Blogs from Prague, Czech Republic, Europe - page 186

Bill -- A safe arrival does not necessarily mean that all is as it should be. Well Nancy and I made it safely to Prague, but not all of our personal items. Nancy -- You already know some of the library materials almost went astray. But in our rooms after we had unpacked and put most things away I realized I didn’t have a single turtleneck sweater to wear. I had packed 3 but none were in the suitcases when we unpacked them. That got Bill to checking his things and he realized the two pair of shorts he put in for summer here were also AWOL. That started us on the search. No multivitamins, no aspirin, no Dove unscented soap, no black belts for my slacks, no toothpaste (neither Colgate nor Sensodyne), no Q-Tips. We ... read more

I seem to start every one of these things with some kind of apology for not writing. However, things are different now. I am a new man. A stronger man. One that is too self-centered and wrapped up with his own world to apologize. So if you want one...tough. As each and everyone of you know, being overseas is quite demanding, I don't think I need to apologize about not writing because it only means that I'm not sitting in my crumby little apartment not doing anything. And I haven't. Here is a rundown of what my holiday consisted of. 1. Vienna: Right before I left...with the girls. It was amazing. I thought it was more beautiful than Prague, but then again I saw the sun all day long and did all the touristy stuff instead ... read more

A familiar arctic chill hugged the air which reeked of hot mulled wine, the stalls of the Christmas markets hawked authentic Czech cultural souvinirs (complete with made in China stickers), and an elderly man with a violin sang "blue suede shoes" by Elvis Presley followed by a beautiful rendition of "Shabut Shalom" on a stage in the old town square in front of the Tyn Cathedral. Mother Prague had already held me in her loving arms. I have been in the Czech Republic only hours and have already been offered more drugs than I could possibly snort or inject, been offered the services of Czech prostitutes (of which, I assure you mother, I promptly turned down), and listened to BB King songs being played by his Eastern European equivelant in a basement Jazz Bar next to ... read more

A few pics... read more

The degree of agility that this past week came and went is somewhat disconcerning. I am sitting here on a Monday night, trying to remember things that happened yesterday morning and I'm having a difficult time with it. Time flies at a breakneck speed that I'm having trouble catching up with. However, the things I have done in this past week are simply wonderful. Thursday was Thanksgiving, and the Czechs here actually go out of thier way to make sure that we Americans don't get to celebrate it. I, nor any of my fellow students, have no oven and tracking down a turkey is like going on a quest for the Holy Grail. But have no fear, the ingenious Americans devised a well-thought plan and relished in the idea that the feast must go on. Shannon ... read more