My first study abroad experience, I experimented with my personality, trying to be the happiest, most outgoing, most attractive person I could be. I really think I got the effect I wanted. People loved me and would exclaim, "NISHA!!" whenever I entered the room. But it got exhausting for me and I was so nervous around people the whole time and felt like I didn't really get to know anyone on a serious level.
This study abroad experience, I was completely myself. I wasn't putting on a show for anyone. And people still loved me.
So I think i will be more energetic b/c people love me anyway and I have more fun when i'm more energetic.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Extremely nice and incredibly close
I feel like I've been friends with my friends here forever. I don't feel like I'm really leaving. And I feel sad that I have bonded with people only to have to leave after a short time.
I made brownies for the floor and left it in the kitchen.
Diya told me that she has really connected with me and she feel slike she hasn't really connected with anyone else like that. I couldn't believe it. I thought, "But you connected with me because you're so friendly and outgoing. Not because I'm really anyone at all amazing."
Kasuni came by last night and said she was so sad for me to leave and that it wouldn't be the same when she got back and I wans't there.
Nisa left a card under my door.
I went out to a Malaysian resturant with Diya and had an amazing Laksa, spring rolls and dumplings. We then sat in the garden outrside our doorm and shared a bottle of wine.
I feel really like I must be a special person for so many people to have felt happy to have gotten to know me.
Tomorrow I'm off to my aunt Janet's.
I made brownies for the floor and left it in the kitchen.
Diya told me that she has really connected with me and she feel slike she hasn't really connected with anyone else like that. I couldn't believe it. I thought, "But you connected with me because you're so friendly and outgoing. Not because I'm really anyone at all amazing."
Kasuni came by last night and said she was so sad for me to leave and that it wouldn't be the same when she got back and I wans't there.
Nisa left a card under my door.
I went out to a Malaysian resturant with Diya and had an amazing Laksa, spring rolls and dumplings. We then sat in the garden outrside our doorm and shared a bottle of wine.
I feel really like I must be a special person for so many people to have felt happy to have gotten to know me.
Tomorrow I'm off to my aunt Janet's.
Whirlwind tour
When I got up the next morning I had tremors from the alcohol withdrawal. I was starving since all I ate the prior day was 2 sandwiches and a hot dog.
I asked the receptionisth what she recommened I do before leaving Praga and she emphasized walking around the castle grounds and walking over charles bridge.
I did both of these things and got bac, to my bus and headed to Brno to catch my return flight.
I asked the receptionisth what she recommened I do before leaving Praga and she emphasized walking around the castle grounds and walking over charles bridge.
I did both of these things and got bac, to my bus and headed to Brno to catch my return flight.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Four beers in one night
I made my way back down the steep hill and came upon the tram stop. Now the smart thing would have been to go back on the metro the way I came, but I guess curiosity got the better of me and I thought I would try getting to the Old Town by the tram.
Now the beer tour pamphlet only had a tiny map of the beer tour starting point. It showed it between a Starbucks and a Hard Rock cafe. There was no larger map to indicate where in Prague this Starbucks and Hard Rock cafe were. There was only a picture indicating it was near the Old Town and Astronomical Clock.
I didn't have a map of Prague with me. All I had was the metro map. I literally guessed which stop might have been the Old Town based on a spot that was near the river. I figured the city would be small enough that once I got to that stop I could follow signs and find the Old Town.
The first tram came and left. I stood looking at my map wondering which tram to get on. When the second tram came, I figured I'd get on it. Then once on the tram, I looked on my map and realized I was heading in the wrong direction. Luckily when I realized this I was at a metro stop so I got off the tram, and on the metro, which is what I should have done back by the castle.
I saw another traveler (his gigantic backpack gave him away), walking slowly with a map in his hand. I worked up a smiget of confidence and said to him, "Are you as lost as I am?" hoping we could find our way together. "Sorry, no English" was his reply." I felt awkaward. "Oh".
I went up to the counter and shyly asked the station agent if he spoke english which he said no. I showed him a picture of the Old Town on my beer tour pamphlet and he pointed out the station I needed.
However, I got on the wrong side of the platform and when I came to the end of metro's line, I realized this, got off, and got on the correct side. Now I was going the right direction to the Old Town.
When I got to the old town, I was greeted by out door markets, musicians, and hundreds of tourist walking around. I found my way to the Astronomical Clock which was sticking up in the air. I thought it was a made up word, astronomical. It sounds like a made up word, like humongous, or ginormous. I asked for directions to Hard Rock, and when I found it, I located the location of the pub crawl.
I did have some reservations about going on the beer tour. I wondered what sort of crowd it drew. What if I was with really cool travelers who all found me incredibly boring? The beer tour pamphlet had a photo of a group of young attractive people having the time of their life and I was a bit intimidated by it. It was a risk I had to take.
There was also free internet on an ipad to use at the office and I went on expedia. No flights were remotely affordable. So I would be leaving Prague the next afternoon.
After I paid, I went outside, heard 2 Americans sitting and chatting on the steps and introduced myself to them. Immediately we started speaking American. Yes, we Americans have our own language, the way Jamaicans or Britans do. "Oh my gosh, really?" "Wow that's so cool" "I totally get what you mean". LOL. NO ONE ELSE talks like this. hahaha. No wonder the British people are always making fun of us.
My new friends were both from Chicago, recent university graduates, one working with autistic children, the other starting culinary school.
