We are still alive, but internet service is so spotty that we haven"t been able to post anything. Riding now in Germany, in Bogen, Bavaria. Close to the Austrian border. This keyboard is very European, and causing me much consternation.
After taking the train from Plzen to Regensburg, we have now encountered wonderful riding along the Danube River. Met a really nice German couple who showed us around Regensburg. Thank you Lou and Manuela for a great tour. We may stop in and see you in Chom on our way back to Frankfurt.....
This is not on my ipad and I am running out of time, so until I can do better we will be thinking of all of you.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
I lost my sunglasses today
All is well in Plzen. Got a great deal at the Marriott here, thanks to our daughter Carrie. Not alot of Czech culture here, but we were worn out today with the communication barrier anyway. Needed quite a bit of help today with directions, and just ran across too many folks who seemed like they'd rather not have us around when we only speak English. It's kind of funny when we ask a random pedestrian and they pretend to not notice us, or wave us away like we are asking for a donation. But people at information kiosks or merchants might try to understand that we wouldn't be asking if we didn't have a problem!
Laura found a friendly couple of clerks to help get us directions through Plzen to our hotel, and we are across the street from the famous old brewery. So we are rallying after a shower, out to eat at a pizza and pasta place a few blocks away. American music, Italian food, Czech waitress ...she is very nice and the food is really good- we wolfed it- hungry anyone?!
Pilsner was invented right here. But to get here we left Beroun on a nasty no shoulder road after working to find a route to ride. We switched bikes after an hour of slow, into the wind hills where Laura battled a little of everything. Voila, all better. Then we found the E3 bike trail in Rokycany (try pronouncing it correctly) and the riding began through the forest over hill and dale. Every dale deep in the cool lush forest, every hill having a beautiful view of the red roofed villages and rolling green fields. Both our butts are ravaged, rosier than the fields of red poppies we rode past. And much happier off the bike than on.
Now a decision has to be made about tomorrow. Can't do another eight hour ride, or Laura will get on the first train to Paris. We are trying to determine if the E3 continues west from here into Germany. Or may train it out of Czech.
After a couple of glasses of wine, Laura has inserted some of the above prose. Any guesses which turns of words are hers? And sorry, photos will be on fb.....uugh
Laura found a friendly couple of clerks to help get us directions through Plzen to our hotel, and we are across the street from the famous old brewery. So we are rallying after a shower, out to eat at a pizza and pasta place a few blocks away. American music, Italian food, Czech waitress ...she is very nice and the food is really good- we wolfed it- hungry anyone?!
Pilsner was invented right here. But to get here we left Beroun on a nasty no shoulder road after working to find a route to ride. We switched bikes after an hour of slow, into the wind hills where Laura battled a little of everything. Voila, all better. Then we found the E3 bike trail in Rokycany (try pronouncing it correctly) and the riding began through the forest over hill and dale. Every dale deep in the cool lush forest, every hill having a beautiful view of the red roofed villages and rolling green fields. Both our butts are ravaged, rosier than the fields of red poppies we rode past. And much happier off the bike than on.
Now a decision has to be made about tomorrow. Can't do another eight hour ride, or Laura will get on the first train to Paris. We are trying to determine if the E3 continues west from here into Germany. Or may train it out of Czech.
After a couple of glasses of wine, Laura has inserted some of the above prose. Any guesses which turns of words are hers? And sorry, photos will be on fb.....uugh
New bike seats
Cemetery, dr Franz Kafka , Zizka hill, bar on top, storm, dogs, lizard, gothic church, walk to river, swans,storm at night.
We found a little adventure. Pretty whipped right now after a day of hot riding. But things are looking up after a shower and the prospect of a nice dinner.
Yesterday was pretty routine, our day spent mostly with the dead. We toured the Prague cemetery out in the east part of town. Found the grave of Franz Kafka, along with many other famous Czech heroes. I wanted to find the largest horse sculpture in the world, so we looked into it by visiting Zizka Hill. Or so we thought, until we arrived at the top of the hill in a rainstorm and spotted the giant cement horse about a half mile away.
Hustling into a garage sized building, to get of of the rain, we found ourselves inside a small bar, and ordered two Kozel drafts. The bar was more than full, with people along with seven or eight dogs, and an iguana type lizard in a bag next to us.
