I am blogging

I am simulaneously typing while Amy is typing, but I'm using a crazy
German keyboard and I hate it. We've been sitting in the hospitalitz suite for a few hours now enjoying the free champagne. We've yet to see any of Vienna, but the Champagne sure is good!

Other Direction. I told you before.

For those concerned for our safety, that may or may not be many of you, we arrived in Vienna around 15:30 pm after a 4.5 hours train ride from Prague. Let me say I was impressed with the Super City train - finest European train I have been on thus far. Move over Thalys, here's to Super City.
Upon arrival, we hit the bankomat to get some euros and boarded the D tram to the Opera. We disembarked at the Opera in an effort to find the next transport to Stradtpark. The older gentlemen at the information station told us to take the 2 to Stradtpark. I don't know about you but to me that means ride the number to tram and get off at Stradtpark. So, we board the number 2 in route to Stradtpark, or so we thought...We must have been on this streetcar built during the Hapsburg empire for 30 minutes before asking for help. At that point, Stacie goes up to the tram conductor and says, "Excuse me, does this tram go to Stradtpark? The conductor replies, "other direction!" Alright, then... We sit for awhile and then Stacie goes back for more... "Excuse me, does this tram go to the Stradtpark?" To which the conductor replies, "Other direction, I told you before!" While Stac is in the back being subjected to this, I am thanking the conductor in German. What seemed like an hour goes by, before we get up and hop off the number 2. At this point, I'm forced to resort to asking the Vienna police for directions, only to find out that we are a 5 minute walk from our hotel.
Needless to say, we have arrived! And, we have been in the Executive Lounge having cocktails and appetizers ever since...

On the train to Vienna!

It's a beautiful day and everything's alright...

Today was a perfect lazy Sunday.  After our 14 hour walking tour of the city yesterday, I slept in today.  I think Amy was amazed by my sleeping abilities.  I was a little embarrassed to have slept through breakfast.  Oh well, that's what vacation is for, right?

Today is the first day I've had without rain and it was wonderful to see the sun again.  We first took the metro down to Wenceslaus square for some shopping and photos.  The boulevard was full of people out for a Sunday stroll and it was great for people watching.  We stopped in a tucked away tea house for a relaxing, Zen like experience.  I had the "Mucho Rancho" a Maté drink served in a cup so crazy I had to buy one to bring back to the states.  We each ordered a delicious couscous snack with currants, mandarin oranges, cinnamon and sweet cream.  We spent quite a while just relaxing on the patio, soaking up the environment.

Then we went back through Old Town looking for a botanical shop that we never actually found.  We wandered for a while and took several pictures before making our way back to the vegetarian restaurant "Clear Head" that we had found the day before.  You know a place is great when you go twice in one weekend!  This time we skipped the main course and just had appetizers and dessert.  

After dinner we walked back across the Charles Bridge and found the John Lennon wall.  It's an entire wall covered in graffiti dedicated to John Lennon, so yes, I was in my element.  We stopped at the "John and George Cafe" and had a few Gambrinus (local Czech beers) that went down very easily tonight.  By the time we finished our drinks it was time to walk back across the bridge and take in the city at night.  The city is even more enchanting all lit up.  I think that it has been a bit too cold and rainy the last two nights to actually enjoy the night scenery, so I was glad I got to see the city tonight in all it's glory.

Tomorrow we are checking out of the Lida and heading to the train station on our way to Vienna.  It's supposed to be in the 70's there, so hopefully we can put the raincoats away for good.

Clear Head and Mystic Pizza... It was meant to be!

Saturday found us on the go... literally from 10:30am - midnight. While enjoying my breakfast at the Lida, our B&B, I met Ron and Ryan, B&B owners from Budapest. I was grateful to get some tips for our last destination from two locals and amazed to find out that Ryan writes for Fodor's Budapest.

After breakfast, we set out for the Strahov Monastery. I always think of my dear friend Fr. Anthony when visiting monasteries. He would have loved it! I enjoyed touring the grounds and the peaceful sound of the bells, as well as some of the best views of Prague from "the hill."