Our tour guide was an energetic Czech man who told us stories that I couldn't fully understand due his accent. I did take away the fact that Czechs drink A LOT. 150 liters of beer per person per year in fact. They drink the most beer per person in the world. And the prices are much responsible for this. Beer is cheaper than coke, lemonade and water. Czechs drink daily, mutiple times a day, starting with breakfast!
The first pub we went to was down in what looked like a cave. Our guide said with great pride, "See, you would have never known this was here!". I agree, but how is that good for business?
We were given an light beer and a dark beer. I had about half of each when he shouted to me across the room to finish my drink. "I don't drink that much! I have to pace myself if I'm going to make it to the end of the night!". He said, "That's typical of women. Always talking so much that they never finish their drink".
We had the famous Pilsner beer, famous really for being made in Czech. Its not something I would really order. And a darker beer I liked less than the lighter one.
We went to another pub where were were allowered to walk though the back where they make the beer. There were had another drink.
We finished in a pub with 2 more drinks. The most irresponsible and dangerous thing I could do was to get drunk in a foregin country. The worse I've done while drunk is make out with random people in clubs, jump over someones fence in Crete, and slide down an escalator in the Washington D.C. metro. I count myself lucky.
I was really careful to monitor myself. I had half of the two drinks at the first pub, and most from the second pub, so I was on my third drink at the last pub. We stayed at the last pub for a couple of hours getting to know each other. There was an Irish couple maybe in their mid 50s who told us about there couchsurfing experiences hosting ohter travlers. There was 3 other Americans who were doing a hop-on-hop-off driving tour of Europe. And a man to my right from Oslo, maybe about 50, who is a beer connoisseur his photographer companion, a man who looked in his 40s. We were a mixed bunch of all ages and backgrounds but found plenty to talk and laugh about.
The 2 girls I had introduced myself too said they out to be going at the metro closes at midnight. It was well past 10pm at this time. So I told them I'd walk with them to find the metro since I needed it to get to my hostel too.
We walked around the Old Town and Tameron told me the things she remembered from the walking tour she went on.
I stumbled on the sidewalk and nearly lost my balance. In my best British accent I said, "Mind the gap" and Tameron burst out laughing and said, "At least you learned something from living in London!"
We made it to the metro. I was really sad to part ways with them. I think they were worried too about me finding the hostel by myself but I told them I have the address and enough money for a cab in case I get lost. Tameron said, "I heard cabs are really expensive". It was my last resort.
Luckily no such thing happened. I got of at the stop I needed. Then I asked a Czech man which tram I needed for Delnika street. He was also going that same direction so we got on and off the tram together. And he was headed down the same street as my hostel so I wasn't alone walking to it from the tram. Now the street was pretty dark. Its was after 11pm at this point and there were just the handfull of people who got off at Delnika around. I suppose conceivably this man could have been lying about his true destination, lead me in the wrong direction, and do horrible things to me, but there is something about a friendly looking person with a nice smile when you're by yourself in a foreign country that makes you trust them.
Now the beer tour pamphlet only had a tiny map of the beer tour starting point. It showed it between a Starbucks and a Hard Rock cafe. There was no larger map to indicate where in Prague this Starbucks and Hard Rock cafe were. There was only a picture indicating it was near the Old Town and Astronomical Clock.
I didn't have a map of Prague with me. All I had was the metro map. I literally guessed which stop might have been the Old Town based on a spot that was near the river. I figured the city would be small enough that once I got to that stop I could follow signs and find the Old Town.
The first tram came and left. I stood looking at my map wondering which tram to get on. When the second tram came, I figured I'd get on it. Then once on the tram, I looked on my map and realized I was heading in the wrong direction. Luckily when I realized this I was at a metro stop so I got off the tram, and on the metro, which is what I should have done back by the castle.
I saw another traveler (his gigantic backpack gave him away), walking slowly with a map in his hand. I worked up a smiget of confidence and said to him, "Are you as lost as I am?" hoping we could find our way together. "Sorry, no English" was his reply." I felt awkaward. "Oh".
I went up to the counter and shyly asked the station agent if he spoke english which he said no. I showed him a picture of the Old Town on my beer tour pamphlet and he pointed out the station I needed.
However, I got on the wrong side of the platform and when I came to the end of metro's line, I realized this, got off, and got on the correct side. Now I was going the right direction to the Old Town.
When I got to the old town, I was greeted by out door markets, musicians, and hundreds of tourist walking around. I found my way to the Astronomical Clock which was sticking up in the air. I thought it was a made up word, astronomical. It sounds like a made up word, like humongous, or ginormous. I asked for directions to Hard Rock, and when I found it, I located the location of the pub crawl.
I did have some reservations about going on the beer tour. I wondered what sort of crowd it drew. What if I was with really cool travelers who all found me incredibly boring? The beer tour pamphlet had a photo of a group of young attractive people having the time of their life and I was a bit intimidated by it. It was a risk I had to take.
There was also free internet on an ipad to use at the office and I went on expedia. No flights were remotely affordable. So I would be leaving Prague the next afternoon.
After I paid, I went outside, heard 2 Americans sitting and chatting on the steps and introduced myself to them. Immediately we started speaking American. Yes, we Americans have our own language, the way Jamaicans or Britans do. "Oh my gosh, really?" "Wow that's so cool" "I totally get what you mean". LOL. NO ONE ELSE talks like this. hahaha. No wonder the British people are always making fun of us.
My new friends were both from Chicago, recent university graduates, one working with autistic children, the other starting culinary school.
