Virtuo-Euro Trip 2020 - Day 4 - Czech Out Today's Blog!

Our First Travel Day

Today was a long day.  We woke relatively early and had a good breakfast before collecting all of our bags and meeting in the hotel lobby.  We helped Franz pack up the bus and then many of the kids fell back asleep as we made our way out of Berlin.  It is a 4 hour ride to Prague, but our trip makes a few stops before we reach the City of a Hundred Spires.  In that time, it should be noted, that I built up the courage to ask Franz if he had ever heard of Saturday Night Live's Hanz and Franz.  He hadn't.  I hope he doesn't look it up, lol.

The day is beautiful again.  Mid 60s here with only a few clouds in the sky.  As we made our way down the highway, I kept on thinking about the different weather I've faced in Europe and how the kids, all of them, just accepted it and moved on.  We can all appreciate the good weather, but ignoring the poor weather and appreciating where you are...that is the key.  

Bus rides in Europe can be filled with sleeping kids (as our morning trip was) or loud and excited kids (as our post Dresden ride was).  I love both of them.  Either way is usually rewarding because both are signs of kids who have had, or are having, a good time. Today's ride was not different.

Sleeping students means that they are so exhausted from a great trip that they pass right out on the bus!

A bus filled with talkative kids (of all ages) means they are having a blast in the moment (Truth is, we were stopped here)

As we pulled into Dresden, the kids felt like we were in old Europe for the first time.  You enter the city from a small valley down by the Elbe River and above you, you see the architecture.  Most of the city is Baroque, but it isn't authentic from the time period. Dresden was badly damaged during the Second World War and much of it has been restored after the peace.  The Zwinger museum was our first destination off of the bus, but the kids didn't seem to be all that excited about looking at art...well, some of them were, but most have never really been to an art museum.  I challenged the kids with two essential tasks, one, don't touch anything.  Two, take pictures of the paintings (when allowed) that look like people at Saugus High School.  It is a fun little game and I promised an ice cream to the best photo taken.  Needless to say, I bought four ice creams today because three of them were so good!  

The Opera House in Dresden.

After the museum, we walked through an archway into the old world.  At least, it felt like it.  We approached the Frauenkirche.  The church was almost completely destroyed by bombings during the war, but has been completely restored and there are photo tablets all over the place to compare pre, post, and current Dresden.  It is amazing how good the work was.  We also happened across a wedding at the church! 

I don't care if she is a Bride, she photo bombed the picture!

There are no fast food places here in Dresden. They exist, but they aren't in this part of the city.  I asked the kids to step out of their comfort zone and eat something new.  Some kids ordered pizza, some braved the sausages, and others settled for pretzels....lol.  I will get them to try new things soon!  

We gathered at the meeting place Karl had set up and hopped onto the bus.  Franz reminded the kids that they could eat and drink their snacks, but they had to clean up after themselves...he also asked that we not bring anything that could stain!  I hope the kids listen, Franz is doing a great job of navigating the narrow roads.  

It is only a four hour drive, straight through, but with bathroom stops and Dresden's long stay, we have been on the go for most of the day.  We approached Prague, but the outskirts are just a modern city.  Our hotel is on the metro line, but is really nice.  It is the Hotel Meteor Plaza and is operated under the Best Western umbrella.  

We went into Old Town, for a few hours, after dinner. Prague must be seen at night and while we have a ghost tour scheduled for tomorrow, I wanted everyone to get a glimpse of what tomorrow has in store.

Prague Castle in the background.

We are back at the Meteor and everyone is up in their rooms...which are scattered all over the place and none on a floor lower than the third.  Only three of us took the elevator because it was so small and old.  I can hear the kids talking to each other from their windows (there is a small courtyard in the middle of the hotel).  They are not too loud and it isn't that late yet.  I will do room checks in a minute and then I will write some postcards down in the lobby for a bit.  

Mr. Lavoie, still somewhat shocked that school is canceled for the year, but loving the memories of these trips and splicing photos from all of my different adventures into one tale.