Well, seeing how this is technically my last day in Prague, this will also be my last post to go along with it. Since tomorrow I am starting my 20 hour plane ride. I hope I can sleep tonight, I am so excited to get home!
It has been awesome writing this, and I hope you enjoyed reading it, or that anyone besides my parents and boyfriend read it for that matter.
I have learned so much and will really miss everything and everyone here. Scratch that, I will not miss the Czech language, but I will miss Prague.
Today I changed all my money over, and I lost about 20 dollars because if I would have changed when I first got here, I would get $1 for 18 Krown, but now it's 21 Krown for $1, which is good for people from America coming here, but not for me since I am leaving. So I feel like I lost money, even though I probably really did not.
This is really sad that this is my last blog post. It's like the end of the Europe part of my life. If anyone who read this is ever coming to Prague, or anywhere else I went in Europe, you can e-mail me questions if you have any at tracksterbball3@yahoo.com.
I will be happy to help anyone who wants to know all the awesome places to go in Europe, because I have seen so many! Well, I do not really know how to end this, so I guess I'll say that everyone needs to CZECH PRAGUE OUT because I am so glad I did, and just leave it at that.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Less than 48 hours...
That is right boys and girls. I leave Prague in less than 48 hours. I have not started packing at all either! Whoops
Yesterday I went to the water park which was super fun, again! And then I sat in my room, and tried to complete a goal in which I started about 2 or 3 months ago. Watch every South Park while here. I have about 13 episodes left, and less than 48 hours here to do it. I really hope I can accomplish this.
I also really need to pack though. I should probably start after writing this blog. Today I am going to change some money back to American, which is not good, because today the dollar is doing very good compared to the Czech Krown, so I may wait to do it tomorrow, but if it is worse tomorrow then that will suck. Can everyone who reads this do everything in there power to make the dollar go back down in America? That would be great! Thanks!!
Today I also might go smoke hookah at our favorite hookah bar for the last time, and eat fried cheese from here for the last time. So sad. Hopefully we can go paddle-boating today if the sun decides to come out for a little while. I am only asking for about an hour of sun today Prague! Is that so hard to fulfill?!
As my time here runs down, I am starting to get really happy and sad to leave. When I am on the plane ride home I will be sad, but when I get to see Greg and my family at the airport I will be very happy indeed!! Well then ladies and gents, let the countdown for my final hours in Prague begin.
Yesterday I went to the water park which was super fun, again! And then I sat in my room, and tried to complete a goal in which I started about 2 or 3 months ago. Watch every South Park while here. I have about 13 episodes left, and less than 48 hours here to do it. I really hope I can accomplish this.
I also really need to pack though. I should probably start after writing this blog. Today I am going to change some money back to American, which is not good, because today the dollar is doing very good compared to the Czech Krown, so I may wait to do it tomorrow, but if it is worse tomorrow then that will suck. Can everyone who reads this do everything in there power to make the dollar go back down in America? That would be great! Thanks!!
Today I also might go smoke hookah at our favorite hookah bar for the last time, and eat fried cheese from here for the last time. So sad. Hopefully we can go paddle-boating today if the sun decides to come out for a little while. I am only asking for about an hour of sun today Prague! Is that so hard to fulfill?!
As my time here runs down, I am starting to get really happy and sad to leave. When I am on the plane ride home I will be sad, but when I get to see Greg and my family at the airport I will be very happy indeed!! Well then ladies and gents, let the countdown for my final hours in Prague begin.
Monday, May 24, 2010
The Usual
Well, now that school is over and I am done traveling, I really have nothing left to do in Prague. Yesterday Chris and I went rock climbing and today I am going to the water park again with Ida and Hannah and Heidi!
With only 3 days left here, the days are starting to go by extra slowly. I do need to start to back though, and I did find a vacuum so hopefully I can use it Wednesday and suck all the air out of my bags, so that more can fit in my suitcases!
Wow, my life sounds really boring right now. Compared to all the other things I have done this semester, I guess it really does seem like everything is winding down. Strange. Also, I have been searching for bubblewrap for 3 days now and I am afraid I just will not find it. Maybe I will have to wrap my clothes up in my valuables. I cannot believe they do not sell bubblewrap at stores like Tesco (the equivalent to Wal-Mart) here. It is crazy. Well, I have a day or two more to search. Hopefully some will come up! Well, that is literally all for now!
With only 3 days left here, the days are starting to go by extra slowly. I do need to start to back though, and I did find a vacuum so hopefully I can use it Wednesday and suck all the air out of my bags, so that more can fit in my suitcases!
Wow, my life sounds really boring right now. Compared to all the other things I have done this semester, I guess it really does seem like everything is winding down. Strange. Also, I have been searching for bubblewrap for 3 days now and I am afraid I just will not find it. Maybe I will have to wrap my clothes up in my valuables. I cannot believe they do not sell bubblewrap at stores like Tesco (the equivalent to Wal-Mart) here. It is crazy. Well, I have a day or two more to search. Hopefully some will come up! Well, that is literally all for now!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
GOOD NEWS
I passed all my classes here so they are will be able to transfer back to K-State! I gave my final grades to Lucy and will have my transcript sent straight to K-State, and I do not have to do anything! EXCITING
So now I am sitting in Prague with nothing to do but wait to go home! I count down the days on one hand now! CRAZY! Today I walked around Prague with Christopher, because he has lived in Prague since February and has not seen the castle, or any of Prague really, so we toured the city for a bit, and I think this might be my last time going into the city because there are SO many tourists!
Tomorrow we (Chris, Hannah, Ida, and I) are going paddle boating in the Charles River in front of the castle and to the park. On Monday we are going to the water park again, and on Tuesday I am most likely packing, and if I have money left I am going rock climbing!
This is all up in the air though, so plans may in fact change. Anyway, that is all I really have going on right now... NO WAIT! I watched Survivor, and I realize now that people who actually play the game and do things never win the game. It's always the people who just follow them and never step on toes. Russell should have won and he did not, due to lack of brains on the jury. I think I will just stop watching the finale because they always disappoint me. That really is all I have for now!