Our tour guide was an energetic Czech man who told us stories that I couldn't fully understand due his accent. I did take away the fact that Czechs drink A LOT. 150 liters of beer per person per year in fact. They drink the most beer per person in the world. And the prices are much responsible for this. Beer is cheaper than coke, lemonade and water. Czechs drink daily, mutiple times a day, starting with breakfast!
The first pub we went to was down in what looked like a cave. Our guide said with great pride, "See, you would have never known this was here!". I agree, but how is that good for business?
We were given an light beer and a dark beer. I had about half of each when he shouted to me across the room to finish my drink. "I don't drink that much! I have to pace myself if I'm going to make it to the end of the night!". He said, "That's typical of women. Always talking so much that they never finish their drink".
We had the famous Pilsner beer, famous really for being made in Czech. Its not something I would really order. And a darker beer I liked less than the lighter one.
We went to another pub where were were allowered to walk though the back where they make the beer. There were had another drink.
We finished in a pub with 2 more drinks. The most irresponsible and dangerous thing I could do was to get drunk in a foregin country. The worse I've done while drunk is make out with random people in clubs, jump over someones fence in Crete, and slide down an escalator in the Washington D.C. metro. I count myself lucky.
I was really careful to monitor myself. I had half of the two drinks at the first pub, and most from the second pub, so I was on my third drink at the last pub. We stayed at the last pub for a couple of hours getting to know each other. There was an Irish couple maybe in their mid 50s who told us about there couchsurfing experiences hosting ohter travlers. There was 3 other Americans who were doing a hop-on-hop-off driving tour of Europe. And a man to my right from Oslo, maybe about 50, who is a beer connoisseur his photographer companion, a man who looked in his 40s. We were a mixed bunch of all ages and backgrounds but found plenty to talk and laugh about.
The 2 girls I had introduced myself too said they out to be going at the metro closes at midnight. It was well past 10pm at this time. So I told them I'd walk with them to find the metro since I needed it to get to my hostel too.
We walked around the Old Town and Tameron told me the things she remembered from the walking tour she went on.
I stumbled on the sidewalk and nearly lost my balance. In my best British accent I said, "Mind the gap" and Tameron burst out laughing and said, "At least you learned something from living in London!"
We made it to the metro. I was really sad to part ways with them. I think they were worried too about me finding the hostel by myself but I told them I have the address and enough money for a cab in case I get lost. Tameron said, "I heard cabs are really expensive". It was my last resort.
Luckily no such thing happened. I got of at the stop I needed. Then I asked a Czech man which tram I needed for Delnika street. He was also going that same direction so we got on and off the tram together. And he was headed down the same street as my hostel so I wasn't alone walking to it from the tram. Now the street was pretty dark. Its was after 11pm at this point and there were just the handfull of people who got off at Delnika around. I suppose conceivably this man could have been lying about his true destination, lead me in the wrong direction, and do horrible things to me, but there is something about a friendly looking person with a nice smile when you're by yourself in a foreign country that makes you trust them.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
When plans don't quite work out, go with the flow!
When I finally got on my way to the first site, it was after 3:30pm. I had been travelling since 5:30AM that morning. You would have thought I flew halfway around the world. That's what happens when you fly with Ryanair, or as I call them now, PainInTheAir.
I knew from past experience that Ryanair flies to airports outside the main city. I factored in 2 hours additional to get from the airport to the city when it took me over 3 hours. I had planned on going on WWII walking tour of the city that departed at 2pm. That was out the window. The second day I planned on going on a 3 hour walking tour of the city that started at 11AM. Ludek calculated that I'd need to be on at least the 12pm bus back to Brno to make my 5pm flight. So that was also out the window.
So much for my plans!
I mounted the steep hill that led up to the castle. I think the way up to the castle is meant for horses more than for human feet. Its incredibly steep and I had to pause a couple of times on the way up to catch my breath. (Plug for traveling: travel while your feet still work!).
Unfortunately, instead of entering the castle, I entered the palace instead. It was the first ticket window sign I saw and I popped inside, bought a ticket and realized it was the Lobokwich palace. Another plan frustrated.
The inside was room after room of portraits of the noble family. I was provided with an audio guide, narrative by William Lobkowich. It was an incredibly nauseating experience for me to listen to William Lobkowich brag about all the money that his family has. "Look at the portrait of my great grandfather. You can see the delicate silver woven in his robe. This is a sign of great wealth". Or "Look at the large emerald ring on my ancestors finger. On special occasions, my mother still wears that ring today". Or, "Its a proud thought for me to know that it was my great great grandfather who made it possible for Beethoven to write the 5th symphony". There was even a section in the museum on their pet dogs which Mr. Lobkowich mother emphasized were "portraits" in that you could tell which dog what which. Seeing that the Lobkowichs are so rich, why in the world am I paying to go inside their palace? I'm making them even wealthier.
Its one thing I have been disgusted with at being in England and that is seeing how wealthy some people are by mere inheritance. At least in America the extremely weathly people earned it from enterprenurship and then it stayed in the family. In England, its seems that the wealthy people were luckly enough hunders of years ago to know the king or be of some noble family. It can make you angry but then I thought about what I would do all that extra money if I had it. I may not wear expensive jewerely but how much does that really add to quality of life? I may not live in a big house but would that really make my life that much better at the end of it? I've done nearly everything I've wanted to do and I've traveled so much that it really doesn't matter to me if I don't have millions of dollars in a bank account.
