Day 9: Travel Day: From Munich to Prague...6 Countries in 11 Days

 

If you've been following this blog for the past 8 days, you might be a bit confused by the title tonight. I will explain. We landed in Italy and traveled to Germany and we are now in the Czech Republic...that is three.  We also spent one night in Austria...that is four. We took a tour of the Vatican...it is an independent nation...that is five.  We also stepped into St. Louis church while in Rome...it is technically French soil...that is six.  Our kids are globetrotters!!!  The only downside to this is that they currently have only one stamp in their passport! Hopefully, they will get an exit ticket when we depart Prague.

And that is the reality, it has been a whirlwind tour and it wraps in two days...tomorrow, we have an extremely busy day and I may, depending on the time when we get back, forego the blog for the flight home. We shall see. 

We woke this morning in Munich and the breakfast hall was much more maneuverable than yesterday.  I woke early and had my fill.  I then went back up to the room to pack for the day's journey.

Today's breakfast was some toast with Nutella, sausage, egg, yogurt with fruit and granola. And coffee with no lines!

I brought my bag down to the lobby and wait for the kids to finish their breakfasts and bring their bags to me. We had a later start than usual, but the elevators at the hotel were nuts. There were two banks of lifts, one that went to the parking garage through floor 7 (we were floor 6) and another that went from the lobby to the top (I think floor 17).  People, from floors 1-7, pressed the button for both sets and it slowed the exiting procedure by making the elevators stop at every floor.  Some of the kids wanted me to specifically mention that they used the stairs for six flights because it was so frustrating.

On board the bus, finally, we did a passport check and took off. Our driver Joseph is a native Czechian.  It was nice to know that he'd be returning home soon, but before we left Germany I had requested of Kent that we stop at Nuremburg.

Walking through Nuremburg Castle

A blurry photo because I tripped on a cobblestone at the moment I took the picture.

This fountain at the Haupmarket was our rendezvous point later in the day...notice the blue sky

I think that most Americans hear the name Nuremburg and they immediately think of the trials that prosecuted Nazis after World War Two. That makes sense, because of the importance of those trials, but the city is so much more than that.  It is a only city and it's castle is Medieval. It was one of the most important German cities during the Crusades because the Teutonic Knights hailed from here.  It has a wonderful charm about it, especially in the Hauptmaket.  There were numerous street vendors selling fresh white asparagus, fruits, and other local fare.  The castle is on top of a hill and the market is at the bottom of the hill on the banks of a river.  If you stay on one side of the river, everything looks and feels old-world. If you cross over the river, things look a little more modern.

On our quest through the city, we found my Second Dunkin Donuts in as many days!

An automated pay toilet.

One of my favorite Nuremburg moments today occurred as I was finishing lunch.  A couple of the boys saw me eating a Doner Kebab and asked what it was. I told them how it is made and that mine was really good.  They all went right over the the cart and ordered it.  They also told me that they really liked it too. I told them to watch out, however, because Doner Kebabs and Dunkin is basically a training kit for a Dad Bod...even though I don't have any kids, lol.

The first bite is magic!

Today's kebab was one of my top three kebabs of all time. Freshly baked pita, jalapeno slices for heat, and the perfect balance of kebab meat to french fry. 

Sadly, we left Nuremburg and began our trek to the Republic of Czech. It was about a three hour ride today and most of the kids slept most of the way. I am always amazed at how odd the sleeping positions of bus riders can be...I am uncomfortable sitting upright, but some of these kids are contorted in inhuman ways.  It is impressive!

We made it to Prague and on our way to dinner

Our first glimpse of Prague Castle and St. Vitus Chapel

We parked alongside the Vltava River and began our trek to dinner. It was a nice place located just underneath the Charles Bridge...you will many more pictures of it tomorrow, but here is one of the entryways to the famous river crossing.

As you can probably tell, Prague seems like a different time.  It is an amazing blend of modern life, with medieval architecture, and a hefty dose of Communist brutalism too.  It is such an intriguing place and I love being here.  We made it to dinner after a short walk.

Our meal tonight was Goulash. A lot of the kids really enjoyed it.  I thought it tasted like pork in Salisbury steak sauce, lol.  I enjoyed though. The kids who received the vegetarian plate also enjoyed their meal. It was pasta and red sauce and a direct call back to Italy! For dessert, it was a cake with a raspberry tart topping. It was a small portion, so Kent took us to get a specialty of Central Europe...a Trdelnik.

In English, it is referred to as a Chimney Cake. It is dough, slow roasted over an open fire. Traditionally, you coat it in butter and cinnamon...but in Prague places started filling them up with ice cream and other yummy flavors.  I think 20 of our 25 kids bought one and most decided on what flavors they'd be ordering tomorrow.  Three of us Chaperons decided to wait until tomorrow!

Kent took us on a slight orientation tour. He pointed out some cool shops and activities that the kids might do tomorrow when they are able to explore a little bit. One of the suggestions is in old square.  

The astronomical clock is one of the oldest functioning in Europe. It chimes every hour.  Kent suggested that the kids explore the museum associated with the clock tomorrow. You can explore the basement of the church, the workings of the clock, and climb to the tower for view of the city unlike any other. I've been here several times, but I've never done this exhibit...I think tomorrow is the day!

Our quick walk through the city came to a close and we were off to the bus. As we approached, we had another view of the castle on the hill and it's imposing chapel.  My camera has a nifty little feature that allows me to eliminate unwanted distractions in my pictures (it is how I have posted so many photos without bystanders in the way).  I am really happy with the photo that I took.

For a comparison, this is the original photo unedited.

It is about half past eleven and I am about to wrap up tonight's blog. In a few minutes, I will do a round of room checks, although I've been told the kids are mostly quiet.  I can't believe there is only one more full day left on tour. It has flown by.  I admittedly hit a wall today as our bus approached the city center of Prague.  These are long days and long nights. There are stressors that pop up when unexpected.  It always catches up with me, but it hit me a little harder today than I expected...and then, we were here. In this magical place, among my favorites throughout all of Europe, Prague refreshed my tired eyes, gave energy to my weary legs, and put fresh breath into my soul. 

Mr. Lavoie, currently on the 14th floor of an old Communist era hotel retrofitted for modern times...overlooking a bustling city filled with promise.