So now I am sitting in Prague with nothing to do but wait to go home! I count down the days on one hand now! CRAZY! Today I walked around Prague with Christopher, because he has lived in Prague since February and has not seen the castle, or any of Prague really, so we toured the city for a bit, and I think this might be my last time going into the city because there are SO many tourists!
Tomorrow we (Chris, Hannah, Ida, and I) are going paddle boating in the Charles River in front of the castle and to the park. On Monday we are going to the water park again, and on Tuesday I am most likely packing, and if I have money left I am going rock climbing!
This is all up in the air though, so plans may in fact change. Anyway, that is all I really have going on right now... NO WAIT! I watched Survivor, and I realize now that people who actually play the game and do things never win the game. It's always the people who just follow them and never step on toes. Russell should have won and he did not, due to lack of brains on the jury. I think I will just stop watching the finale because they always disappoint me. That really is all I have for now!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Prague, Sweet Prague
Not quite home, but close. Seven days close to be exact.
Well, after a 6 hour plane delay, we finally got to go back to Prague, and barely made the last bus home, so that we did not have to pay for a taxi. If I would have needed a taxi, I would tell the driver to send the bill to WizzAir, for even making me have to take one. Luckily, I did not have to and it all sort of worked out.
I have a final tomorrow, which I have not studied for since I left my notes in Prague, and got back home at midnight, and not a 6pm. As the great Bill O'Reilly once said, "I'LL DO IT LIVE!!!" If you have not seen that youtube video, then you probably have no idea what I am talking about and really need to look it up, especially if you need a laugh.
I am not too worried, because I have 3 chances to take the final, so hopefully at some point I will pass the class! I also have about 900 photos to go through from Italy. I guess that is what happens when you go to 5 major towns in Italy, so thanks again for sending this camera dad! I really needed it! Besides all of this, I need to start doing Laundry and packing! I am not looking forward to packing, because I am pretty sure I will not have enough room for everything, but I will try like heck to fit it all in there!
Oh, and I have so many TV shows to catch up on! Survivor and the finale, plus my other awesome shows I watch, which I will not name here because if I list them all you will think I am a cray person. Right now they are all loading and hopefully I will be able to watch them tomorrow!
Oh, today I also went into St. Peter's Basilica and saw as much of the Vatican Museum as I could. This included the Sistine Chapel (kind of a let down), the Egyptian Museum that had a 2800 year old mummy, and the rooms Raphael painted! I also saw all of the poor statues that had their penises whacked off, or had ugly leaves plastered over them, since one of the Pope's thought that they would prove lustful for people to look at them. It was pretty interesting to see though, because there was basically a 400m hallway with just statue's depenised. I am pretty sure I made that word up, but I'll go with it.
Oh, and I saw the tomb of St. Peter, the first Pope of the catholic church. All in all, in this whole trip I met a ton of interesting people, saw many AMAZING things, took way too many pictures, and created memories that will last forever. All in all I would say it is a win-win. Italy was defiantly my second or favorite country to be in, and one of the best trips I have ever been on. I really hope I get to go back one day.
OH and travel tip: If you ever go to Rome, buy the Roma Pass. It is 25 euro and gets you subway usage for 3 days, plus entrance into 2 places for free, plus you get to skip the line at the Colesseum, PLUS you get a punch of discounts. We got to go to 3 places for free, because at Palatine Hill, they were lazy and just let us walk in without scanning it, which made it an even better deal! We saved 3+ hours at the Colosseum, since we did not have to wait in line, plus another hour at Palatine Hill!
Oh, and go to the Colosseum at some point in your life, as well as Palatine Hill. You just might regret it if you don't.
Well, after a 6 hour plane delay, we finally got to go back to Prague, and barely made the last bus home, so that we did not have to pay for a taxi. If I would have needed a taxi, I would tell the driver to send the bill to WizzAir, for even making me have to take one. Luckily, I did not have to and it all sort of worked out.
I have a final tomorrow, which I have not studied for since I left my notes in Prague, and got back home at midnight, and not a 6pm. As the great Bill O'Reilly once said, "I'LL DO IT LIVE!!!" If you have not seen that youtube video, then you probably have no idea what I am talking about and really need to look it up, especially if you need a laugh.
I am not too worried, because I have 3 chances to take the final, so hopefully at some point I will pass the class! I also have about 900 photos to go through from Italy. I guess that is what happens when you go to 5 major towns in Italy, so thanks again for sending this camera dad! I really needed it! Besides all of this, I need to start doing Laundry and packing! I am not looking forward to packing, because I am pretty sure I will not have enough room for everything, but I will try like heck to fit it all in there!
Oh, and I have so many TV shows to catch up on! Survivor and the finale, plus my other awesome shows I watch, which I will not name here because if I list them all you will think I am a cray person. Right now they are all loading and hopefully I will be able to watch them tomorrow!
Oh, today I also went into St. Peter's Basilica and saw as much of the Vatican Museum as I could. This included the Sistine Chapel (kind of a let down), the Egyptian Museum that had a 2800 year old mummy, and the rooms Raphael painted! I also saw all of the poor statues that had their penises whacked off, or had ugly leaves plastered over them, since one of the Pope's thought that they would prove lustful for people to look at them. It was pretty interesting to see though, because there was basically a 400m hallway with just statue's depenised. I am pretty sure I made that word up, but I'll go with it.
Oh, and I saw the tomb of St. Peter, the first Pope of the catholic church. All in all, in this whole trip I met a ton of interesting people, saw many AMAZING things, took way too many pictures, and created memories that will last forever. All in all I would say it is a win-win. Italy was defiantly my second or favorite country to be in, and one of the best trips I have ever been on. I really hope I get to go back one day.