After the palace, I walked futher up the hill and finally made it to the castle. It was much to late to go inside. I was really upset about not being able to see much that I wanted to find an internet cafe to see if I could get a cheap flight out of Prague later the next day. I also picked up a brochure for a beer tour and thought that would be a great way to see more of the city and to meet some people.
I knew from past experience that Ryanair flies to airports outside the main city. I factored in 2 hours additional to get from the airport to the city when it took me over 3 hours. I had planned on going on WWII walking tour of the city that departed at 2pm. That was out the window. The second day I planned on going on a 3 hour walking tour of the city that started at 11AM. Ludek calculated that I'd need to be on at least the 12pm bus back to Brno to make my 5pm flight. So that was also out the window.
So much for my plans!
I mounted the steep hill that led up to the castle. I think the way up to the castle is meant for horses more than for human feet. Its incredibly steep and I had to pause a couple of times on the way up to catch my breath. (Plug for traveling: travel while your feet still work!).
Unfortunately, instead of entering the castle, I entered the palace instead. It was the first ticket window sign I saw and I popped inside, bought a ticket and realized it was the Lobokwich palace. Another plan frustrated.
 |
| Views of Prague's city center from the castle |
The inside was room after room of portraits of the noble family. I was provided with an audio guide, narrative by William Lobkowich. It was an incredibly nauseating experience for me to listen to William Lobkowich brag about all the money that his family has. "Look at the portrait of my great grandfather. You can see the delicate silver woven in his robe. This is a sign of great wealth". Or "Look at the large emerald ring on my ancestors finger. On special occasions, my mother still wears that ring today". Or, "Its a proud thought for me to know that it was my great great grandfather who made it possible for Beethoven to write the 5th symphony". There was even a section in the museum on their pet dogs which Mr. Lobkowich mother emphasized were "portraits" in that you could tell which dog what which. Seeing that the Lobkowichs are so rich, why in the world am I paying to go inside their palace? I'm making them even wealthier.
The coolest part of the room for me was the music room where maybe 20 old violins and flutes were on display. I thought, how many violins does one person need?
Eventually I grew tired of the bragging. I started imagining what life would have been like. I imagined myself as a young girl, running up and down the palace halls, yelling for my mom or my sisters, looking out the palace windows at the great city views.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
I wish I was in Prague!
I'm already having Prague withdrawal.
London is so mundane now! I entered the bustling Liverpool station after getting off of the train that brought me from the airport and everything around me was so familiar: WHS books, Marks and Spencers, Boots, Cornish pastries, and Costa coffee. They are everywhere in UK and entirely absent in NY. I've quickly adapted to change. London feels like home. And I'm ready for my next adventure.
I sighed heavily on the train from Stansted airport. The breath that escaped was much like the steam let out of a pressure cooker. I was safe. Thank you God! I didn't lose my passport, camera, wallet or phone. I didn't miss my flight. I was let back into the country. None of the multitude of things I imagined could have gone terribly wrong happened. On top of that, I had a great trip.
The first special moment of my trip was when a Czech girl who knew me for 30 minutes, walked me to the ticket counter to help me buy a bus ticket, with her arm nearly linked with my arm. If you looked at us, you'd would have thought we were best friends, gossiping as we walked down the street together. How can someone be so friendly to a complete stranger? Or I should ask, why is it that I have so many walls when it comes to meeting strangers? Why am I so guarded? What am I protecting myself from?
I took a seat on the bus. It was a new looking coach bus, with fresh leather seats, and TV screen in the back of each chair. My bag of night clothes was on the seat next to me. A stranger got on the bus, and he looked like he was about to sit right next to me. "No", I thought, "there are two empty seats together across from me and my bag is on the seat." But this stranger decided it is better to sit with another human, even if she's a stranger, than to sit by himself. So I complied with his gesture, took my bag off the seat, and let the stranger sit down next to me.
He looked about my age, 28-30, the front of his hair gelled up, something a lot of European guys do, some acne scars on his face. "He's here to hit on me. I'm not sleeping with you", I thought. When I've been brought up by a grandmother and father who say, "all men want is sex", how was I to think that this stranger wanted anything else. I said hello. My first ice breaker was asking how to say hello in Czech.
Earlier when I had met the girl, I had an internal war about my shyness. At the airport, the girl told me she was going to the city center so I could follow her. I got on the bus right after her. And like a scared rat, I left her presence and took a seat near the rear of the bus. That was so stupid, I told myself! I could have at least had someone to talk to for this bus ride to the city center. A passenger in front of me got up and the girl was within reach. "This is your chance" I thought, but I sat glued to my seat in fear. "Now or never". I moved up a seat, tapped her on the shoulder, and started talking. "I'm from NY. I'm visiting for two days. What should I see?". And she smiled back and said the castle. We pulled into the station and I immedately had the payback for getting out of my comfort zone and striking up a tiny conversation. "Where's your hostel?" she asked. I showed her on my phone. "But that's in Prague. Are you sure that's your hostel?" My eyebrows wrinkle in confusion. "Where am I?"
Wow. I'm old enough to buy my own ticket, get myself up in the morning, and get on a plane and yet I end up in a city and don't know where I am. "You're in Brno". "But I thought this was the city center?" "Yes, its the city center in Brno."
OH MY GOSH!!!
"I'm so embarrassed!" I tell her. I'm afraid to ask the next question. "How do I get to Prague from here?" That's when she led me, her arm on my arm, to the ticket counter to buy a ticket to get to Prague. "And you can get all the free hot chocholate and soda on the bus that you want!" she said happily and waved me off.
