BonBon Stand in Frankfurt Old Town
15 December, 2004
The Mighty Euro
With the exchange rate at $1.25 to 1 Euro, it was pretty expensive to travel in Europe.
14 December, 2004
13 December, 2004
Frankfurt International Airport
I´m at Frankfurt right now. I will be heading home in a little over an hour. As fun as this trip was, I am looking forward to being home.
I had my first real meal last night at Leipzig. Notwithstanding my schnitzel and goulash meals, I´ve had everything at street stalls. I ordered a wild boar steak with wild mushrooms and apple. The cream of tomato soup was very good. But it wasn´t creamy at all and that was fine by me. I had a .5 liter of Bavarian wheat beer and a glass of Beaujolais. The total bill came out to €24. It wasn´t cheap. But it wasn´t expensive either.
I wish I had more time to see Leipzig. The museum detailing Leipzig´s peaceful student uprising against the East German government and the local STASI office was a block from my hostel. Perhaps in the future. Now I can´t wait to be home.
I had my first real meal last night at Leipzig. Notwithstanding my schnitzel and goulash meals, I´ve had everything at street stalls. I ordered a wild boar steak with wild mushrooms and apple. The cream of tomato soup was very good. But it wasn´t creamy at all and that was fine by me. I had a .5 liter of Bavarian wheat beer and a glass of Beaujolais. The total bill came out to €24. It wasn´t cheap. But it wasn´t expensive either.
I wish I had more time to see Leipzig. The museum detailing Leipzig´s peaceful student uprising against the East German government and the local STASI office was a block from my hostel. Perhaps in the future. Now I can´t wait to be home.
12 December, 2004
Prague Day 2
It's my second morning in Prague and I am already leaving. I continue to have mixed feelings about this city. I had a great time and think the city is great to visit. Food and drinks are very affordable, the city beautiful, and the Czechs friendly. However, the town center is one large tourist trap. I guess it is no different than any other historically significant and physically attractive cities. But very few locals live in Prague's central districts. According to waiters I spoke to at a cafe yesterday, only expats can afford to live in districts in the historic core.
While the old town areas are very lively and full of tourists, the same thing cannot be said about some of the other neighborhoods. These neighborhoods are not dirty, dangerous, or rundown. They are rather clean actually. But areas where the Czechs live definitely show signs that the locals do not have much to spend. Very few shops or restaurants are present.
While the old town areas are very lively and full of tourists, the same thing cannot be said about some of the other neighborhoods. These neighborhoods are not dirty, dangerous, or rundown. They are rather clean actually. But areas where the Czechs live definitely show signs that the locals do not have much to spend. Very few shops or restaurants are present.
11 December, 2004
Prague Day 1
It was a nailbitingly cold day in Prague. The temperature outside is approximately 27 degrees F. While I am not cold (I guess my standard is when I am shivering), without my cold weather gears I am a little uncomfortable if I were to stand still for too long. For that reason I have been on my feet all day, constantly moving around Prague's old quarters. The only time I stopped is when I am inside, or if I stop to inquire about ticket prices for concerts.
Prague takes its music seriously. Aside from the Czech National Concert Hall, almost every other street corner saw churches and cathedrals advertising its own concerts. Many offerings involve Christmas music. While I am intrigued about the Prague National Marionette Company's performance of Don Giovanni tonight, I think I will instead visit the Church of sv Mikulas' Christmas concert (oddly enough for a Christmas concert, the prominent feature of this performance is Mozart's Requiem).
Prague is a beautiful town. In the city center, where almost all of the city's feature attractions are at, roccoco, art nouveau, gothic, and baroque architecture compete with each other. Even with the winter cold, tons of tourists are here. While the downside of the mad crush of visitors makes the atmosphere a little Disneyland-like, complete with t-shirt and trinket stores, Prague is definitely worth seeing.
Praguers are a friendly lot. They seem happy even in the cold and welcome travelers to their city. The Czechs seem to be able to go from Czech to German to English without any problems. I wish I have that sort of language ability. Along with my Austrian roommate at the hostel, we plan to visit a neighborhood pub tonight to sample Czech goulash and pilsen beer.
However, I question how the locals can afford their own city. The average Czech makes around 30-40 crowns per hour. Paying 29 crowns a beer is almost 1/8 of a Czech worker's daily wages. Noentheless, they love their beer here.
It seems like such a shame that I only have today and tomorrow morning in this city. I would like to return one day.
On December 12, 2004 I will leave the Czech Republic and make my way to Dresden. I will probably bunk down in Dresden or Leipzig for the night and return to Frankfurt with next morning's 6am train for my plane back to the States. If I stay in Dresden, I will visit the Semper Opera House and try to get tickets to an opera. It is a bargain at around €13 a ticket.
Prague takes its music seriously. Aside from the Czech National Concert Hall, almost every other street corner saw churches and cathedrals advertising its own concerts. Many offerings involve Christmas music. While I am intrigued about the Prague National Marionette Company's performance of Don Giovanni tonight, I think I will instead visit the Church of sv Mikulas' Christmas concert (oddly enough for a Christmas concert, the prominent feature of this performance is Mozart's Requiem).
Prague is a beautiful town. In the city center, where almost all of the city's feature attractions are at, roccoco, art nouveau, gothic, and baroque architecture compete with each other. Even with the winter cold, tons of tourists are here. While the downside of the mad crush of visitors makes the atmosphere a little Disneyland-like, complete with t-shirt and trinket stores, Prague is definitely worth seeing.
Praguers are a friendly lot. They seem happy even in the cold and welcome travelers to their city. The Czechs seem to be able to go from Czech to German to English without any problems. I wish I have that sort of language ability. Along with my Austrian roommate at the hostel, we plan to visit a neighborhood pub tonight to sample Czech goulash and pilsen beer.
However, I question how the locals can afford their own city. The average Czech makes around 30-40 crowns per hour. Paying 29 crowns a beer is almost 1/8 of a Czech worker's daily wages. Noentheless, they love their beer here.
It seems like such a shame that I only have today and tomorrow morning in this city. I would like to return one day.
On December 12, 2004 I will leave the Czech Republic and make my way to Dresden. I will probably bunk down in Dresden or Leipzig for the night and return to Frankfurt with next morning's 6am train for my plane back to the States. If I stay in Dresden, I will visit the Semper Opera House and try to get tickets to an opera. It is a bargain at around €13 a ticket.
Prague Castle
Presidential Guard at the Prague Castle. Like the guards at Buckignham Palace, he is not suppose to move, or express any emotions at all. But this one kept smiling whevener people pose for pictures next to him.
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