Finding me-self in the Praha

I am sleeping when the door to my dorm room opens.
“Up!” says the maid.
“Excuse me?”
She lifts her arms.
“UP!”
“Oh. Okay then.”
I get up and she changes my sheets. I lean into the closet to find my outfit for the day and I feel a hand tap my rear. I look up to see her laughing as she exits. After getting over the bewilderment from being awoken from a dream and being fondled by a Czech maid, I go to school. SCHOOL. What a foreign concept! I take the train, which people ride basically for free on the honors system, and go by the sites I have walked and gotten lost in several times already.

Castles, cathedrals, general gorgeous scenery:



Weird art: Franz Kafka:

And architecture:
Cubism:



Cobble stone streets (my poor high heels have not left the suitcase)Fashion:

Chandeliers:

I had a thought of buying one if I could find a tiny and more importantly cheap one, meaning less than $50, to like, put next to my plant or use for parties or something … but unfortunately, I couldn’t score any Swarovski crystals for a good price. But this is good because I don’t have the additional self-imposed challenge of figuring out how to get it home.

Other than that, besides meeting some fantastic people and getting some edumacation in my other secret identity of writing, here are other things I accomplished in Prague:

Aside from the few goulash indulgences, there were days when I had this diet:
Breakfast: a donut. Lunch: A hot dog Dinner: pepperoni pizza. Snacks: ice cream and a bag of mnm’s.
The next day, when I had a piece of lettuce on my sandwich I got concerned I was getting off track with too many vitamins. However, with all the MacDonalds and KFC locations, I have not once succumbed to homesickness for America in that way. Woohoo!

And finally, I have confirmed the discovery my “inner travel child.” This comes with the knowledge of a) Though it is hard at the time, I like being alone, because for some reason this is when I have the most fun, b) I am now a big fan of yoga, which was offered for free twice a week and whether because of the location or the humidity or the teacher, made me hooked on it and even getting a little more fond of nature (of which there are several spots in Prague...not just mowed grass, but even some trees) and c) Perhaps this is bad, but often I can only fully appreciate things later by looking at the pictures. I have a knack for creating juxtapositions in pictures, particularly with advertisements I find funny.

I enjoy this a lot actually. Maybe too much. But in Prague, there are no boundaries.

Pukey la Paris

Rule #1 in a travel experience with Liz:  no matter what, when, how, where, etc. there NEEDS to be at least one really amazingly not fun experience.  It is just a requirement.  After all, where would I get material for these blogs if that were not the case?

Two summers ago, on my first trip to Europe, I got sick before I left, and was sick the entire time until I came home (I was better by then).  I also neglected to bring the right plug adapter to Italy, and naturally, this mistake was bad.  I could not buy one there.  It then took me 2 days to get home because of flight delays, being stranded at the Rome and Montreal airports (in Montreal, a hotel an hour away from the airport with a voucher of not enough value to get me there which resulted in a lovely shouting match with a cab driver), and almost being moved off the last flight home because of overcrowding.  

I also realize I might have caused some concern with the last blog about my survival skills, but the reality is that I am quite badass.  That is why, despite some horrified reactions from people, I decided to take the plunge and try to see some of the freaking world.     

On this trip, the little tortures that come with traveling have been frequent and strong.  A few (of many) things include spending an hour of a two hour period in Munich looking for the ladies room, having to abandon needed items for the sake of time after trying in vain to unlock a broken door, somehow getting possession of counterfeit money, setting off the fire alarm in the train station (my elbow slipped, sorry), spilling my makeup all over the floor when trying to participate in an estrogen bonding experience with other girls on the group, having my headphones break before the 9 hour bus ride, and finally, coming down with the flu right as I got to Paris.  Although I knew my body was shutting down, I was determined to get up the Eiffel tower with everyone.  With my whole body shaking, my chest hurting every time I breathed in, and my stomach cramping, I clung to the metal handles of the elevator with one hand and to a bottle of pepto with the other.  I made it up (barely), took a picture, and went back down. 

As I waited for the elevator, I had a romantic moment by being hit on by a toothless Algerian.  I was about to head for the stairs when the elevator finally came.  I had to stand next to him for the next five minutes as he repeatedly tried to get my information, obviously not turned off by me hunched over, pale, and about to puke.

“Phone numbah?”  

“I don’t have a phone.” 

“Email?”  

“Don’t have a computer.  Excuse me.  I gotta go over here now.”

The next day, while the rest of the group went to Paris, I spent 14 hours in a 9 x 9 log cabin.  This was probably good because I sweat so much that I probably lost a pound or two, broke the fever, and my stomach calmed down.  Once I was feeling somewhat normal again, though still weak, I went to try and meet up with the group for the fancy dinner and cabaret show.  A bus driver for another group offered to give me a lift, which I happily accepted.  Two hours later, we had not gotten a mile from the hostel because of traffic.

I ended up having dinner with a different group and still making the cabaret show which was fun.  However, during the show, I wanted a glass of water, but all they had was champagne.  At the end, I was so desperate for a sip of water that I went into a bar next door and bought the only thing they had – a one-liter bottle for 6 Euro. 

The contiki trip was a very efficient way to see a lot of Europe in a short amount of time (not necessarily experience it all but at least see it), and with 50 other people and a lot of claustrophobia...let’s just get to the point:  I won’t be doing it again.  I am thankful to be getting better now and that I didn’t lose anything of massive importance along the way.  I even got to see a couple sites in Paris yesterday...without fear of throwing up.  And now, finally, I’m going to Prague. 

Here are a few pics:

Cliffs of Dover

Venice

Pigeons in Venice

Swiss chocolate makes everything all better. 

At the top of the Swiss Alps

French Delicacy

Mona

Notre Dame 

Yippeeee!