The stranger settled in his seat. I started talking. Somewhere in the course of conversation, we both laughed. And then my guard came down. I'm still blown away that my new friend had balls enough to sit next to a complete stranger for a 2.5 hour long journey. We were opposites in so may ways, guy/girl, white/black, european/american. And yet that wasn't enough to scare him away.
I didn't find out his name was Ludek until we were nearly at Prague. "I am so happy you sat next to me! This bus ride would have be so boring otherwise!". This was such a change from my earlier self. He told me about a friend of his who loves meeting people from other countries, and how it rubbed off on him and I looked like I might have spoken english.
The bus attendent came around several times. Sure enough, the hot chocolate was free! All you can drink FREE hot chocolate, mochas, lattes, cappuchino or tea! And the biggest laugh is that you have to pay for WATER! LOL! Go figure!
When we got off at Prague, Ludek advised that I get my ticket for the return trip just in case the bus was full. He walked me to the ticket window and got the ticket I needed for me. Then he walked me to the metro and suggested I get a 24 hour pass. Since I didn't have any coins for the machine, he walked me to newspaper stand and asked for change. Then he helped me buy my ticket. He told me the subway has 3 lines, red, yellow and green, showed me where I was on the map, and then how to get to the castle.
It was time to part. I gave him a hug and said "thank you so much!" The subway just pulled in and I rushed to get on it. He shouted the name of the subway stop once more, "Malostranská!". I turned around and shouted back, "Yes, the one with the 'M'!", smiled and waved goodbye. I was now on my own.
London is so mundane now! I entered the bustling Liverpool station after getting off of the train that brought me from the airport and everything around me was so familiar: WHS books, Marks and Spencers, Boots, Cornish pastries, and Costa coffee. They are everywhere in UK and entirely absent in NY. I've quickly adapted to change. London feels like home. And I'm ready for my next adventure.
I sighed heavily on the train from Stansted airport. The breath that escaped was much like the steam let out of a pressure cooker. I was safe. Thank you God! I didn't lose my passport, camera, wallet or phone. I didn't miss my flight. I was let back into the country. None of the multitude of things I imagined could have gone terribly wrong happened. On top of that, I had a great trip.
The first special moment of my trip was when a Czech girl who knew me for 30 minutes, walked me to the ticket counter to help me buy a bus ticket, with her arm nearly linked with my arm. If you looked at us, you'd would have thought we were best friends, gossiping as we walked down the street together. How can someone be so friendly to a complete stranger? Or I should ask, why is it that I have so many walls when it comes to meeting strangers? Why am I so guarded? What am I protecting myself from?
I took a seat on the bus. It was a new looking coach bus, with fresh leather seats, and TV screen in the back of each chair. My bag of night clothes was on the seat next to me. A stranger got on the bus, and he looked like he was about to sit right next to me. "No", I thought, "there are two empty seats together across from me and my bag is on the seat." But this stranger decided it is better to sit with another human, even if she's a stranger, than to sit by himself. So I complied with his gesture, took my bag off the seat, and let the stranger sit down next to me.
He looked about my age, 28-30, the front of his hair gelled up, something a lot of European guys do, some acne scars on his face. "He's here to hit on me. I'm not sleeping with you", I thought. When I've been brought up by a grandmother and father who say, "all men want is sex", how was I to think that this stranger wanted anything else. I said hello. My first ice breaker was asking how to say hello in Czech.
Earlier when I had met the girl, I had an internal war about my shyness. At the airport, the girl told me she was going to the city center so I could follow her. I got on the bus right after her. And like a scared rat, I left her presence and took a seat near the rear of the bus. That was so stupid, I told myself! I could have at least had someone to talk to for this bus ride to the city center. A passenger in front of me got up and the girl was within reach. "This is your chance" I thought, but I sat glued to my seat in fear. "Now or never". I moved up a seat, tapped her on the shoulder, and started talking. "I'm from NY. I'm visiting for two days. What should I see?". And she smiled back and said the castle. We pulled into the station and I immedately had the payback for getting out of my comfort zone and striking up a tiny conversation. "Where's your hostel?" she asked. I showed her on my phone. "But that's in Prague. Are you sure that's your hostel?" My eyebrows wrinkle in confusion. "Where am I?"
Wow. I'm old enough to buy my own ticket, get myself up in the morning, and get on a plane and yet I end up in a city and don't know where I am. "You're in Brno". "But I thought this was the city center?" "Yes, its the city center in Brno."
OH MY GOSH!!!
"I'm so embarrassed!" I tell her. I'm afraid to ask the next question. "How do I get to Prague from here?" That's when she led me, her arm on my arm, to the ticket counter to buy a ticket to get to Prague. "And you can get all the free hot chocholate and soda on the bus that you want!" she said happily and waved me off.
The stranger settled in his seat. I started talking. Somewhere in the course of conversation, we both laughed. And then my guard came down. I'm still blown away that my new friend had balls enough to sit next to a complete stranger for a 2.5 hour long journey. We were opposites in so may ways, guy/girl, white/black, european/american. And yet that wasn't enough to scare him away.
I didn't find out his name was Ludek until we were nearly at Prague. "I am so happy you sat next to me! This bus ride would have be so boring otherwise!". This was such a change from my earlier self. He told me about a friend of his who loves meeting people from other countries, and how it rubbed off on him and I looked like I might have spoken english.
