well, it's goodbye Ireland for good, and on the road again for me. I left Dublin on Tuesday afternoon, and....it wouldn't be a Tony traveling Tale if something didn't go slightly awry.
I was all set and had caught a local bus into the city to get the Airport link bus. Before leaving the house I had checked I had everything I needed - passport, flight ticket etc, and all was good. But, in town, I was thinking 'I didn't check for my travelers cheques' - and they weren't in my document wallet as I usually do. Oh shit.
In a panic, I flagged down a cab back home, hoping and praying someone was in the house coz I had given my keys over, and was frantically looking all over the house, in the paper recycling bin, everywhere - and couldn't find them!.....the cabbie was waiting outside with the meter running, so I ran back out, got my rucksack and started to unpack everything in the street......I had them all along, just for some stupid reason I packed them away in a completely different spot. Phew! I felt like a right doofus!
Anyway, all was smooth sailing from then on - I got to the airport on time and arrived safely in Prague at around 3.30pm, with the pilots parting words 'Welcome to Prague, it is minus four degrees outside, enjoy your stay'......MINUS FOUR!!! I felt it immediately I left the plane...it is freekin freezing!!
But Prague is amazing. Despite the cold, I went out that night with a couple of guys from my hostel (8 euro per night including breakfast) and wandered thru the Old Town Square. This square is full of 14th-19th Century menacing looking Gothic, as well as Baroque/Rennaisance architecture, all lit up with floodlights to an amazing effect, providing the perfect backdrop while we went looking for a bar showing the Liverpool football game.
I went on a 4 hour guided walking tour of the city yesterday, and got an awesomew history lesson that fleshed out, and gave body and meaning to all this stunning architecture that was leaving me jaw-droppingly gobsmacked at every turn of a street corner. My brand new digital camera got a helluva workout, not more so than when we finished the tour at the Prague Castle at night, which is just too much to put into words (so just check out the attached photo)
St Vitus' Cathedral, Charles IV Bridge, and central PragueI was hoping for snow....if its gonna be minus 4 at least let it be snowing - i've seen pictures of Prague covered in white, and it's even more beautiful.
Anyway, you get the idea - I like Prague...it's just a shame i'll only be here for 3 days, but life goes on. The next time i'll write , i'll be in Istanbul.
Take care, talk soon,
Tony
peace love and happy faces