OH and travel tip: If you ever go to Rome, buy the Roma Pass. It is 25 euro and gets you subway usage for 3 days, plus entrance into 2 places for free, plus you get to skip the line at the Colesseum, PLUS you get a punch of discounts. We got to go to 3 places for free, because at Palatine Hill, they were lazy and just let us walk in without scanning it, which made it an even better deal! We saved 3+ hours at the Colosseum, since we did not have to wait in line, plus another hour at Palatine Hill!
Oh, and go to the Colosseum at some point in your life, as well as Palatine Hill. You just might regret it if you don't.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Try not to be too jealous...
BUT I SAW THE POPE TODAY!!!
I was about 2 feet away from him AND he waved to me! Good times... good times. I am going back to Prague tomorrow and cannot wait to stop living out of a suitcase. Unfortunately right when I get back, I will need to pack some more! I also only have one weekend left in Prague. This is starting to be a very odd feeling about how I only have single digit days left in Europe, I do not feel like I am actually going home soon.
In other news... I SAW THE POPE TODAY!!! Ok, that is all I really have to say about today, even though so much more happened, but Hannah is bothering me because she wants to use the computer! So until I get back to Prague, remember, I SAW THE POPE!!!
I was about 2 feet away from him AND he waved to me! Good times... good times. I am going back to Prague tomorrow and cannot wait to stop living out of a suitcase. Unfortunately right when I get back, I will need to pack some more! I also only have one weekend left in Prague. This is starting to be a very odd feeling about how I only have single digit days left in Europe, I do not feel like I am actually going home soon.
In other news... I SAW THE POPE TODAY!!! Ok, that is all I really have to say about today, even though so much more happened, but Hannah is bothering me because she wants to use the computer! So until I get back to Prague, remember, I SAW THE POPE!!!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
When in Rome...
I always wanted to say that in Rome, because I always figured it would make the saying more awesome, and it does!
Since I last wrote, I was in Venice, and have now been to Pisa, and Florence, and Rome as well! This has been such a whirlwind week! I have to keep reminding myself that it is Tuesday already and I only have a day and a half here in Italy left! WEIRD!
So much has happened, I literally have no idea where to begin. I think I will just go out of order and write down whatever comes to me, but I am defiantly not going to be able to write out everything that has happened.
Here's the Cliff Notes:
I have now been here for 101 days! I cannot believe I have not been home in so long. It will good to finally be back. I really miss it.
I got to have the photoshoot I have been dreaming of since I was a kid, pushing over the Leaning Tower of Pisa! It may seem lame, but I got to do something I have always wanted and I think that is pretty awesome. I also saw Michanglo's David statue in Florence. In Venice I saw gondellas.
Now, I am in Rome and I do not really think it has clicked that I am here yet! I saw the Colosseum and the Circus Maximus and Palentine Hill and the Fountain of Tivoli and the Pantheon. It has been a crazy, crazy day. Tomorrow I am going to see the Pope!! He goes out into St Peter's Square every Wednesday and we will be there then! Therefore, we get to see him! YAY!!!! Then we are going to the Museum and seeing the Basilica, which will basically take all day.
I really cannot believe I am here though, it is crazy thinking I have actually been doing all these things, I will look back at my pictures in Prague and say, "Wow, that really wasn't a dream? Weird..." I also am in the single digits as to when I leave Europe. 9 days and counting...
Since I last wrote, I was in Venice, and have now been to Pisa, and Florence, and Rome as well! This has been such a whirlwind week! I have to keep reminding myself that it is Tuesday already and I only have a day and a half here in Italy left! WEIRD!
So much has happened, I literally have no idea where to begin. I think I will just go out of order and write down whatever comes to me, but I am defiantly not going to be able to write out everything that has happened.
Here's the Cliff Notes:
I have now been here for 101 days! I cannot believe I have not been home in so long. It will good to finally be back. I really miss it.
I got to have the photoshoot I have been dreaming of since I was a kid, pushing over the Leaning Tower of Pisa! It may seem lame, but I got to do something I have always wanted and I think that is pretty awesome. I also saw Michanglo's David statue in Florence. In Venice I saw gondellas.
Now, I am in Rome and I do not really think it has clicked that I am here yet! I saw the Colosseum and the Circus Maximus and Palentine Hill and the Fountain of Tivoli and the Pantheon. It has been a crazy, crazy day. Tomorrow I am going to see the Pope!! He goes out into St Peter's Square every Wednesday and we will be there then! Therefore, we get to see him! YAY!!!! Then we are going to the Museum and seeing the Basilica, which will basically take all day.
I really cannot believe I am here though, it is crazy thinking I have actually been doing all these things, I will look back at my pictures in Prague and say, "Wow, that really wasn't a dream? Weird..." I also am in the single digits as to when I leave Europe. 9 days and counting...
Friday, May 14, 2010
Milan
Well, yesterday I arrived in Milan for my last trip while abroad! I did not think there would be that much to do there, but there WAS! I am currently in Venice, but I will tell about this city in my next post!
So we arrived in the Milan airport, which was actually about 75km out of town, since we flew with a cheap ariline. The bus ride into town took longer than the plane ride to Milan from Prague, if you can believe that! I also just thought of something... I will fly every Thursday for the next 3 weeks (starting yesterday). Weird. Hopefully I won't be too tired of it for my super duper long ride home!
Anyway, in Milan we met up with some people and put our stuff in there place, then headed to Dumoa, a church in the middle of Milan, and it was so BEAUTIFUL! We also saw huge high end stores, such as Burberry, Gucci, etc. Milan really is the center for shopping. Also, there is the exact opposite in Milan! Tons and tons of gypsies and homeless people. They were doing crazy things for money too.
Then we went to the castle in Milan, which is honestly the best one I have seen in ALL of Europe! It is the most like a castle I would expect, besides Neuschstein that is, but it doesn't count because it is in it's own are of AWESOMENESS!
Then we wondered around town and I was the closest I will probably ever be to the Last Supper. Apparently if you want to see it, you have to make a reservation 2 months in advance. I do not even think I bought my plane tickets for Italy 2 months ago... LAME!
