Afterwards, we went to lunch at this great cafe with a gorgeous overview of the city, we all split up to do our own thing. I went to the pub with Susan as I reported yesterday and got a birthday buzz. I ending up sleeping for two solid hours. Woke up and met the group. In the summer, musicians from the Prague Philharmonic and the Prague Symphony come together to play concerts for the tourist at the Municipal House. We met up and walked to a great
little, local park.
Honza surprised us with bottles of champagne and fresh strawberries to celebrate my birthday!! He also bought me a book by a famous Czech author that we had talked about the day before. He had the whole group sign a little birthday card for me also. It was really sweet!!
After the little picnic, we headed over the Municipal House. The building is absolutely exquisite. They way they use iron and gold on the outside is remarkable. It was from the gate near this building that the Czech Republic was declared and students began tearing down all symbols of Vienna control. Just to stand in that spot and listen to the story gave me chills. To think that hundreds of 20 year old students stood up to the government to fight for something they believe in awes me still.
Once we got inside and took our seats, I was able to appreciate the inside decor as well. There is a massive skylight in the middle of the ceiling with stain glass windows. The musicians played four pieces, of which I couldn't name right now. I have the program but its in my room, three stories away, and I'm not going to get it. Anyways....the concert was phenomenal. Something about the music really hit me. I'm always amazed by how certain music can really hit me and draw on a lot of emotion. Sitting there in that theatre, in this beautiful city, listening to these classic pieces was more than I can possibly explain in words.
After the concert, Honza decided that because it was my birthday, the night must continue. We went to a local pub for some late night food and some more PIVO!!! The pub he took us to was full of Czechs watching the World Cup game. We squeezed into a table in the back and ordered some beers. In true Prague fashion, we discussed everything from polictics to religion to business to movies. Several hours later we decided we were all buzzed and falling asleep so we went back to the hotel. It was perfect birthday in Prague!!! And it's true, I will never forget it.
Today we got up early and went to explore the Old Town of Prague. That is where my hotel was the first day I was here, so I knew it pretty well. Honza made the city and its history come to life. It was a very enjoyable day. We broke up at lunch and Susan and I wandered off to by my train ticket to Germany and her bus ticket to another Czech town. My train ticket was found and bought with no problems and in a matter of 20 minutes. Her bus ticket on the other hand.....
After getting bad directions to the bus station twice, we ended up taking a tram into a far out Prague suburb. There were no other tourist and nobody spoke English. It was great!! On top of that, it was at least 90 degrees out. We finally figured out where we were and jumped on the subway to the right spot. We found the bus station after a good search around the neighborhood and we were able to get her ticket. Getting back was easy as well....jumped on the subway and zoomed right back into town.
We did a little bit of quick shopping and then grabbed some food. Afterwards, we decided to sit in the town square and watch a bit of the Brazil vs. Ghana world cup game since there were hundreds of Brazilians around. About 20 minutes later, a huge gust of wind swept in and the clouds rolled in. Cafe tables started falling over, glasses broke, umbrellas flew away. Susan and I decided that we should probably start heading back to the hotel, a decent 20 minute walk. As we start walking, it began to barely drizzle. After all of the heat of the day, it actually felt good. We got to the Charles Bridge and had to make a decision: do we take cover or screw it and cross? The bridge is about 1/3 mile long, so once you start, you're committed.
We went for it. And straight out of a sitcom or something, as soon as we got to about the half way point, the sky opened up and started seriously raining. Another 10 minutes in the pouring rain, we split up to go to our hotels which are right around the corner from each other.
I walked into the doorway to my hotel and out of the rain. I asked the owners son for a towel since i was soaking wet. I dried off a little, went up stairs, and changed clothes. I'm a whole new, clean woman now. The worst part about the rain is that tonight (right now acutally) we were supposed to be retracing the steps of the students' march that became the Velvet Revolution. I'm so upset that I have to miss it. It's still raining, lightening and thundering out, so I'm calling it a day. We were supposed to go to an open air screening tonight of a new film titled "The Mad" by a rebelious Czech artist. Don't think that's gonna happen either. Wonder if I can Netflix that eventually. If it stops raining anytime soon, a couple of us are going to head to the pub around the corner for some beer by candle light. Not a bad end to a great day.
It's suppose to rain for the next two days. Guess it's time to buy my souvenir Praha hat. It could have been worse though....it could have rained on my birthday!!!
