tower

Going up? I took the ramp up, but thought this lift was interesting!

Me at the top of Old Town Hall with Prague Castle in the far background.

I then headed to Charles Bridge one last time (at least on this trip…ok you are going to be sick of hearing that) and went up its tower as well and took some pictures of the bridge from above. I then crossed Charles Bridge wondering when I’ll get to do this again. I then headed below Charles Bridge to take a picture in my most favorite spot in Prague.

Old Town side of Charles Bridge

On the way up the tower.

Looking down on Charles Bridge.

Me and Charles Bridge.

Street performers on Charles Bridge.

Statue on Charles Bridge and Prague Castle.

Lesser Town side Charles Bridge tower gate.

How I knew Charles Bridge was in the movie Omen.

Also this view as well (it's just not raining here).

One of my favorite places to take pictures, right under Charles Bridge.

Wedding pictures being taken with Charles Bridge in the background.

Afterwards I wander my way towards Malostrenska. I went up to Prague Castle by way of the Pedestrian Tunnel and then visited a couple of the gardens that I haven’t seen yet before heading to the castle. I decided I needed one more go of St. Vitus Cathedral and the Palace, but was shocked at how packed and loud it was, so made a quick walk through and left. I wish it wasn’t so, I really wanted to enjoy my last day here, but I decided I would just remember how it used to be. I walked down the castle stairs and towards the a garden I once stumbled across. I took a few pictures and walked around before heading to Malostrenska Namesti.

Tram going towards Lesser Town, and St. Vitus up on the hill in the background.

Path towards the Pedestrian Tunnel.

Pedestrian Tunnel

A greenhouse near the gardens.

Prague Castle Garden

More of the garden.

Castle Guard

First courtyard in Prague Castle.

Looking up St. Vitus Cathedral.

St. Vitus Cathedral rose window.

St. Vitus Cathedral apse.

Fountain in second courtyard.

Inside Prague Castle.

Another view in Prague Castle.

Another Castle guard.

Looking over Lesser Town.

Can you find the American flag?

Going down the castle stairs.

Another palace garden.

I went and picked up subway sub (half for dinner tonight and the other for the train ride tomorrow) and hopped on the 20 Tram to go home to get around for church. I got around and went back to Malostrenska Namesti and attended mass for the last time at St. Thomas (at least on this trip) in the chapel where the have mass on Saturdays. After mass I said goodbye to father and had him bless a rosary I bought when I went to South Moravia earlier this semester. I then headed back to the dormitory for dinner, my last trip on the 20 Tram.

St. Nicholas Church in Lesser Town.

Lesser Town

Last view of St. Thomas Church.

A new monument they just finished up a couple of weeks ago.

I ate dinner then went for a few drinks with my flatmates and the Scottish boys at a nearby pub. I don’t know how the time got so late, but I ended up getting to bed around 2am. Boy is this going to be another short night, I hope I can sleep! Dobrou noc.

Drinks with my flatmates...Nastyia (Russian), Paula (Spanish), Lenny (Dutch), Me, and Varie (Scottish).