Then we went and had GELATO! The goal is to have some in every city we go to and figure out which town has the best. I think we will suceed in our quest. Also, in Milan it had been raining for 2 weeks straight, and then luckily it stopped the day we were there, except for a 10 minute downpour, but luckily we were eating Gelato!
We also saw other amazing things, such as the first bell tower in Italy, the Da Vinci Science Museum, etc, but I am forgetting most of it! I'll have to lok through my photos again. Today we headed out to Venice very early, and apparently with the tickets we bought, we had to get it stamped before we got on the train, so we got fined 25 euros for riding the train without it being stamped, even though the guy could have just stamped it for us. It was such an awful, confusing ordeal, but I am trying to forget about it and enjoy the trip nonetheless.
Sunday we head to Florence, then Monday to Pisa for an awesome leaning Tower of Pisa photo session, then Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday hang out in Rome! Cannot wait to see more beautiful things that Italy has to offer!
So we arrived in the Milan airport, which was actually about 75km out of town, since we flew with a cheap ariline. The bus ride into town took longer than the plane ride to Milan from Prague, if you can believe that! I also just thought of something... I will fly every Thursday for the next 3 weeks (starting yesterday). Weird. Hopefully I won't be too tired of it for my super duper long ride home!
Anyway, in Milan we met up with some people and put our stuff in there place, then headed to Dumoa, a church in the middle of Milan, and it was so BEAUTIFUL! We also saw huge high end stores, such as Burberry, Gucci, etc. Milan really is the center for shopping. Also, there is the exact opposite in Milan! Tons and tons of gypsies and homeless people. They were doing crazy things for money too.
Then we went to the castle in Milan, which is honestly the best one I have seen in ALL of Europe! It is the most like a castle I would expect, besides Neuschstein that is, but it doesn't count because it is in it's own are of AWESOMENESS!
Then we wondered around town and I was the closest I will probably ever be to the Last Supper. Apparently if you want to see it, you have to make a reservation 2 months in advance. I do not even think I bought my plane tickets for Italy 2 months ago... LAME!
Then we went and had GELATO! The goal is to have some in every city we go to and figure out which town has the best. I think we will suceed in our quest. Also, in Milan it had been raining for 2 weeks straight, and then luckily it stopped the day we were there, except for a 10 minute downpour, but luckily we were eating Gelato!
We also saw other amazing things, such as the first bell tower in Italy, the Da Vinci Science Museum, etc, but I am forgetting most of it! I'll have to lok through my photos again. Today we headed out to Venice very early, and apparently with the tickets we bought, we had to get it stamped before we got on the train, so we got fined 25 euros for riding the train without it being stamped, even though the guy could have just stamped it for us. It was such an awful, confusing ordeal, but I am trying to forget about it and enjoy the trip nonetheless.
Sunday we head to Florence, then Monday to Pisa for an awesome leaning Tower of Pisa photo session, then Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday hang out in Rome! Cannot wait to see more beautiful things that Italy has to offer!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
ITALY!!!
So tomorrow morning I leave for Italy at 4:30 my time, that's 21:30 for you central timers. My plane does not leave until 6:00, and the public transportation is not open until 5am, so I have to take a taxi with Hannah and Heidi to the airport. I think it will be relatively cheap though, since it's three of us and it's about 15 minutes away.
I am so excited to go to Italy though. I have wanted to go since 6th grade in World Studies with Mrs. Hawkins. She told us about the Colosseum and how Rome was such a great civilization, and it was then and there I made a goal to get to Rome one day. Starting next Tuesday, that goal will be achieved. I also remember researching the Roman Colosseum in 7th grade and Frank and I making a miniature one. It was so awesome!!! That was probably the best project I ever did.
The point is, I am very excited to go someplace I have wanted to go to since I was little. The only place that would beat Rome is Giza, Egypt. That is not happening though, so I guess Rome is a good alternative!
Anyway, I was talking with Hannah today about going home and I realized how different it will be. I am really nervous about going home actually. I haven't driven since Early February, and I am kind of freaking out about getting behind the wheel again. I think my head might explode when I can understand what everyone is saying too. I am so used to just zoning out everything because I cannot understand it. I think it will be a bigger culture shock coming back to America than coming here for some reason. I am not really sure why I feel this way, but it kind of makes me nervous to go home. Weird... But I am excited too! Do not get me wrong. It will just be different. Here I never text or talk on the phone anymore, so it will be weird getting back into that, if I do at all.
Another thing I learned. Skype is a wonderful, amazing piece of technology. I get to talk to my family and friends for free and see their lovely faces?! It's better than a cell phone! If you ever study abroad, get Skype, and make sure all your loved ones have it as well because it is so handy!
I do not really have much more to say, except I am starting to become very nostalgic about leaving. It is coming up really quickly, and I think I am more nostalgic about leaving Europe, than I was about leaving America. At least when I left America, I knew I would be back in less than 4 months, but with Europe, I do not know when I will ever be able to come back. I might complain a lot and say I miss home, but I really do love Prague. I enjoy walking around it all the time and just looking at everything. There is so much to see and so much to do. Whenever I am bored, I can just go out and see beautiful buildings. I'll miss doing that once back in Kansas, and I'll also miss the subway system! It's so handy, and cheap!
Well, that's about all. I had my last class ever here yesterday and am now anxiously awaiting my "final" next Friday. Hopefully I will be able to type a bit in Italy, but if not then I will write again next Thursday when I return for sure!!
I am so excited to go to Italy though. I have wanted to go since 6th grade in World Studies with Mrs. Hawkins. She told us about the Colosseum and how Rome was such a great civilization, and it was then and there I made a goal to get to Rome one day. Starting next Tuesday, that goal will be achieved. I also remember researching the Roman Colosseum in 7th grade and Frank and I making a miniature one. It was so awesome!!! That was probably the best project I ever did.
The point is, I am very excited to go someplace I have wanted to go to since I was little. The only place that would beat Rome is Giza, Egypt. That is not happening though, so I guess Rome is a good alternative!