In the middle of last another t-storm blew through, this one dumping hail. So things were a little damp when we started out with our new friend, who kindly rode with us for a couple of hours to guide us out of Prague. Things were simple until she left us to take the train back home. But not soon after she left we became lost at a muddy dead end, only to take a few more wrong junctions. At each impossible choice we would stop to ask for help. Using sign language only. Our Czech is minimal. We know ano, ahoy, and most. So we wave the map and start a painful process. But all the people are patient with us, and there is no reason they should know a word of English
Karlstein Castle finally appeared, and we took the tour, learning about King Charles and his wives. Back in the saddle for Beroun, where it took us an hour and three or four tries to find a room. I'm writing next morning from the Ostrovo Hotel, located on the river. Kids are playing outside our window. Beroun is a very pretty town, and the countryside along the ride has been as green, hilly, and perfect as it could be. No wonder this area has been fought over so many times.
We plan to make Plzen tonight, if all goes to plan. The new bike seats should make for an interesting day.
We found a little adventure. Pretty whipped right now after a day of hot riding. But things are looking up after a shower and the prospect of a nice dinner.
Yesterday was pretty routine, our day spent mostly with the dead. We toured the Prague cemetery out in the east part of town. Found the grave of Franz Kafka, along with many other famous Czech heroes. I wanted to find the largest horse sculpture in the world, so we looked into it by visiting Zizka Hill. Or so we thought, until we arrived at the top of the hill in a rainstorm and spotted the giant cement horse about a half mile away.
Hustling into a garage sized building, to get of of the rain, we found ourselves inside a small bar, and ordered two Kozel drafts. The bar was more than full, with people along with seven or eight dogs, and an iguana type lizard in a bag next to us.
In the middle of last another t-storm blew through, this one dumping hail. So things were a little damp when we started out with our new friend, who kindly rode with us for a couple of hours to guide us out of Prague. Things were simple until she left us to take the train back home. But not soon after she left we became lost at a muddy dead end, only to take a few more wrong junctions. At each impossible choice we would stop to ask for help. Using sign language only. Our Czech is minimal. We know ano, ahoy, and most. So we wave the map and start a painful process. But all the people are patient with us, and there is no reason they should know a word of English
Karlstein Castle finally appeared, and we took the tour, learning about King Charles and his wives. Back in the saddle for Beroun, where it took us an hour and three or four tries to find a room. I'm writing next morning from the Ostrovo Hotel, located on the river. Kids are playing outside our window. Beroun is a very pretty town, and the countryside along the ride has been as green, hilly, and perfect as it could be. No wonder this area has been fought over so many times.
We plan to make Plzen tonight, if all goes to plan. The new bike seats should make for an interesting day.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Stalin
Good morning Dora. Happy birthday! We will be thinking about you all day. Have a big party today and blow out all the candles.
Last night's meal was sketchy. We decided to try a small outdoor cafe down the street from our hotel based on a raving recommendation from a British couple I talked to. Doesn't say much for what they are used to if this was a place they would return to. Laura picked through a potato pancake with chicken and cheese on top, and I wolfed down a platter full of spaghetti with spinach and Parmesan cheese on top. Worst thing really was the unfriendly service. Not exactly rude, but surly enough to leave a bad impression.
Public transportation in Prague is very efficient, and with our handy universal pass we hop on anything that moves and travel all over town. Yesterday we made our way down to the old Jewish town, where they had a town within a town of their own back in the 1600's. Then across the Vlatava to a spot high above where a giant metronome slowly fans back and forth, built on the site where fifty years ago stood the world's largest statue of Joe Stalin. It was blown up after the fall of communism.
As a stopgap measure, we are going to post photos to Laura's Facebook page. The first three should be on there...... On to the Prague Apple store for help with posting photos to the blog. We are halfway there, but haven't succeeded yet. Spent much of the afternoon trying to find an app to help, but no luck so far. Funny how the server here puts Czech or Russian on the screen at random times. How can a person use google translator when the instructions are indecipherable?
On to the subject of WC's, as they call them here. Public toilets are pay as you go, so to say, some with attendants, some with toll booths. Of course we don't have proper, if any, coins. So it's best to use a restaurant or bar, and these are located in the bowels of the establishment, probably to discourage use by passersby. Built in what apparently were former pay phone booth sized closets, these privies force you to squeeze past the door to close it, wedge yourself between the sink and wall, and sit on a toilet the size of a competition frisbee. The ubiquitous round brush is necessary at times because the drain out the bottom of the bowl has the diameter of a Czech coin. Forget about reaching and ripping the toilet paper while seated, this requires twisting and reaching for the roll. But they've been clean, and no graffiti so far.
We leave Prague tomorrow morning on our bikes. Adventure awaits.
Last night's meal was sketchy. We decided to try a small outdoor cafe down the street from our hotel based on a raving recommendation from a British couple I talked to. Doesn't say much for what they are used to if this was a place they would return to. Laura picked through a potato pancake with chicken and cheese on top, and I wolfed down a platter full of spaghetti with spinach and Parmesan cheese on top. Worst thing really was the unfriendly service. Not exactly rude, but surly enough to leave a bad impression.
