Our final stop, Prague, Czech Republic!

At about 10pm, we reached Prague by train. Unlike in Vienna and Buadpest, we had some initial currency and metro difficulties. In Buadpest, we simply took money out of the ATMs without difficulty (Vienna uses the Euro, which Germany also uses, so money wasn't a problem there). When I attempted to take the equivalent of $50 out in Prague, I got one bill back worth $50. Unfortuantely, the machines to get metro passes only accepted coins. So there was a bit of an issue. We made it to our hotel by about 11pm.

We had been told that we needed to see the Charles Bridge but that it was extremely crowded during the day. So we took a nice midnight metro ride and walk to the bridge. Sadly, our pictures didn't turn out too well.

Too early the next morning, we headed off to Prague Castle.

We saw the changing of the guard (Are they allowed to be smiling?!)




We saw the main Castle church, the St Vitus Cathedral




which, like most cathedrals, was very ornate inside.




We also visited the more quaint Basilica of St George. This is the best preserved church from the Romaneque period and was built in the 10th century.




We took a trip down the Golden Lane which preportedly looks like a set for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.



These buildings apparently housed the castle guards. Franz Kafka (think back to the story, Metamorphasis, in high school) also lived in one of the houses in 1916-1917.

Before exiting the Castle area, we climbed the Dalibor Tower. This was used to house prisoners in the 1600-1700s. Needless to say, I would not have wanted to be a prisoner here!




After fighting the crowds at Prague Castle for a few hours, we were very happy to find a Starbucks and get some caffeine! Jennie, I curse you for introducing me to mocha 10 years ago!




Bedrich Smetana, our great great great great uncle was a composer in the 1800s and is a very well known figure in the Czech Republic. There is a museum dedicated to him filled with letters and relics from his life.




The museum definitely helped put a face to the name.




The Bethlehem Chapel, pictured below, was built in the 14th century. Here, religious reformer Jan Hus, brought the mass to the common people as he began preaching in 'vulgar' Czech instead of Latin as demaned by the Catholic Church.




The apparent center of Prague's social life is Old Town Square. This area houses the Astronomical Clock.




It was built in the 13th century and was a technological wonder of the time. It tracks the time, phases of the Moon and path of the Sun.




As we were in Prague just two days before Easter, we were able to see their wonderful Easter Market and celebrations.

They had many stands selling food and




Easter Eggs (yes, there were small painted eggs for sale also),




as well as stage performers (with the backdrop of a beautiful church!)




We capped off our night in Prague and our final day of our trip with a visit to the Hard Rock Cafe.




Yes, I am really drinking an alcoholic beverage (but it doesn't taste like alcohol!)


Jennie and Jackie, thanks for a great trip! Come back soon!

Vienna!

After our time in Hungary (see previous post), we sped off to Vienna, Austria!

One of our first stops was to Hotel and Cafe Sacher,

Home of the famous Sacher Torte!

Lest you think this is all we ate, I assure you, we brought plenty of snacks. We needed the energy to help with our planning/map reading!

Close by, was the famous Opera House

where apparently you are not allowed to camp!

We then journeyed to Albertina Platz which houses the original quarters of Duke Albert and his wife.




On one corner of this square is an exhibition about the dangers of power. However, we discovered it was being remodeled.




The Kaisergruft Church was our next stop. The crypt of this church is the final resting place for at least 138 members of the Habsburg family. The tombs vary from the very elaborate




to the more simplistic coffin of Franz Josef.




We then moved on to the gigantic Stephansdom (St Stephen's Cathedral).




Initially constructed in the Middle Ages, it has been considered a spiritual focus of the Viennese people and is considered a symbol of endurance. It has undergone many periods of reconstruction due to damage by the Turks, the Napoleonic French and the Allies.

Inside was an incredible display of Gothic and baroque works!




No visit to Vienna would be complete without a trip to the Hofburg which was the Imperial Palace of the Habsburg dynasty (sorry about the dark picture!).




We toured portions of the Palace, saw the crowns of the Holy Roman Emporers and learned much about the life of Sisi (Emperess Elizabeth). Apparently Sisi did not like the confines of being an Emperess!

After a long day, we relaxed at the Prader Amusement Park! We took a trip on the Riesenrad (Ferris Wheel) and enjoyed the sites.




The next morning, we woke bright and early to see the famous Lipizzaner Horses (famous white horses).




Needless to say, Jennie was very happy!

Before we left Vienna, we needed to stop by Parliament,




the Rathaus,




and Wien (Vienna) University where we determined Jackie should go to school. (Good luck footing the bill Mr and Mrs Cain!)




After a whilrwind day and a half tour, we boarded the train and were off to Prague (next)!

Budapest!

The fact that my friend, Lynn, blogged from her hospital room a few hours after giving birth convinced me that it's time for me to actually post about recent events. So here goes!

In March, my sister, Jennie and her friend, Jackie, came to visit me in Germany. We traveled to Budapest, Hungary; Vienna, Austria; and Prague, Czech Republic. It was a whirlwind tour!

Our early morning start!

The easiest way to get from place to place was via train. There is a great train system in Europe! Our first trip was on an overnight train from Kaiserslautern to Budapest. I felt like we had crossed over to the Navy based on the submarine sleeping conditions!

When we arrived in Budapest the next morning, we were going to take the tram up to Castle Hill. However, the tram wasn't working.

We got lots of exercise though and beautiful pictures of the Danube River!

Here are some of the amazing sights we saw!

Inside the Matthias Church:

Moving the statues (apparently the statues aren't as stationary as I thought!):

Behind the Church is the Fishermen's Bastion with beautiful views of the Danube and Parliament.

Jennie and Jackie at Parliment!

As it was the week before Easter, we got to learn a bit about Easter eggs of the Croatian tradition (if you enlarge this picture, you can really read it!)

Here is another church we visited, St Stephan's.

I'm constantly amazed at how ornate the churches are!

We had a beautiful view of the sunset by the river! (Yes, that's actually a glass of wine in my hand!)

Before we turned in for the night, we hiked up Gellert Hill passing Independence Monument

to reach the Citadella. The Citadella was a fortress erected to defend Budapest after the 1848 revolution, but it was actually never used for this purpose.

We had a long (and somewhat dirty) hike back down!

All in all it was a great day! And we definitely got our exercise!

Stay tuned...Next up....Vienna!