Anyway, I was talking with Hannah today about going home and I realized how different it will be. I am really nervous about going home actually. I haven't driven since Early February, and I am kind of freaking out about getting behind the wheel again. I think my head might explode when I can understand what everyone is saying too. I am so used to just zoning out everything because I cannot understand it. I think it will be a bigger culture shock coming back to America than coming here for some reason. I am not really sure why I feel this way, but it kind of makes me nervous to go home. Weird... But I am excited too! Do not get me wrong. It will just be different. Here I never text or talk on the phone anymore, so it will be weird getting back into that, if I do at all.
Another thing I learned. Skype is a wonderful, amazing piece of technology. I get to talk to my family and friends for free and see their lovely faces?! It's better than a cell phone! If you ever study abroad, get Skype, and make sure all your loved ones have it as well because it is so handy!
I do not really have much more to say, except I am starting to become very nostalgic about leaving. It is coming up really quickly, and I think I am more nostalgic about leaving Europe, than I was about leaving America. At least when I left America, I knew I would be back in less than 4 months, but with Europe, I do not know when I will ever be able to come back. I might complain a lot and say I miss home, but I really do love Prague. I enjoy walking around it all the time and just looking at everything. There is so much to see and so much to do. Whenever I am bored, I can just go out and see beautiful buildings. I'll miss doing that once back in Kansas, and I'll also miss the subway system! It's so handy, and cheap!
Well, that's about all. I had my last class ever here yesterday and am now anxiously awaiting my "final" next Friday. Hopefully I will be able to type a bit in Italy, but if not then I will write again next Thursday when I return for sure!!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!
This goes out to all the mom's out there, but mainly to my mommy! Miss you lots and cannot wait to see you!
Anyway, since I last wrote, I have done some interesting things, so I figured I should write about it!
On Saturday I went out and walked around Prague. I walked around for a long time actually, and hit up all the really touristy spots. There are so many annoying tourists here! I never thought I would actually think that I would take pride in Prague, and be upset with the on-goings in the city, but tourists is making me very upset. I now know what people from Prague must think when they hear me speaking English! I heard so many people talking in languages I understood and I kept thinking, "I'm either getting really good at Czech (FALSE) or it's tourism season..." Unfortunately the latter was true. I am only slightly better at Czech than I was in I first got here.
Anyway, I was walking through the streets, and really wishing I could walk 10 feet without getting elbowed by a tourist walking past. Luckily, in small town Shawnee, this does not seem to happen to me! After walking around town, I hit up the PUB with some friends to celebrate their birthdays (since two of them had birthdays within three days of each other.) The PUB is one of my favorite bars in the Czech Republic because you can tap you own beers at your table!! And order off the screen in the middle. It really is an amazing bar. I could not drink or stay out to late, because I had to get up early and head out to Karlstejn. I wrote a while back about how I wanted to go there, and I finally got the chance! I went with Kevin and Angela. We went to Karlestejn and saw the most famous castle in all of Czech Republic! It was built by the guy on the 100 koruna bill. I know you ALL know who that is, but I'll tell you anyway. It's King Karel. He also built the very famous Charles Bridge in Prague. He did a lot for this country, which is why he is on one of their bills. Anyway, after Karlstejn, we wandered around the surrounding countryside and found "Little America". It's basically a huge old rock quarry that is really cool! I will put up pictures later, but it is a really beautiful place. Anyone visiting the Czech Republic for an extended amount of time really should go see Karelstejn!
Now, I do not know if anyone knows about Manhattan, Kansas and it's sister cities, but one of the two lie in the Czech Republic. We stopped in the town on the way back from Karelstejn and I got pictures with the sign (the town is called Dobrichovice), so now, every time I drive by that sign in Manhattan, I can say, "HEY!! I HAVE BEEN THERE!! Yes, I know it's in the Czech Republic, and I am really cool. Thank you, thank you." Or something like that anyway...
Well, that's all for now! I leave for Italy on Thursday morning at a very early time, so hopefully I will blog before then, and maybe even put up photos from today. One can hope anyway!
Anyway, since I last wrote, I have done some interesting things, so I figured I should write about it!
On Saturday I went out and walked around Prague. I walked around for a long time actually, and hit up all the really touristy spots. There are so many annoying tourists here! I never thought I would actually think that I would take pride in Prague, and be upset with the on-goings in the city, but tourists is making me very upset. I now know what people from Prague must think when they hear me speaking English! I heard so many people talking in languages I understood and I kept thinking, "I'm either getting really good at Czech (FALSE) or it's tourism season..." Unfortunately the latter was true. I am only slightly better at Czech than I was in I first got here.
Anyway, I was walking through the streets, and really wishing I could walk 10 feet without getting elbowed by a tourist walking past. Luckily, in small town Shawnee, this does not seem to happen to me! After walking around town, I hit up the PUB with some friends to celebrate their birthdays (since two of them had birthdays within three days of each other.) The PUB is one of my favorite bars in the Czech Republic because you can tap you own beers at your table!! And order off the screen in the middle. It really is an amazing bar. I could not drink or stay out to late, because I had to get up early and head out to Karlstejn. I wrote a while back about how I wanted to go there, and I finally got the chance! I went with Kevin and Angela. We went to Karlestejn and saw the most famous castle in all of Czech Republic! It was built by the guy on the 100 koruna bill. I know you ALL know who that is, but I'll tell you anyway. It's King Karel. He also built the very famous Charles Bridge in Prague. He did a lot for this country, which is why he is on one of their bills. Anyway, after Karlstejn, we wandered around the surrounding countryside and found "Little America". It's basically a huge old rock quarry that is really cool! I will put up pictures later, but it is a really beautiful place. Anyone visiting the Czech Republic for an extended amount of time really should go see Karelstejn!
