Finally made it over here! Phew... Long journey with layovers in Chicago and Warsaw, Poland. All of our flights (in Minneapolis, Chicago, and Warsaw) were delayed, but luckily, and thankfully, we didn't miss any of our connections. After sleeping on all three of the flights, you'd think that I would feel somewhat rested... but cramped, in-flight sleep hardly classifies as "real" sleep. A bonus to the flights, however, was that I was able to sit by Schawnne (my "travel buddy" and roomie in Prague) 2 out of the 3 flights! That helped make us feel a little more at ease during our travels. Luckily, I didn't have any of the "late-night" distractions that Schawnne had. She was woken multiple times by an old Bulgarian man who accidentally (at least we would like to think it was accidentally) grabbing her shoulder and bumping into her while coming to talk to his buddy (very large Bulgarian man) for numerous hours during the night. The larger Bulgarian man also made it a habit to knee the back of Schawnne's seat every hour or so. Needless to say, she was very happy to exit the plan in Warsaw. Luckily, I had the window seat so didn't experience any of these sleep disruptions.
Sidenote: Warsaw looks a lot like Minnesota (at least from the airport) and is very similar in temperature. Although we had just gotten off a plane, Poland requires you to go through security a second time. Interestingly, their security guards wear uniforms that look like some of the military uniforms in the US--including camouflage pants. From the airport, were bussed a short way to our small plane and climbed the drop-down stairway to board our LOT Polish Airlines plane to Prague.
After arriving in Prague, the first thing we noticed is how clean the airport was and the few number of people in the airport. Ruzyné, Prague's airport, isn't like those in the US with people bustling all over the place. Instead, Ruzyné is quite, very clean, and aside from the few people working there, basically looks dead. Interestingly, we saw a man and women rollerblading around the airport (presumably security guards, but they also could have been just there to get some exercise)--a scene we would NEVER see in the US (maybe around a mall, but not in an airport).
After getting our baggage, we looked for our shuttle driver. However, Schawnne's name (she made the reservation) didn't appear on any of the hand-held signs. Because of our delays, we were worried our driver had come at a different time or hadn't arrived yet and decided we needed to get online to check. Ruzyné, like many airports in the US, doesn't give free Wifi to airport "guests/passengers." Near the exit of the airport we saw a sign for "free Wifi" in the window of a cellphone and computer gadget store. Schawnee asked the young man working at the store to connect to the internet on her new tablet. Turns out that in order for our shuttle company to pick us up there was a link we needed to click on, but because we didn't have internet access during our travels, we didn't know and didn't click the link--leaving us without a shuttle service. So, with no shuttle, we had to brainstorm other safe ways of getting to our apartment.
Luckily, the nice young man who had allowed us to use his internet, mentioned two choices--1) to take a taxi from the airport, costly roughly $70 OR 2) to take the bus to the metro (or "Tube" as they call it here) and then walk the rest of the way. He was even willing to give us free bus/metro passes if we chose that route. Wanting to save on costs and up for the adventure, we decided to take public transportation. After boarding bus #119 which was to take us to the metro, we noticed the man that had been sitting next to Schawnne on the flight from Warsaw to Prague. Although American, he was well aquatinted with the Prague lifestyle and had lived here for 2 years. He helped direct us from the bus to the metro and told us which stop to get off at. Thankfully everyone here has been very nice and helpful.
We exited the metro at the second stop, as instructed, and rode the escalator up into into a beautiful, sunny garden with a fountain in the middle--paradise compared to the last 24 hours. Taking a minute to sit down with our baggage, we decided to orient ourselves. The problem was, neither one of us had the exact location of our apartment (nor had we printed out a google map of the apartment's location before leaving home). Luckily, however, I had written down the address and Schawnne had purchased a map of Prague in the States (something I should have also done) so we were able to guess which way to go.
Turns out, the metro let us off about 1/2 mile away from our apartment, which would have been fine except I brought 2 suitcases and a backpack so my arms were about to "break" off by the time we got to our "new home away from home." That... and the streets are pretty narrow here and made of cobblestone so maneuvering two suitcases was tough work and LOUD. We must have screamed "American" the entire way to our apartment.
Our apartment is in a really nice spot, near the Karluv Most (Charles Bridge) and within walking distance of our school (about a mile away). We're planning on walking there tomorrow to check it out. I've put up a few first pictures on facebook (check them out)!