The bus attendent came around several times. Sure enough, the hot chocolate was free! All you can drink FREE hot chocolate, mochas, lattes, cappuchino or tea! And the biggest laugh is that you have to pay for WATER! LOL! Go figure!
When we got off at Prague, Ludek advised that I get my ticket for the return trip just in case the bus was full. He walked me to the ticket window and got the ticket I needed for me. Then he walked me to the metro and suggested I get a 24 hour pass. Since I didn't have any coins for the machine, he walked me to newspaper stand and asked for change. Then he helped me buy my ticket. He told me the subway has 3 lines, red, yellow and green, showed me where I was on the map, and then how to get to the castle.
It was time to part. I gave him a hug and said "thank you so much!" The subway just pulled in and I rushed to get on it. He shouted the name of the subway stop once more, "Malostranská!". I turned around and shouted back, "Yes, the one with the 'M'!", smiled and waved goodbye. I was now on my own.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Bath
I feel silly for pronouncing Bath as the British say it, that is Bah-th, but when you say it the American way, it sounds less elegant.
I was advised by my cousin to book a ticket in advance as fares are much cheaper. I booked my bus ticket over a week ago and got a return trip for just under 15 pounds. It was much cheaper than the train and also much cheaper to go on a weekday.
I hadn't planned on traveling during my visit here so I didn't pack any thing that would have been useful, like a small overnight backpack or sneakers. Luckily, Karen wears my size and loaned me her sneakers (trainers as they call them) and I had a sturdy plastic bag that closes with a string. All I took as far as clothes was underwear and a pair of tights. I planned on rewearing the dress I wore down.
I left my dorm a bit late and was fretting the whole tube ride to the station. When I got off, I sped walked/ran to the bus station, some blocks away from where the tube is. I was also worried that they would give me a hard time about my ticket. I had an e-ticket but didn't have a printer so took a picture on my droid instead.
When I got to the bus, the driver luckly didn't give me a hard time (I wasn't so lucky on the return trip). But then I got really confused as to the side of the bus I was supposed to enter. I went to the right side of the bus by habit and then didn't see a door. Then the bus driver opened a door on the left side, but it looked like he was getting in. Then I thought about how I always get in the side opposite of my cousin when I get in her car so I asked the driver, "which side am I supposed to get in?". It must have seemed like such a stupid question since there was only one door and I got a question in reply, "Which side do you think?". I felt so stupid! I got on, sat way in the back and sank in my seat when I heard him walk down.
It took me just over 3 hours to get to Bath by bus from the Victoria station in London. Bath looks a lot like other small UK cities like York, Cambrige, Oxford, and Manchester. There a main road lined with chain stores-- Marks and Spencers, H&M, Zara, Carphone Warehouse, Cafe Nero, etc. It usually not easy to get lost. You may walk around in a circle but the city is so small and walkable that eventually you'll find your way back to the main road. I set out to find my hostel to check in and drop off my stuff. But as I walked pass the Roman Baths, I figured since my bag was light enough, I would check in at the end of the day. I grabbed a sandwich at Greggs, and headed straight to the Roman Baths.
Entry to the Baths and fashion museum was 13 pounds for a student. I asked where the guide was and was lead down to the location where the picture is taken below. There are signs posted all over that warn about "uneven surfaces" and "do not touch or drink the water as it is untreated". No one heads the second sign. There were people sitting along the edges of the bath, much like you would see people do by the edges of a swimming pool. Just sitting, bathing in the sun, chatting and taking pictures. Everyone bends over to put there hand in and then exclaims, "Wow, its really warm!". I was no exception.
The uneven surfaces indeed feel like an earthquake ratteled the site. The ground is made of large rectangular stones, maybe 3' x 4' and they form angles and crevices. My motto for traveling is to travel while your feet still work!
The Romans were lured to what is present day Bath by the discovery of the earth's natural hot springs. Water makes its way towards the center of the earth, where it is heated. The heated water rises and through faults in the earth, breaks through the earths suface. Over a million liters of water flow from the spring each day, enough to fill a bath tub completely every 80 seconds in a day. To the Romans, naturally flowing hot water was a gift from the gods. They also believed that the baths had healing properties.
The baths in the video are a small section of what is a large complex which contains heating rooms (like a present day sauna), a freezing bath, and a temple.
Those wealthy enough back then to afford it, would enter the bath. They would oil their body in a mixture of olive oil, a scent like rosemary, and sand as an exfoliant. They would then go to the heating room which would cause them to sweat profusely. The room was constructed with several minature columns beneath the floor that created a bit of space between the floor and the earth below. This would cause the hot air to rise and circulate through the room.
After the hot room, they would go to another room and scrape the oil off there body. If they had a slave, the slave would do this. The oil from the body of athelets was vauled back then and would be collected and sold.
The Romans hated body hair so any hair remaining after the scraping would be plucked. Then they would dip in the freezing pool to close their pores.
Finally, they would come to the baths featured in the video where they would socialize, gossip, and swim. Men and women used the same baths until Hadian became emperor and forbade the shared bathing of both genders. It was later restored to both genders.
I met an American lady who was from Kansas. I realize how much I sterotype because I was surprised to see someone from the mid-west in England traveling. She was visiting England with her husband whos job requires him to travel.
After the tour, I stopped for a nutella crepe and oreo gelatto. With all the walking I knew I would be doing I figured I could indulge. Then I and met outside Bath Abbey for a free mayor's walking tour of the city.
