Prague on a Rainy Day

Well, here I am in Prague, a really wonderful place when it´s not raining, and not too bad when it is, like now. And Iˇm having to learn a new keyboard once again. Some of it like Germany, and some new features. Punctuation will not be good, I fear. So far, it has been easier to communicate in English here than it was in either Berlin or Dresden. Thatś a surprise. I expected English to be widley spoken in Germany, and not as much here. Seems the reverse is true, at least in my experience.

I arrived here after a nice two hour plus train ride from Dresden. The trains, at least so far, a have been reallÿ nice, and on time, with the one exception I think I mentioned. Today I have to make my reservation from here to Salzburg. I think I´ll have to change trains during that run.
Expanding on Prague, itś a really nice city, very photogenic, and really what I guess you could call vibrant.

I arrived in mid afternoon on Friday, and checked ïnto the hotel. The hostels were all booked, except for dormitory rooms, and Iˇm not quite ready for that. Hotel is supposed to be a 3 star, but I think they really stretched to get the 3rd one. The bathroom is interesting. About 3 by 8 feet, and includes a sink, commode and flexible shower wand. Close the door and you can take care of all your needs.

Walked around the downtown area, and found an Irish Pub, where I had a Budvar or Budweiser. I can´t figure out the parens on this keyboard. Then I had a pizza and a local beer. Pretty international meal, what. I can´t figure out the question mark either. This is becoming a real language barrier. Use your imaginations. Downtown was really busy on Friday nite. I found the same thing in AU. last year.

On Saturday, I took a 6 hour walking tour. Part of it was a cruise down the river, and another was a long lunch, so, no, I didn´t walk for 6 straight hours. As it was an English speaking tour, everyone on it seemed to be from England or one of the colonies. On the river part, I talked to an AU couple on their way to Dubai for a job, oil, I guess. Then at lunch, there were an English couple, 2 Canadians, a lady from S. Africa, and me, the yank. Later, the S. African and I had dinner.

I didn´t take as many photos on the tour as I usually do, as the pace was pretty fast, and it would have been easy to get separated. But I plan on retracing our steps, and make up for it. The Prague castle is really something to see, particularly St. Vitusś cathedral. Have to buy an extra ticket if you want to take photos inside.

Prague was unique in WWII, in that it was rarely, if ever bombed, as were many of the other major European cities. Having been in Berlin and Dresden, which really suffered, Itś easy to see the difference it made. Prague has a much more pronounced old world look to it, at least my view of the old world. It had itś ghetto, as well. And it was a ghetto for centuries before Hitler came around, which surprised me. I guess I need to study up on my European history.

Forgot to mention thät there was a political demonstration, brass band and all, in Dresden the nite before I left, follow on to recent election. Looked pretty peaceful to me, but the square it was held in was pretty well surrounded bz the Polizie, many of whom had on riot gear.
Those of you who were included in my reports from AU last year may remember my comments on AUś White Australia policy. I met one of the benificiaries of that policy at breakfäst today. An Aussie who had just arived in Europe after a trip from Vladivostok Russia all the way across Russia. He was German born, and had emigrated to AU in 1949. It was pretty clear that he wished the White Australia policy was still in effect.

The rain hasn´t stopped, but I need to get out and about anÿway, so this will be it for now.