Now, I do not know if anyone knows about Manhattan, Kansas and it's sister cities, but one of the two lie in the Czech Republic. We stopped in the town on the way back from Karelstejn and I got pictures with the sign (the town is called Dobrichovice), so now, every time I drive by that sign in Manhattan, I can say, "HEY!! I HAVE BEEN THERE!! Yes, I know it's in the Czech Republic, and I am really cool. Thank you, thank you." Or something like that anyway...
Well, that's all for now! I leave for Italy on Thursday morning at a very early time, so hopefully I will blog before then, and maybe even put up photos from today. One can hope anyway!
Friday, May 7, 2010
HAPPY SIETE DE MAYO!
Howdy folks!
So, I meant to write on Wednesday and say Happy Cinco de Mayo... didn't happen.
I meant to write on Thursday and say "Foam Party and Three Weeks!"... didn't happen.
So know here I am recapping my past 3 days to you, and all I can think about is the latest Survivor episode I just watched. So, maybe I'll start there.
SURVIVOR!! Freaking crazy man! Craziest season I have EVER watched in the past 20 seasons of watching it. Russell is going crazy and I always just do not know what is going to happen next! Let's see how many times I can say the word crazy! I do not think I know anyone as animated as I am while watching this show. I am also talking to myself, since there is no one else that watches it with me and say, "Oh my god I cannot believe this!" "What is going on?!" I am just so used to watching it with either Greg, or my mom, or my neighbors, that I have become used to asking these questions and freaking out with them about the show. Ida was sitting behind me today, and something ridiculous happened, so I stood up and said, "What the heck is going on!?" She said, "It is just a TV show Kelsey." It may be just a TV show, but I have grown up watching it with people, talking with them about it, and I know all of these old Survivors, so everything they do, it's like I am basically there with them while they do it. What I am getting at is: I miss watching this show with other people. So whether next year it is with Chelsea or Greg, all I know is I need a person watching it with me, so that we can freak out together.
Okay, enough about Survivor. Wednesday I went to a Czech Museum for class and they had Picasso's, Monet's, and Van Gogh's. Cannot take a field trip like that in Manhattan, Kansas. This was my last class for Czech Culture and after wards I turned in my paper. I do not even think she read it, because an hour later I got an e-mail saying I got an A in the class. All I have left is Differential Equations on Tuesday and I am done! I have gotten three A's this semester so far, and all I needed was a pass. It seems even while enjoying myself in Prague, I still have to try my hardest at classes. I think that's probably a good trait to have though.
Later on Wednesday was Cinco de Mayo, and I'll just skip the details. I did find out though from my Mexican friends that they do not even care about Cinco de Mayo and that they party for the Mexican revolution! I have decided that from now on, I will recognize both holidays. The more Americanized Cinco de Mayo, and the more Mexican "Mexico Revolution Day". That way, I appease both sides. I know... I am a giver.
Yesterday I went to my first ever FOAM PARTY!!! It was freaking crazy! I went with Chris, Ida, and Hannah! It was so much fun! I will post a picture actually because it was so amazing! I will probably never go to anything like it again, but I am glad I got to once in my life! This club we went to is really famous too! Macy Gray has performed there, plus Cuba Gooding Jr and Paris Hilton have partied there, sadly not when I was, but that's alright. Later this month Billy Idol is performing there! This place is literally amazing! Cannot find clubs like this in Kansas. Well that's all I got for now. It's raining... again. It's been raining for a week and it will keep raining until next Saturday. Luckily I will be in Italy!!! Well, until next time!
So, I meant to write on Wednesday and say Happy Cinco de Mayo... didn't happen.
I meant to write on Thursday and say "Foam Party and Three Weeks!"... didn't happen.
So know here I am recapping my past 3 days to you, and all I can think about is the latest Survivor episode I just watched. So, maybe I'll start there.
SURVIVOR!! Freaking crazy man! Craziest season I have EVER watched in the past 20 seasons of watching it. Russell is going crazy and I always just do not know what is going to happen next! Let's see how many times I can say the word crazy! I do not think I know anyone as animated as I am while watching this show. I am also talking to myself, since there is no one else that watches it with me and say, "Oh my god I cannot believe this!" "What is going on?!" I am just so used to watching it with either Greg, or my mom, or my neighbors, that I have become used to asking these questions and freaking out with them about the show. Ida was sitting behind me today, and something ridiculous happened, so I stood up and said, "What the heck is going on!?" She said, "It is just a TV show Kelsey." It may be just a TV show, but I have grown up watching it with people, talking with them about it, and I know all of these old Survivors, so everything they do, it's like I am basically there with them while they do it. What I am getting at is: I miss watching this show with other people. So whether next year it is with Chelsea or Greg, all I know is I need a person watching it with me, so that we can freak out together.
Okay, enough about Survivor. Wednesday I went to a Czech Museum for class and they had Picasso's, Monet's, and Van Gogh's. Cannot take a field trip like that in Manhattan, Kansas. This was my last class for Czech Culture and after wards I turned in my paper. I do not even think she read it, because an hour later I got an e-mail saying I got an A in the class. All I have left is Differential Equations on Tuesday and I am done! I have gotten three A's this semester so far, and all I needed was a pass. It seems even while enjoying myself in Prague, I still have to try my hardest at classes. I think that's probably a good trait to have though.
Later on Wednesday was Cinco de Mayo, and I'll just skip the details. I did find out though from my Mexican friends that they do not even care about Cinco de Mayo and that they party for the Mexican revolution! I have decided that from now on, I will recognize both holidays. The more Americanized Cinco de Mayo, and the more Mexican "Mexico Revolution Day". That way, I appease both sides. I know... I am a giver.