The tour began at the Bath Abbey cathedral. We then walked to the Avon River. The Pulteney bridge spans the river and is lined by shops on each side such that it doesn't even appear to be a bridge when you are crossing it.
We walked to the Circus wich is an elegant row of apartments that are arranged to form a circle. A garden is in the center. Nicholas Cage used to own one of the apartments but sold it. The price to live there is about 1-1.5 million pounds.
We walked to the Royal Crescent which is another span of apartments arranged in a half oval. Its said the circle is supposed to represent the sun with the cresecent representing the moon. There is a large garden in front of the crescent which was open to the public in victorian times.
Not too far from the cresecent is a road that was the setting of a scene in Pridge in Prejudice, and the apartment where Jane Austen lived.
We stopped outside of the Royal Hospital. Hundreds of years ago, it took in people from all over England who had no money to pay for medicial care.
The tour was excellent. The guide was knowledgable. He didn't just memorize a script. He was able to answer questions that people had. I asked him how he learns the information and he said it takes several months to train. They read several books and go on other guides tours but always have to look up any information to make sure its true.
After the tour I visited the Fashion Museum where I unfortunately dropped and broke my camera. :( I can't take clear pictures from it any more but it does take video. The gallery had styles from the 1920s. It had a corset which straps on much like a life jacket in front, with strings in the back to tighten it. Mine wasn't so tight, probably because I'm already so tiny but the girl next to me said she could hardly breath! There is also a skirt which was much to big for my waist. It felt really cool to have it on. I really wanted to twirl in it.
After the museum, I went into a bookstore. I was offered a cup of tea, complimentary! The worker asked me what I wanted. They ran out of peppermint so I had a fruit and mango tea served in a box with a cup, pot of hot water, and a biscut (cookie). I almost felt compelled to buy a book! haha. That must be how they afford to give free tea.
It was evening time by then so I headed to my hostel. It was 20 pounds a night, a bit costly for a 16 bed dorm room. I was given a paper with the numeric code to enter the room, and clean bed sheets for the night. Only three other girls were checked in to my room. The room was very clean. The bathrooms were fairly clean as well. There are lockers in the room. The hostel offered dinner you pay for so I had cottage pie. I sat down across from two people, from Nigeria and Angola, who actually live in the hostel as they attend university in Bath.
As mentioned in my prior entry, I used to thrive on hostels for socializing and fun. There were few things more exciting to me several years ago than the thought of meeting a really hot foreign guy, chatting and flirting, knowing I'll probably never see him again in your entire life, so why not have a bit of fun. That has zero appeal to me now. So after dinner I went straight to my room, and climbed into bed. It was really weird sleeping in a room where strangers had the same code and would enter anytime of the night. Even though it was an all girls room, I felt a paranoid worry and fear that I could be raped. I was woken up a bit as the girls came in later on in the night but eventually settled down to a deep sleep.
I hate this next topic but I feel its worth mentioning. I always feel like one of 5 black persons in an entire city when I travel. On the one hand its frustrating to see so few black people. But on the other hand, I'm glad I can at least shatter some sterotypes about blacks by meeting people overseas.
I was advised by my cousin to book a ticket in advance as fares are much cheaper. I booked my bus ticket over a week ago and got a return trip for just under 15 pounds. It was much cheaper than the train and also much cheaper to go on a weekday.
I hadn't planned on traveling during my visit here so I didn't pack any thing that would have been useful, like a small overnight backpack or sneakers. Luckily, Karen wears my size and loaned me her sneakers (trainers as they call them) and I had a sturdy plastic bag that closes with a string. All I took as far as clothes was underwear and a pair of tights. I planned on rewearing the dress I wore down.
I left my dorm a bit late and was fretting the whole tube ride to the station. When I got off, I sped walked/ran to the bus station, some blocks away from where the tube is. I was also worried that they would give me a hard time about my ticket. I had an e-ticket but didn't have a printer so took a picture on my droid instead.
When I got to the bus, the driver luckly didn't give me a hard time (I wasn't so lucky on the return trip). But then I got really confused as to the side of the bus I was supposed to enter. I went to the right side of the bus by habit and then didn't see a door. Then the bus driver opened a door on the left side, but it looked like he was getting in. Then I thought about how I always get in the side opposite of my cousin when I get in her car so I asked the driver, "which side am I supposed to get in?". It must have seemed like such a stupid question since there was only one door and I got a question in reply, "Which side do you think?". I felt so stupid! I got on, sat way in the back and sank in my seat when I heard him walk down.
It took me just over 3 hours to get to Bath by bus from the Victoria station in London. Bath looks a lot like other small UK cities like York, Cambrige, Oxford, and Manchester. There a main road lined with chain stores-- Marks and Spencers, H&M, Zara, Carphone Warehouse, Cafe Nero, etc. It usually not easy to get lost. You may walk around in a circle but the city is so small and walkable that eventually you'll find your way back to the main road. I set out to find my hostel to check in and drop off my stuff. But as I walked pass the Roman Baths, I figured since my bag was light enough, I would check in at the end of the day. I grabbed a sandwich at Greggs, and headed straight to the Roman Baths.