Mid-day it was time to head across the river for lunch. I had read about a vegetarian restaurant called Lehka Hlava ("Clear Head") in my Rick Steve's guide. I was unable to dine there without a reservation on Thursday, so our innkeeper, Jan, made us a reservation for us for lunch Saturday. All I can say is YUM! I had fresh mint tea, hummus for an appetizer, couscous patties for an entree, carrot cake for desert, and finished it all off with an aztec hot chocolate. The carrot cake was shaved carrots, coconut, and ginger (no sugar, flour, eggs), covered in chocolate sauce! And, the hot chocolate, served in a demi cup, was so thick I needed a spoon to eat it. Can you say delish?

We loved Clear Head so much we are going back there for dinner on Sunday night, our last evening in Prague. After lunch we went back up the hill to see Prague Castle and tour St. Vitus Cathedral. On our way back down the hill in search of a WC, we walked down some steps and spotted the Mystic Pizzera. Had to be fate, right? I mean here we are two Sigma Kappas in Prague and we stumble upon the Mystic Pizza...We simply had to go in and have a pilsner.

As we walked back down the hill, we came to an absinthe shop. Curious as we are, we went in for a tasting. The absinthe tasting was quite an experience... I can now say I've tried the "forbidden in the states" drink. I wouldn't say I liked the taste, but I thought it was potent stuff!

Saturday evening while wondering through an alley near Old Town, a guy walking near us asks, "are you all Americans?" We responded yes and that began our evening with our new friend, Josh, from Florida. Josh is in Prague, along with his mum, visiting his ailing Czech grandma. We walked to Wenceslas Square, where he is staying, and had a beer, before settling on a restaurant for dinner. We enjoyed some good Italian and finished the meal with shots of Czech liquor. We then headed to an English pub where we said goodbye to Josh for the night and hopped the metro back to our B&B completely exhausted after an adventure-filled day.

So looking forward to returning to Clear Head for dinner Sunday night... Will try to post some photos, including Helmut's Saturday adventures, sometime Sunday. Cheers!

Helmut the Gnomes' first appearance

I'd like to introduce you to our traveling companion, Helmut the Gnome. Here he is enjoying a light drizzle on Charles Bridge with Prague Castle in the background.

Stay tuned for Helmut's tour of Eastern European landmarks.

When the lights go down on the city

After a long day battling the rain we stopped inside a market that sold all kinds of Czech crafts such as handmade soaps, lotions, wooden puppets, and all sorts of other authentic Czech pieces.  Just as we finished picking out which items to purchase, the power went off and the whole street lost electricity.  Of course, as Americans we just wanted to know... can we still buy this stuff?

The staff there was very helpful and got to work calculating the prices by hand with candlelight.  Of course, we found this to be blogworthy so we asked the girls if we could take their picture while they finished the calculations.  They were so excited that they had us take several pics to make sure we got their "good sides".  They immediately pulled out an Iphone and found me on Facebook and sent me a friend request.  We promised to post the pics on Facebook so they could have a copy.  

The first picture is taken with flash, so you can't really see how dark the store was.  The second picture more adequately represents the situation.  

In case you're wondering, we got out of there with our wares.  Not sure how long or why the power was off.

I don't think we're in Kansas anymore...

As we wandered through the alleys of Old Town Prague, we came upon the most peculiar museum EVER.  We simply couldn't pass it by.  "IT" being the Sex Machines Museum.  What is that you ask?  This is not for the faint of heart.  Republicans... this is your warning, turn back now.

It's 3 stories of museum dedicated to "mechanical apparatus" from ancient to modern times... use your imagination.  No, not even your imagination can deliver the full impact of this museum.  

The best 250 crowns ($12) I've spent thus far.   While looking at one of the "exhibits," and assuming we were the only English speakers in the room, Stacie said "What would you do if something like that came at you?"  Without missing a beat, a random man replied "run, run far away.  Do not look back, just keep running."  We both laughed until our sides hurt.  I think I may have nightmares tonight.