Yesterday I went to my first ever FOAM PARTY!!! It was freaking crazy! I went with Chris, Ida, and Hannah! It was so much fun! I will post a picture actually because it was so amazing! I will probably never go to anything like it again, but I am glad I got to once in my life! This club we went to is really famous too! Macy Gray has performed there, plus Cuba Gooding Jr and Paris Hilton have partied there, sadly not when I was, but that's alright. Later this month Billy Idol is performing there! This place is literally amazing! Cannot find clubs like this in Kansas. Well that's all I got for now. It's raining... again. It's been raining for a week and it will keep raining until next Saturday. Luckily I will be in Italy!!! Well, until next time!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Inspiration
So I have found the source of inspiration for this blog. Taco Bell. I know many of you are rolling your eyes because you know of my obsession with the restaurant, but today I found myself on their website. I checked out a few of my favorites and then wondered if there were any in Europe at all, who knows, maybe I would take a field trip to visit it. Well, there is one in Spain, but it is on a Naval Base and only they get to eat at it. There were some in London, but they were closed down in 2006. WHAT IS WRONG WITH EUROPE?!?! They have stupid KFC and Pizza Hut but no Taco Bell. These people do not know what they are missing. Seriously, that is the first place I am going when I get back. I am so mad Chicago Airport has no Taco Bell. What is wrong with the world today.
ANYWAY... I'll stop making myself salivate. The last day in Budapest was pretty awesome! I went to this place where they had old Communism statues. It was like a Communism park of statues and most in the world are destroyed, so it was amazing seeing these. The ones of Stalin there are some of the last ones on Earth. It's weird how people destroy them after the regime is done. I feel it was smart for Hungary to keep them, but move them out of the city. I mean it's art, no matter how ugly it is, and it's their history. Yes, it sucked, but it happened. It's like the Holocaust, it was terrible, but they keep around the remains of concentration camps because to make people remember. I feel the same about these statues.
I was the only one from our group, who was all girls by the way, to go see it. Others were going to come with me, but they decided they wanted to shop, since this place was very hard to find. I almost gave up myself. I asked a couple people where this bus stop was and they all did not speak English, but tried so hard to help me. There was one awesome dude in particular that I am very thankful for. I was asking directions from this little old lady who was trying so hard to tell me, but I did not understand what she was talking about at all. Then this bus driver honked me over to his window while he was stopped at a light. He also did not know English, but pointed in a direction, which did not really help me much. So my friends and I decided to head back, and went down the street a little ways to wait at the tram stop to take us to the shopping district. Then the bus drove by us, after the light turned green, and the driver honked at me and waved his arm for me to follow. So I ran over to the bus at the next stop. He literally stopped the whole bus, got out, and showed me which bus to take and where to get off. He is my Budapest hero. I feel bad for the people on the bus though. Having to wait for a stupid American tourist. It was totally worth it though. I loved seeing all the insane statues.
They even had the one of Stalin's boots. In Budapest they had a statue of him measuring 16m in height and then pulled it down after Stalin died. It was interesting seeing these sculptures though, because I have seen many of them in history books, but this actually happened to this country. It's weird thinking about how 20 years ago many of the places I have visited were run by Communism. That's how old I am! They have only have the length of my age to get over Communism and become a free nation. From personal experience, I would say these countries have done very well. I am impressed!
Anyway, we rode the train back after that and rode in it for 7 hours!!! Crazy. The yesterday I went to the museum, because it is free on the first Monday of the month, and that was my last first Monday of the month here, so I figured I could check it out. It was the weirdest museum I have ever been it. Whoever created it had ADD. They had early civilization tools and then a room of medals the President of the Czech has acquired during his life, then a room full of different kids of rocks. On the same floor they had the different levels of the world, showing the core and stuff, and then in a room off of it things describing wind power, and sharks, and prehistoric animals. This was all in the same room. I was just so confused. The second floor was all animals, but they had like a bug collection, then animals that were stuffed, then the skeletons of the animals. This museum had no connecting thread, so I just was all over the place basically. Plus it was all in Czech, so I could not read what was going on. It was a very lost in translation moment for me.
This is like a big time museum too! It's pretty famous, and many people go there. I just do not understand the draw though. I was just so confused the whole freaking time!
Today I had a test in my Differential class and luckily it was super tough, so the teacher helped me with 3 of the 4 problems. That was nice! On the last test I got a 100%. Thanks to my handy dandy notes! Now I will probably sit around today since my life here is just so difficult. I would go outside, but it's rainy again. Stupid Prague. Hopefully tomorrow will be better!
ANYWAY... I'll stop making myself salivate. The last day in Budapest was pretty awesome! I went to this place where they had old Communism statues. It was like a Communism park of statues and most in the world are destroyed, so it was amazing seeing these. The ones of Stalin there are some of the last ones on Earth. It's weird how people destroy them after the regime is done. I feel it was smart for Hungary to keep them, but move them out of the city. I mean it's art, no matter how ugly it is, and it's their history. Yes, it sucked, but it happened. It's like the Holocaust, it was terrible, but they keep around the remains of concentration camps because to make people remember. I feel the same about these statues.
I was the only one from our group, who was all girls by the way, to go see it. Others were going to come with me, but they decided they wanted to shop, since this place was very hard to find. I almost gave up myself. I asked a couple people where this bus stop was and they all did not speak English, but tried so hard to help me. There was one awesome dude in particular that I am very thankful for. I was asking directions from this little old lady who was trying so hard to tell me, but I did not understand what she was talking about at all. Then this bus driver honked me over to his window while he was stopped at a light. He also did not know English, but pointed in a direction, which did not really help me much. So my friends and I decided to head back, and went down the street a little ways to wait at the tram stop to take us to the shopping district. Then the bus drove by us, after the light turned green, and the driver honked at me and waved his arm for me to follow. So I ran over to the bus at the next stop. He literally stopped the whole bus, got out, and showed me which bus to take and where to get off. He is my Budapest hero. I feel bad for the people on the bus though. Having to wait for a stupid American tourist. It was totally worth it though. I loved seeing all the insane statues.
They even had the one of Stalin's boots. In Budapest they had a statue of him measuring 16m in height and then pulled it down after Stalin died. It was interesting seeing these sculptures though, because I have seen many of them in history books, but this actually happened to this country. It's weird thinking about how 20 years ago many of the places I have visited were run by Communism. That's how old I am! They have only have the length of my age to get over Communism and become a free nation. From personal experience, I would say these countries have done very well. I am impressed!
