Change in Plans, Places... and PRAGUE!

After resting from our trip to Dachau, we went to meet another Johnnie by Saint Michael's Church. Nick (or "Salty") is studying abroad in Salzburg, Austria, and he decided to make a trip to Munich to see us. We wanted to make a trip to the Andeches (as described before), but were unable to due to having to find our dear friend and purchase dinner. For dinner we purchased Doner Kababs, a sandwich-like item that is very greasy and very delicious! While we weren't really feeling like a big night out on the town, we still walked around with Salty and explored the streets of Munich. Being a Saturday night/Sunday morning, the streets were.... EMPTY! If you recall from the tour, Munich is a very traditional, catholic town, and NOTHING goes on on Sundays (except for public transportation). We had a good time encountering a street performer obsessed with singing Beatles songs to us 'Americans.'

The next morning, we said goodbye to Salty (who headed back to Salzburg) and went to the train station. Here is where I can describe our change in plans...

After much contemplation, we decided to skip the trip to Vienna. It would mean spending a LOT more money, and an extended stay at Prague (which is a cheaper place) seemed to make much more sense. We were going to Salzburg, but ran out of time in the morning and decided to head straight to Prague.

Packed with a lunch which consisted of loaves of bread, apples, and nutella (a chocolate cream substituted for peanut butter), we were ready to go! We took a train to Nurenburg, transferred

trains, and jumped on a train to Prague, which passed Pilsen (famous beer/brewery). The train ride took 6-7 hours and only cost 17E! The people from our hostel in Munich helped us find that ticket (we could have payed up to 60E each if we hadn't asked). The German landscape was beautiful and serene (rolling hills, typical bavarian cottages) and the Czech landscape was fairly raw (reminding me almost of a fall-winter day in Minnesota) but still pretty and was still warm outside.

We arrived around 7pm and found the hostel within 20 minutes. The streets of Prague were busy and lively. After dropping off our stuff at the hostel, we took a long walk around Prague and got dinner (a cheap 50K (Korona) sausage and a 50K (??? ill get the name later)). We passed over Charles Bridge and went by Prague castle. While passing over the bridge, a violinist began playing. We stopped, entranced by the music. It was simply magical... being on top of that bridge, looking surrounded by a lit-up city (even the old castles were lit-up), and listening to one of the sweetest sounding instruments in the world. I will never forget it.

Tomorrow, we will be attending another free tour... this time for the city of Prague. Can't wait... it should be a great introduction to the city..

Mahalo!

Thomas