Public transportation in Prague is very efficient, and with our handy universal pass we hop on anything that moves and travel all over town. Yesterday we made our way down to the old Jewish town, where they had a town within a town of their own back in the 1600's. Then across the Vlatava to a spot high above where a giant metronome slowly fans back and forth, built on the site where fifty years ago stood the world's largest statue of Joe Stalin. It was blown up after the fall of communism.
As a stopgap measure, we are going to post photos to Laura's Facebook page. The first three should be on there...... On to the Prague Apple store for help with posting photos to the blog. We are halfway there, but haven't succeeded yet. Spent much of the afternoon trying to find an app to help, but no luck so far. Funny how the server here puts Czech or Russian on the screen at random times. How can a person use google translator when the instructions are indecipherable?
On to the subject of WC's, as they call them here. Public toilets are pay as you go, so to say, some with attendants, some with toll booths. Of course we don't have proper, if any, coins. So it's best to use a restaurant or bar, and these are located in the bowels of the establishment, probably to discourage use by passersby. Built in what apparently were former pay phone booth sized closets, these privies force you to squeeze past the door to close it, wedge yourself between the sink and wall, and sit on a toilet the size of a competition frisbee. The ubiquitous round brush is necessary at times because the drain out the bottom of the bowl has the diameter of a Czech coin. Forget about reaching and ripping the toilet paper while seated, this requires twisting and reaching for the roll. But they've been clean, and no graffiti so far.
We leave Prague tomorrow morning on our bikes. Adventure awaits.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
The Baby Eiffel Tower
Russian, British, American, German, Polish, Japanese, Spanish, Italian, and many others of unknown origin. We've seen them all, heard them all, along with many more. If New York is the melting pot of the U.S., then Prague is surely the same for eastern Europe.
And we are actually catching on to a little of the language after a lesson from our new American friend Don out in the south end of town. We travelled out to Haje yesterday to pay Renata for our new transportation, a pair of bicycles she found for us on the Czech Craigs list. Renata's sister Lucy is married to an American who loves to talk, and he gave us a lesson on the strange words we try to decipher. The bikes are perfect, and I will do my best to provide pictures.
This region is at the center of Bohemia. The word comes from the name of an old tribe of people the Romans conquered around the turn of the century. The first century. Ever since, there has been a city here on a bend of the Vlatava river. We watched tour boats plying the river last night below the Charles bridge, the most famous landmark in Prague. After a Thai curry dinner down in old town, preceded by a two hour drinking session at an Irish pub, we were challenged with the job of getting home on the trolley. Finding the connections and
stops, combined with correct rail lines can be a litle rough.
Earlier we had climbed the steps of a mini Eiffel tower, built for a Czech exhibition. It sits on a commanding hill above the river and the town. A funicular carried us up to the base, up a high hill above the water.
Renata is working on finding us a bike friendly route out of Prague, and we plan to meet out at her place on Tuesday to depart the metro area and into the countryside. Pictures are a must for the blog, we are working on strategies. This is a beautiful city, deserves at least a few pictures! I am writing this over a cup of coffee on a quiet Sunday morning, and the computer shows two am in Denver. Can't think about that or it will make you crazy.
And we are actually catching on to a little of the language after a lesson from our new American friend Don out in the south end of town. We travelled out to Haje yesterday to pay Renata for our new transportation, a pair of bicycles she found for us on the Czech Craigs list. Renata's sister Lucy is married to an American who loves to talk, and he gave us a lesson on the strange words we try to decipher. The bikes are perfect, and I will do my best to provide pictures.
This region is at the center of Bohemia. The word comes from the name of an old tribe of people the Romans conquered around the turn of the century. The first century. Ever since, there has been a city here on a bend of the Vlatava river. We watched tour boats plying the river last night below the Charles bridge, the most famous landmark in Prague. After a Thai curry dinner down in old town, preceded by a two hour drinking session at an Irish pub, we were challenged with the job of getting home on the trolley. Finding the connections and
stops, combined with correct rail lines can be a litle rough.
Earlier we had climbed the steps of a mini Eiffel tower, built for a Czech exhibition. It sits on a commanding hill above the river and the town. A funicular carried us up to the base, up a high hill above the water.
Renata is working on finding us a bike friendly route out of Prague, and we plan to meet out at her place on Tuesday to depart the metro area and into the countryside. Pictures are a must for the blog, we are working on strategies. This is a beautiful city, deserves at least a few pictures! I am writing this over a cup of coffee on a quiet Sunday morning, and the computer shows two am in Denver. Can't think about that or it will make you crazy.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Jet lagged but content
I am sitting out on the back porch of our hotel in Prague, which looks much as it did in the middle ages, only with electricity and Internet. High brick walls surrounded by green gardens. This is the first chance I have had to write a word.
