Czech Republic

Well, have been in Prague now for a few days and have thoroughly enjoyed it. Its an absolutely beautiful city that has lots of character and lots of history.

Today and yesterday I have spent several hours just wandering the streets and it seems like every building has some fancy addition to it, whether its guilding, frescos or ornamental statues. You are forever looking up.... and thats not easy when you are walking on cobblestones.

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\Again, the public transport is absolutely fantastic and I have conquered the metro in great style. Changing trains as required and knowing what direction to go to.
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Highlights
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Went to the Prague Philamonic Orchestra (with the two US ladies). It was absolutely beautiful. The theatre was extremely ornate and quite small so the show was very personal. It was a czech composer so very eastern europe. Lovely. Had a great time.

\The Old town - lots of side streets, lovely buildings, lots to see, great atmoshere.\\
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Czech Beer - yum, especially after a hard day of walking. Very easy to drink and not too strong. very cheap if you buy from a shop (only about $1 a can) and about $2 a glass at a bar/restaurant.
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\No real negatives this time. The place where I am staying is simply fabulous as far as location is concerned. Its only about 100 metres to metro and the tram that takes you up to the castle is about the same which is great. The only disadvantage is that its satallite TV has been broken so Ive been watching czech shows (if you see the photos of the news, you at least know if anythings happened elsewhere.
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People speak a lot more english here, in fact, its been very easy to get around. some speak excellent english. I just went into a shop and the guy has been to australia several times (not west though). He had a brik a brac shop and showed me an ashtray that had "souvenir of Kempsey" and it was made in czech. He was very proud of it.
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\I'm off to Karlov Vary tomorrow which is a spa town about 3 hours from Prague. Ive booked 3 days into a fairly fancy spa hotel (**** star) and Im planning to put my feet up and just relax. Im very tired and need to rest my weary feet. then I come back to Prague for one night and then it looks like Im off to New York. I dont think Ill be spending time in Helsinki because I cant get accommodation so may fly direct. \
\The 2 ladies from New York have offered to shop me around. They both live in very small apartments in Manhatten so I cant stay with them but they are giving me heaps of information. They are very nice!!
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\WEll, I better go.. I still want to check a few things whilst Ive got internet. this place is very good and quick so I have to make the best of it.

Im planning to have a lovely dinner tonight. there is a restaurant somewhere around here thats apparently from 1400s (if I can find it).

will send you something in a few days (while resting in my spa hotel!!)

see Ya

Kay (not Kaz now) because keyboard is in english (yahooooooo)

\PS Prague toilets are great (even train stations!!)
PPS Ill have a cold beer for you all tonight

Well, I am now in Prague!!! Certainly getting around. I arrived here yesterday from Budapest aftar a 7 hour train ride. Went through 3 countries. Hungary, slovarkia (so got a stamp for that too.. and then Czech Republic. We had about 4 or5 passport checks throughout the ride and numerous ticket checks.

Well before I say anything about Prague...I'll farewell Hungary with a few impressions.

Great stuff

Hungarian goulash (its actually a soup not a stew and absolutely yummy. Lots of variations of quality though and one of them even had lovely chunks of bone marrow in it.... Yum..

Budapest public transport. I got a 3 day pass and just got off and on trams and trains all the time. Was great and very easy to follow.

Very safe - well I thought so. They had the usual warning about picket pockets in train stations but I felt very secure.

Cheap - overall its much cheaper than other European countries. My accommodation in Budapest I got through Wotif and cost about $90 per night. Thats not bad for a hotel in summer and also included breakfast. It was only about 100 metres from tram station and about 200 metres from Metro so was very handy.

Wine and Beer. Great red wine. Very cheap if you bought it from a shop. Not so cheap from Restaurant. Beer really good. Again very cheap from shop not so bad from restaurant.

Not so great stuff

Beware Hungarian railway station toilets (plus trains as well)!! Its amasing how I would get up in the morning, avoid coffee tea or water, absolutely get so dehydrated. However soon as I came within 100 metres of a train station, I immediately had to go. It was the cheapest diarettic I could find but not one that I enjoyed. All the toilets were either soiled or wouldnt flush properly. Also, to add pleasure to the experience is the "toilet ladies". these poor souls sit outside the toilets and collect money (yes, you even have to pay for this experience). They have the humour of stalin and low behold of you dont see them and try to get in for free. They take their jobs very seriously and you have to pay them everytime. If you try and tell them that the toilet is soiled, you dont get a great reaction.

Lack of English - some places didnt have any. You got by but it was quite difficult at times. sometimes I wasnt sure if they didnt know it or didnt want to know it. For example, went to a museam and there was a Crypt there. I went to ticket office to get a ticket and said one ticket to Crypt and pointed to me and put one finger up.

She didnt understand.

Then I overheard someone else talking about the Crypto. So went and said one ticket to Crypto...yes, that got it.

Food was very heavy. Difficult to find anything light except soups (hence the lots of goulash) and very boring salads. Most of the food had heavy sauces over them or were either crumbed and deep fried or fried in lard and butter.

The salami was very nice but even that was quite fatty.

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The last day I went on a tour up the Danube Bend. It took us to a couple of small towns, the obligatory church and fortress. It was great. the guide was really knowledgeable and it was good to hear history. I also met up with 3 women. 2 from NY and one from Georgia, US. The 2 from NY were on the same train as me to Prague and we are meeting up for Dinner tonight. So will be great to have company. Also they are giving me heaps of information for my New York trip whcih is good. The woman from Georgia I might look up when I get over there. Depends on my plans in the states whcih are not confirmed as yet.

So, that was Hungary which I really loved. I really liked Budapest and could have spent a lot more time there just looking around. It would have also been really nice just driving around the countryside because it was quite rural and traditional but for that I would have liked some company!!

I wont give you my impressions of Prague as yet because I havent really done anything. I went into the shopping area this morning to get my bearings (and brochures, booklets etc) and am now about to go back to my room to look at them all. Hotel is absolutely fantastic. Got it through Wotif. Its an apartment and has its own kitchen, even a hallway. Its only $95 per night as well. Plus its literally just behind a metro station so very convenient. Its a little bit noisy but nothing that ear plugs cant fix. AND IT HAS A HAIRDRYER!!!

Will come back on line in a day or two to tell you all about Prague. Hope everyone is really well.

I'm fine. Feet feel like crap, ankle is swollen, back is sore and I have a really big bruise on my knee from something. But I dont complain!!

Talk to you all soon.
Love Kay