After unpacking (and talking a much-needed shower), we decided to do a little walking around so see the sights near our apartment. The architecture here is very medieval with numerous statues and everything is built in stone and marble. Starving, we ended up at a little cafe near our apartment for lunch/dinner. Great pesto pasta and honey pie!
Sidenote: Warsaw looks a lot like Minnesota (at least from the airport) and is very similar in temperature. Although we had just gotten off a plane, Poland requires you to go through security a second time. Interestingly, their security guards wear uniforms that look like some of the military uniforms in the US--including camouflage pants. From the airport, were bussed a short way to our small plane and climbed the drop-down stairway to board our LOT Polish Airlines plane to Prague.
After arriving in Prague, the first thing we noticed is how clean the airport was and the few number of people in the airport. Ruzyné, Prague's airport, isn't like those in the US with people bustling all over the place. Instead, Ruzyné is quite, very clean, and aside from the few people working there, basically looks dead. Interestingly, we saw a man and women rollerblading around the airport (presumably security guards, but they also could have been just there to get some exercise)--a scene we would NEVER see in the US (maybe around a mall, but not in an airport).
After getting our baggage, we looked for our shuttle driver. However, Schawnne's name (she made the reservation) didn't appear on any of the hand-held signs. Because of our delays, we were worried our driver had come at a different time or hadn't arrived yet and decided we needed to get online to check. Ruzyné, like many airports in the US, doesn't give free Wifi to airport "guests/passengers." Near the exit of the airport we saw a sign for "free Wifi" in the window of a cellphone and computer gadget store. Schawnee asked the young man working at the store to connect to the internet on her new tablet. Turns out that in order for our shuttle company to pick us up there was a link we needed to click on, but because we didn't have internet access during our travels, we didn't know and didn't click the link--leaving us without a shuttle service. So, with no shuttle, we had to brainstorm other safe ways of getting to our apartment.
Luckily, the nice young man who had allowed us to use his internet, mentioned two choices--1) to take a taxi from the airport, costly roughly $70 OR 2) to take the bus to the metro (or "Tube" as they call it here) and then walk the rest of the way. He was even willing to give us free bus/metro passes if we chose that route. Wanting to save on costs and up for the adventure, we decided to take public transportation. After boarding bus #119 which was to take us to the metro, we noticed the man that had been sitting next to Schawnne on the flight from Warsaw to Prague. Although American, he was well aquatinted with the Prague lifestyle and had lived here for 2 years. He helped direct us from the bus to the metro and told us which stop to get off at. Thankfully everyone here has been very nice and helpful.
We exited the metro at the second stop, as instructed, and rode the escalator up into into a beautiful, sunny garden with a fountain in the middle--paradise compared to the last 24 hours. Taking a minute to sit down with our baggage, we decided to orient ourselves. The problem was, neither one of us had the exact location of our apartment (nor had we printed out a google map of the apartment's location before leaving home). Luckily, however, I had written down the address and Schawnne had purchased a map of Prague in the States (something I should have also done) so we were able to guess which way to go.
Turns out, the metro let us off about 1/2 mile away from our apartment, which would have been fine except I brought 2 suitcases and a backpack so my arms were about to "break" off by the time we got to our "new home away from home." That... and the streets are pretty narrow here and made of cobblestone so maneuvering two suitcases was tough work and LOUD. We must have screamed "American" the entire way to our apartment.
Our apartment is in a really nice spot, near the Karluv Most (Charles Bridge) and within walking distance of our school (about a mile away). We're planning on walking there tomorrow to check it out. I've put up a few first pictures on facebook (check them out)!
After unpacking (and talking a much-needed shower), we decided to do a little walking around so see the sights near our apartment. The architecture here is very medieval with numerous statues and everything is built in stone and marble. Starving, we ended up at a little cafe near our apartment for lunch/dinner. Great pesto pasta and honey pie!
As of now, we haven't quite figured out the internet situation in our apartment, so we're currently at Starbucks using theirs. It's truly amazing how many things over here are like the States. English is used a lot of the signs, and most people over here can speak "broken" English (or better). I'd like to start learning a few necessary Czech phrases though--maybe tomorrow.
That's all for now... more adventures tomorrow.
That's all for now... more adventures tomorrow.
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