Anyway, we rode the train back after that and rode in it for 7 hours!!! Crazy. The yesterday I went to the museum, because it is free on the first Monday of the month, and that was my last first Monday of the month here, so I figured I could check it out. It was the weirdest museum I have ever been it. Whoever created it had ADD. They had early civilization tools and then a room of medals the President of the Czech has acquired during his life, then a room full of different kids of rocks. On the same floor they had the different levels of the world, showing the core and stuff, and then in a room off of it things describing wind power, and sharks, and prehistoric animals. This was all in the same room. I was just so confused. The second floor was all animals, but they had like a bug collection, then animals that were stuffed, then the skeletons of the animals. This museum had no connecting thread, so I just was all over the place basically. Plus it was all in Czech, so I could not read what was going on. It was a very lost in translation moment for me.
This is like a big time museum too! It's pretty famous, and many people go there. I just do not understand the draw though. I was just so confused the whole freaking time!
Today I had a test in my Differential class and luckily it was super tough, so the teacher helped me with 3 of the 4 problems. That was nice! On the last test I got a 100%. Thanks to my handy dandy notes! Now I will probably sit around today since my life here is just so difficult. I would go outside, but it's rainy again. Stupid Prague. Hopefully tomorrow will be better!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
HAPPY MAYDAY!!!
So, I am glad I missed out on May Day celebrations in Prague. Apparently boys pull you under cherry blossom trees and kiss you. I do not want some rando kissing me under a tree, thank you very much.
Anyway, today in Budapest I got sunburned soooo badly. My skin is basically on fire right now. But, that means it is beautiful here! I wish it was this weather in Prague! It's awesome short weather! I am sure it will be when I get back to Kansas, but at least I will already have some color and not be super pale. I am sure it will be hot in Italy though... anyway I am rambling.
Today we went and saw many things. Let me see if I can remember.
First, we went to the Parliament building (which was quite a walk), then to St. Stephen's Basilica! After we found our way to the National Opera Theater!
We then wanderes down a street and ended up in Hero's Square. In said square there are statues of many Hungarians who are all heros in the eyes of the nation. I wonder if the guy who made the Rubix cube is up there?
After we had lunch in the park, and I had an authentic Hungarian dish, but I am not sure of what it is called. Then we went to the SPA!! I went into a steam bath for the first time ever and it was just awful! It was about 100*C and I could not breathe wahtsoever. The place had a really cool vibe though. There was a huge pool outside, but it was a thermal pool. So you got to hang out in that. People were playing chess in the pool and it was just an awesome time. There was a sulfur pool too, which was different, but I tried it! Then when we were leaving, I walked through the bathroom and saw all these naked, old ladies. Why do old ladies not care about changing in front of people? It's very creepy. The men there wear very little bathing suits too, which is also odd. I miss boys wearing swim trunks, so you cannot see every little detail. It's awful!
Then we rode the bus for free (because apparently it's free here) to a place for dinner. Looked around at shopping places for a while, then off to a boat ride! So exciting! It was beautiful seeing all the buildings at night. Now I am waiting for everyone to get ready, because we are going out to a club for a while!
While I am waiting, I thought of two things I hate about Europe in general:
1. When you want ketchup anywhere (even McDonalds) you MUST pay extra for it.
2. When you are eating anywhere (even McDonalds) you MUST pay for the bathroom.
Basically I am sick of them charging me for things that I should have already paid for when I bought the stupid food. I cannot wait to be in America again, where everything is free and cheap. Until then I have one more day in Budapest, a week and some in Prague, a week in Italy, and six days in Prague again. I canot believe it is almost time for me to go home! Time has gone by so fast here, and it seems it will only go by faster as the month continues!
Well, I will most likely write when I am in Prague again!
Anyway, today in Budapest I got sunburned soooo badly. My skin is basically on fire right now. But, that means it is beautiful here! I wish it was this weather in Prague! It's awesome short weather! I am sure it will be when I get back to Kansas, but at least I will already have some color and not be super pale. I am sure it will be hot in Italy though... anyway I am rambling.
Today we went and saw many things. Let me see if I can remember.
First, we went to the Parliament building (which was quite a walk), then to St. Stephen's Basilica! After we found our way to the National Opera Theater!
We then wanderes down a street and ended up in Hero's Square. In said square there are statues of many Hungarians who are all heros in the eyes of the nation. I wonder if the guy who made the Rubix cube is up there?
After we had lunch in the park, and I had an authentic Hungarian dish, but I am not sure of what it is called. Then we went to the SPA!! I went into a steam bath for the first time ever and it was just awful! It was about 100*C and I could not breathe wahtsoever. The place had a really cool vibe though. There was a huge pool outside, but it was a thermal pool. So you got to hang out in that. People were playing chess in the pool and it was just an awesome time. There was a sulfur pool too, which was different, but I tried it! Then when we were leaving, I walked through the bathroom and saw all these naked, old ladies. Why do old ladies not care about changing in front of people? It's very creepy. The men there wear very little bathing suits too, which is also odd. I miss boys wearing swim trunks, so you cannot see every little detail. It's awful!
Then we rode the bus for free (because apparently it's free here) to a place for dinner. Looked around at shopping places for a while, then off to a boat ride! So exciting! It was beautiful seeing all the buildings at night. Now I am waiting for everyone to get ready, because we are going out to a club for a while!
While I am waiting, I thought of two things I hate about Europe in general:
1. When you want ketchup anywhere (even McDonalds) you MUST pay extra for it.
2. When you are eating anywhere (even McDonalds) you MUST pay for the bathroom.
Basically I am sick of them charging me for things that I should have already paid for when I bought the stupid food. I cannot wait to be in America again, where everything is free and cheap. Until then I have one more day in Budapest, a week and some in Prague, a week in Italy, and six days in Prague again. I canot believe it is almost time for me to go home! Time has gone by so fast here, and it seems it will only go by faster as the month continues!
Well, I will most likely write when I am in Prague again!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
