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(July 8, 2006-July 11, 2006)
Olomouc treated us well, and we were surprised at how relaxing the town left us, we weren't too sure how to feel on the ride to Prague. The ride was short, quiet, and comfortable towards Prague--we decided to sit in first class, and didn't mind paying the extra fare. The train arrived at Praha Holesevice, north of the city. After settling into a lackluster hostel, we met up with the Irish boys at the end of Vaclavske nameski. After a few drinks, and meeting up with other people, we headed out to to Karlovy Lazne Dance Club, a five story nightclub that is next to Charles Bridge and overlooking the Vlatava. The walk was exciting full of very interesting characters. Call girls trying to seduce men into paying for sex by providing hand massages, in private areas, in the middle of the street, as well as pimps telling us where the cheapest girls were. We walked past the historic center, and the Astronomical Clock, and finally made it to the club. Packed inside, and not wearing our best clothes we sat outside with Emmet, while he recovered. After walking around some more, we were ready to go back to the hostel, but fortunately for us we met an Englishman on his bachelor party. He told us all the wild things that may happen in Prague with money. With those stories, we sat at a bar all early morning until the sun came up. Our memories from Budapest kept the fire of the conversation alive, and the friendship between all of us grew. Recalling everything was marvelous.

Later that day, already in the afternoon, we took it easy, and walked in the historic center and onto Charles Bridge. Already a bit late, we went once again to meet up with the Irish crowd to watch the World Cup Final. A great atmosphere, half the crowd at the bar was for Italy, and the other for France. Italy won, and we left once again to the same night club as the night before. This time the walk was better.
Between the Charles Bridge and the nightclub there is a sort of arcade that has many tourist shops, and restaurants. A pizza joint called our attention. While all of us enjoyed pizza and beer, a person that can only be described as crazy came out of nowhere. Literally a cartoon character in her body language and mannerisms, a Japanese girl came towards our group and made the funniest, most out of line movements with her arms. As she finished she looked around the group, and punched Will--something that she would do for the next ten minutes. We couldn't get her to settle down, in order to have a conversation with her, and in all of her crazy movements, she slapped the camera out of my hand and broke it. For the rest of the time in Prague, I was not able to take any more pictures, and we now only have memories of that night and the next day.

For me the night ended early, a bit sad about the camera, I left the group behind, and went to bed. I woke up at around 9, and with my brother not back yet, I took a shower and headed out to the post office to send some post cards. By now it was 10, and my brother had not returned. I was a bit ticked, as we had planned to do somethings, so I decided to go and explore on my own. The tram took me into the center of town. I got lost, and explored every corner that I could. I found myself all the way in the south of the city, and crossed a bridge to the west bank of the river. I strolled all the way to Charles Bridge. My walk was quiet and full of thought. The only thing that was in my head was how beautiful the day was, and how I wished my brother were with me. Memories flooded my mind; every city we had traveled to. All the nights of drunken fun we had had the past five weeks, and the year before. All the individuals we met. All the moments that I had shared with him made me nostalgic. And as I made my way to Charles Bridge I knew I had to go back to the hostel, and share Prague with him.

He was taking a shower when I got back to the hostel. I told him about my walk, and we were off to explore the city. We walked the city all day. Every important corner we saw. (Including a very cool walk through the Communist Museum--well worth it). The day could not have been any more beautiful. The memories of the city are still very much fresh in my mind, and especially the bright colors of the roofs of the buildings when seen from Prague Castle.

That night, after midnight, we celebrated my brother's birthday. No sleep. We left for the airport. My brother fell asleep in the taxi. Once in the airport we ate, and sat at the gate, happy that we had made the flight in time. The next thing we know, we hear people laughing at us. We both wake up--we had fallen asleep immediately after sitting down. The flight attendants were laughing, asking us if this was our flight, as they were closing the gate. We were the last ones on the plane.

Our five weeks in Europe were wonderful. The memories that I share with my brother, no one will ever take away.

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