We spent yesterday in Frankfurt, dazed from jet lag. After rallying enough to begin walking, we found the old town very lively due to a holiday having to do with Easter. All fathers are encouraged to get drunk. The ancient town square was alive with street vendors, jugglers, buskers, acrobats, and European people who were ripe for people watching. There were beer bike wagons built for eight people, who sat at a counter on wheels and pedaled around Frankfurt. We crossed the Main River on a romantic old, massive bridge, where lovers pledge everlasting togetherness by attaching engraved padlocks to the railing. The various locks are painted or engraved with the names, along with hearts or plus signs. Some are threaded through the links of chains.
After dinner at an authentic Chinese restaurant, we walked back to an early bedtime, worn out at eight o'clock. After a night with no sleep crammed in a tight seat on a 747, we felt a sense of accomplishment just for making it through the day without a nap. Today was spent on a train and bus to Prague,where we met our new friend Jana. We had arranged to meet at the train station, and she was a big help for two folks not used to the language. We toured the entire historic district with her, and had a nice dinner of goulash, and some other Czech food, the name of which was totally indecipherable. Try the google translator on a few phrases in Czech and you will get an idea of what we are in for as we ride our bikes through the countryside in the next few weeks.
This hotel has Internet down here on the patio, so I will try to keep up the writing. Stay tuned for profiles of famous Czech heroes like Good King Wenceslas and Jan Hus. Lots of old Roman remains also, like the lion with two tails.
I just tried to post a picture with this, but as far as I can tell the IPad won't upload it. I will experiment further see if I can get it done. Hope all is well back in the real world.
We spent yesterday in Frankfurt, dazed from jet lag. After rallying enough to begin walking, we found the old town very lively due to a holiday having to do with Easter. All fathers are encouraged to get drunk. The ancient town square was alive with street vendors, jugglers, buskers, acrobats, and European people who were ripe for people watching. There were beer bike wagons built for eight people, who sat at a counter on wheels and pedaled around Frankfurt. We crossed the Main River on a romantic old, massive bridge, where lovers pledge everlasting togetherness by attaching engraved padlocks to the railing. The various locks are painted or engraved with the names, along with hearts or plus signs. Some are threaded through the links of chains.
After dinner at an authentic Chinese restaurant, we walked back to an early bedtime, worn out at eight o'clock. After a night with no sleep crammed in a tight seat on a 747, we felt a sense of accomplishment just for making it through the day without a nap. Today was spent on a train and bus to Prague,where we met our new friend Jana. We had arranged to meet at the train station, and she was a big help for two folks not used to the language. We toured the entire historic district with her, and had a nice dinner of goulash, and some other Czech food, the name of which was totally indecipherable. Try the google translator on a few phrases in Czech and you will get an idea of what we are in for as we ride our bikes through the countryside in the next few weeks.
This hotel has Internet down here on the patio, so I will try to keep up the writing. Stay tuned for profiles of famous Czech heroes like Good King Wenceslas and Jan Hus. Lots of old Roman remains also, like the lion with two tails.
I just tried to post a picture with this, but as far as I can tell the IPad won't upload it. I will experiment further see if I can get it done. Hope all is well back in the real world.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Bon Voyage
As near as we can figure, the house is prepped for a six week stretch of silence. The two cats will be lonely, if that's possible for a cat.
Our packs are filled with what we have determined are essentials. Whether or not we packed too much or not enough will be determined as we roll down the Danube. We are looking forward to flying to Frankfurt on Singapore Air, which is rated a the #1 airline. We'll see about that.
The next post should be from Frankfurt. If I'm not too jet lagged it might even make some sense. I'm really too ancient for these time warps. When it takes a week to adjust you know you are old.
So we've tried to turn things off for the first half of the summer here. Feels funny, kind of like an Einstein thing where we stop in time and watch from above as the world continues on without us.
Our packs are filled with what we have determined are essentials. Whether or not we packed too much or not enough will be determined as we roll down the Danube. We are looking forward to flying to Frankfurt on Singapore Air, which is rated a the #1 airline. We'll see about that.
The next post should be from Frankfurt. If I'm not too jet lagged it might even make some sense. I'm really too ancient for these time warps. When it takes a week to adjust you know you are old.
So we've tried to turn things off for the first half of the summer here. Feels funny, kind of like an Einstein thing where we stop in time and watch from above as the world continues on without us.
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