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Easter Surprise
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At last Easter came! Since I left home, Easter was a goal to make it that far. Why? Not for the obvious reasons, but because family was coming to visit me in Budapest. My aunt Joyce flew over for the Easter week to do a bit of sightseeing and to travel with her niece, me. Couldn't have been at a better time for I was in need of a family fix.
I met her in Budapest; once again I became KerGufta, to show her the ways of the city. Being Easter Sunday and Monday it was more of a walking tour as most everything was closed. The Terror House happened to be open, so Sunday we spent a better part of the day inside this extensive museum on Hungarian Communism. It is a worthwhile experience, not to miss if you're in this city. In two days she saw it all, at least from the outside and her words on the train to Prague were, "I must come back" and knowing her she will.
Almost seven hours later and now Monday night we arrived by train into Prague totally parched and exhausted. Not exactly the train ride we would have hoped for. Lots of backpackers kept piling on to the point where they were standing for 3 or more hours. Eventually we ran out of water and couldn't get up to go buy any. Not ideal, but what do you do. Hope this doesn't happen to me when I start traveling by train.
Finally without too much trouble, except the way over priced taxi ride, our feet crossed the threshold of Aria Hotel. A musically themed hotel right in the heart of Prague, very fancy (love the aunt!) and just what we needed after the train. Entering our ABBA themed room the exhaustion melted away into the junior suite accommodations. Fluffy pillows, chocolates, fruit, and wine awaiting our arrival. I hope one day I can afford to stay in such grand places. I was going to sleep very well this week.
Early bird catches the worm and that is exactly who we are. KerGufta had done her planning and we set forth on our church, Charles Bridge, city orientation day. Wednesday would be Prague Castle, Thursday the Jewish Quarter, and Friday whatever we missed... here we go.
Reflecting on our days, Prague is a city full of action. The tourists are shuttled in a bubble-like atmosphere through the city toward all the attractions. Compared to Budapest it is immaculate, with no graffiti. Beautifully architectured buildings, cobble-stoned streets for miles, narrow street paths leading you to the next square. It is almost a fairy tale land that never sleeps. Being Easter week it was very crowded with tourists, although this really was the only down fall.
The Charles Bridge is probably the central point of the city, lined with statues and amazing views of Prague along the water. The city is divided on either side of the Vitava River: Prague castle being on the hillside and the Town Square and Jewish quarter on the flat side. I told Joyce it reminded me of Disney world. Epcot being on the flat side with different views of Prague culture and then the Magic Kingdom being on the hill side with Prague castle. Don't get me wrong its not as cheesy or kidish as Disney world, but with all the tourism you feel a little like your in a park, you don't get the real sense of people living there unless you get into the outskirts of the city.
Although this may not be my favorite city thus far, Prague had a lot to offer. The music here is truly around every corner and with so many churches there are concerts every night. We treated ourselves to Oboe and Organ at St. Nicholas Church. Sixty minutes of ear pleasing music set in an amazing church. At times my mind wandered off from the beautiful notes to a land of peace. A blessed feeling washed over me, must have been from my brother, Kevin.
Two other highlights worth mentioning were the Jewish Quarter and the House of Black Madonna. The Jewish quarter was by far the most extensive account of Jewish history I have ever seen. Unlike in D.C. where it's focus is the holocaust, this museum covers it all housed in 5 different Synagogues. Something a history class could never teach me. Powerful when you see your last name on the list of those lost in the Holocaust. Joyce and I were moved beyond words. In juxtaposition, the House of Black Madonna fulfilled our cubist quota for at least a year. The building being of cubist architecture also houses the cubist museum of fine artists, designers, and architects all having a huge influence on cubism. It was another amazing and thorough museum in Prague.
Four full days in Prague and we managed to walk everywhere and see everything. A week went by in a flash and here I was again saying goodbye, not so see Joyce for 4 more months. She headed off to the airport with my humongo bag and I to the train station for Kecskemet to finish up my work, another end to a memorable travel experience with my aunt.
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