Entry to the Baths and fashion museum was 13 pounds for a student. I asked where the guide was and was lead down to the location where the picture is taken below. There are signs posted all over that warn about "uneven surfaces" and "do not touch or drink the water as it is untreated". No one heads the second sign. There were people sitting along the edges of the bath, much like you would see people do by the edges of a swimming pool. Just sitting, bathing in the sun, chatting and taking pictures. Everyone bends over to put there hand in and then exclaims, "Wow, its really warm!". I was no exception.
 |
| Putting my fingers in the bath and truly the water is warm! |
The uneven surfaces indeed feel like an earthquake ratteled the site. The ground is made of large rectangular stones, maybe 3' x 4' and they form angles and crevices. My motto for traveling is to travel while your feet still work!
The Romans were lured to what is present day Bath by the discovery of the earth's natural hot springs. Water makes its way towards the center of the earth, where it is heated. The heated water rises and through faults in the earth, breaks through the earths suface. Over a million liters of water flow from the spring each day, enough to fill a bath tub completely every 80 seconds in a day. To the Romans, naturally flowing hot water was a gift from the gods. They also believed that the baths had healing properties.
You can see the steam rising form the surface of the water
The baths in the video are a small section of what is a large complex which contains heating rooms (like a present day sauna), a freezing bath, and a temple.
Those wealthy enough back then to afford it, would enter the bath. They would oil their body in a mixture of olive oil, a scent like rosemary, and sand as an exfoliant. They would then go to the heating room which would cause them to sweat profusely. The room was constructed with several minature columns beneath the floor that created a bit of space between the floor and the earth below. This would cause the hot air to rise and circulate through the room. After the hot room, they would go to another room and scrape the oil off there body. If they had a slave, the slave would do this. The oil from the body of athelets was vauled back then and would be collected and sold.
The Romans hated body hair so any hair remaining after the scraping would be plucked. Then they would dip in the freezing pool to close their pores.
Finally, they would come to the baths featured in the video where they would socialize, gossip, and swim. Men and women used the same baths until Hadian became emperor and forbade the shared bathing of both genders. It was later restored to both genders.
 |
| Glass of water from the hot spring. It takes "mineraly" and warm. As our tour guide put it, "One glass will last you a life time!" |
I met an American lady who was from Kansas. I realize how much I sterotype because I was surprised to see someone from the mid-west in England traveling. She was visiting England with her husband whos job requires him to travel.
After the tour, I stopped for a nutella crepe and oreo gelatto. With all the walking I knew I would be doing I figured I could indulge. Then I and met outside Bath Abbey for a free mayor's walking tour of the city.
The tour began at the Bath Abbey cathedral. We then walked to the Avon River. The Pulteney bridge spans the river and is lined by shops on each side such that it doesn't even appear to be a bridge when you are crossing it.
 |
| Putney Bridge across the Avon River |
 |
| Looking down the Putney Bridge. Now it looks like a regular street! |
We walked to the Circus wich is an elegant row of apartments that are arranged to form a circle. A garden is in the center. Nicholas Cage used to own one of the apartments but sold it. The price to live there is about 1-1.5 million pounds.
We walked to the Royal Crescent which is another span of apartments arranged in a half oval. Its said the circle is supposed to represent the sun with the cresecent representing the moon. There is a large garden in front of the crescent which was open to the public in victorian times.
Not too far from the cresecent is a road that was the setting of a scene in Pridge in Prejudice, and the apartment where Jane Austen lived.
We stopped outside of the Royal Hospital. Hundreds of years ago, it took in people from all over England who had no money to pay for medicial care.
The tour was excellent. The guide was knowledgable. He didn't just memorize a script. He was able to answer questions that people had. I asked him how he learns the information and he said it takes several months to train. They read several books and go on other guides tours but always have to look up any information to make sure its true.
After the tour I visited the Fashion Museum where I unfortunately dropped and broke my camera. :( I can't take clear pictures from it any more but it does take video. The gallery had styles from the 1920s. It had a corset which straps on much like a life jacket in front, with strings in the back to tighten it. Mine wasn't so tight, probably because I'm already so tiny but the girl next to me said she could hardly breath! There is also a skirt which was much to big for my waist. It felt really cool to have it on. I really wanted to twirl in it.
After the museum, I went into a bookstore. I was offered a cup of tea, complimentary! The worker asked me what I wanted. They ran out of peppermint so I had a fruit and mango tea served in a box with a cup, pot of hot water, and a biscut (cookie). I almost felt compelled to buy a book! haha. That must be how they afford to give free tea.
It was evening time by then so I headed to my hostel. It was 20 pounds a night, a bit costly for a 16 bed dorm room. I was given a paper with the numeric code to enter the room, and clean bed sheets for the night. Only three other girls were checked in to my room. The room was very clean. The bathrooms were fairly clean as well. There are lockers in the room. The hostel offered dinner you pay for so I had cottage pie. I sat down across from two people, from Nigeria and Angola, who actually live in the hostel as they attend university in Bath. As mentioned in my prior entry, I used to thrive on hostels for socializing and fun. There were few things more exciting to me several years ago than the thought of meeting a really hot foreign guy, chatting and flirting, knowing I'll probably never see him again in your entire life, so why not have a bit of fun. That has zero appeal to me now. So after dinner I went straight to my room, and climbed into bed. It was really weird sleeping in a room where strangers had the same code and would enter anytime of the night. Even though it was an all girls room, I felt a paranoid worry and fear that I could be raped. I was woken up a bit as the girls came in later on in the night but eventually settled down to a deep sleep.
I hate this next topic but I feel its worth mentioning. I always feel like one of 5 black persons in an entire city when I travel. On the one hand its frustrating to see so few black people. But on the other hand, I'm glad I can at least shatter some sterotypes about blacks by meeting people overseas.
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