But the blog needs catching up, so I have to indulge the reader in some retro-thinking.
9th - Oct
We have made our way with the Kids to Prague. It's been on the visit list since early stages of planning the trip.
The city has some 600 spires, many that you can see from just about anywhere.
The food can be described most aptly as - interesting.
Pork and its products feature prominently on the menus. Funny though, we chose a Chinese restaurant for our first dinner out, because it was convenient to the hotel. The menu had all the chinese greatest hits on it, but the flavours were completely different to what we were used to. Nice, and cheap, at last!!
10-10-10
Our first full day out and about, was spent with the kids exploring, we took the wrong tram and wasted 90 minutes trying to get into the old town. (Most trams look pre- 1960's here.) We eventually found the iconic town square. After the beautiful astronomical clock in the town square struck the hour, a lone trumpeter blew a lttle refrain from the top of the tower, to the delight of the watching crowd below. He seemed to turn up in towers all over the town after that, heralding the change of the hour.
Prague turned out to be a real surprise. The old part of the city (Mestre) has been preserved as much as possible. Like Venice and the old Amsterdam the buildings are maintained in their original design with the representative architecture of the time, and so there is a sense of a real soul in the town. Cobblestone roads are all throughout.
The five of us crossed the iconic Charles Bridge heading away from the old town toward the Castle. There are hawkers all along, most seem to be sketch artists. The kids want to see a Monster Spider exhibit, so after locating that, we went looking for a pub.
We hooked up again with the kids, and after climbing most of the way up to the Prague Castle, we found, "The Dungeon". With stone walls and wooden benches, candles, and a real dungeon in the basement below, it's a pseudo-medieval experience. We settled in for a Czech meal. Quite a few drinks later, and we were all laughing. Laughing about the huge spiders they saw and the pork dripping in the food we had ordered, and the 'medieval' electric hand dryers in the toilets.
Prague is not entirely preserved as it was. The city has grown and the Soviets were here, so it has its not-so-appealing/ugly bits all over. They seemed to thicken, out and away from the centre.
Oct 11- Full Day two in Czech.
We have booked a tour to Kutna Hora (careful how you say that). The town is about an hour away from Prague. Sheryl is very excited that we are the only ones in the van, and we have a guided tour! The driver takes the long way to the town, avoiding the motorway enough to put us into rural Czech land. Its a pleasant way to go.
Michelle, our tour guide, is a pretty Czech girl, who has really good english and gives us a good deal of context for the things we can see, even in Prague as we are leaving. But... can she talk!! After the touristy part of the conversation is over she starts talking to the driver. For a full 25 minutes she does not shut up, on and on about something that seems so important. Peter, the driver, just gives monosyllabic affirmations every now and then, and she keeps going. We had no idea what the diatribe was about.
Kutna Hora has a long history as a significant part of Bohemia (the western part of Czech that includes Prague). The three things we visited were; The Bone Cathedral , the actual Kutna Hora Cathedral and the Silver refinery.
The Bone Cathedral (click for history)(ossuary) was a church that has became the resting place for about 40,000 locals. Unable to cope with the demand on its graveyard space, (due to superstition and happenstance) the bones of the dead are stored inside the church. It is the most macabre setting. It has become something of a heavy metal icon, so the kids were fascinated.
Chloe & Dean with the Bone Chandelier
The main town cathedral is of gothic style, so the hook is in me already. It's plain windows have been replaced over time with the painted glass style popular in the early 20th century. The adorment of gold that you see throughout Prague is here also. The church organ and its angels perched way up in the mezzanine are lovely.
On the way back, Peter, the driver, recommended we go to the Marina restaurant, a boat anchored permanently in the river, that serves Italian fare. The kids have organised a pub crawl tour for themselves, so we went our separate ways. Our italian menu was absolutely lovely, and the view out over the river to the lit up castle in the hill just rounded out a perfect evening after a big day.
Oct 12 Prague - day 3
The kids are wiped out. Dean managed to struggle down for breakfast then crawl back to bed.
Sheryl and I chose to visit the Prague Castle. The St Vitus Cathedral sits squarely in the centre of the castle. Its also large and in Gothic style, but they wanted us to pay for entry, and I have, by this time, become desensitied to churches .
I took lots of external photos and we moseyed along. Inside the castle, the Lobkowitz museum hosts the history and artifacts of the Princes of the Lobkowitz family. (Dont be surprised if you've never heard of them). With an audio tour you get a good idea of the scale of their presence in europe. They (apparently) feature large in european history, making connections with Kings and Queens of Spain & France. The have a signiificant collection of Art, Armoury and Music, that goes back 4 or 5 centuries. (and pictures to prove it)
Not that I'd have a clue, but I struggled to put a value on the set of 12 identical wheel lock hunting rifles dated in the late 18th century. They featured pearl inlays in the stocks and were in as-new condition. But, just in the room next door, the original signed and dedicated scores from Mozart and Beethoven (including the 5th) were the outstanding features. We sat on the museum cafe balcony enjoying the view out over the city, and felt more than a little regal. We had an appointment in town, so after finding yet another (better) Dungeon bar to have a beer in, we wandered across the Charles bridge again.
Spoiler alert!! - " Life is a Cabarette, old Chwm, come to the Cabarette"
For the whole time in Prague, Sheryl has been thinking about a leaflet advertising some 'night music' in a local church. There are qite a few leaflets of this type about. Sounds attractive.
We choose one - Broadway classics, in a Church on the old town.
Well- these things are not all they seem. After a cold wait in the street with the other patrons (suckers) who seem to be all Yanks, we're allowed in.
Firstly, it's in the Monastery library not in the Church hall, but the acoustics are OK. We are expecting a string quartet, well no, you get a piano player and a girl (mezzo soprano). He can play well, and she can sing well, but English is not her first language, so the harder bits are in Czech. There's no amplification, so at least the sound is pure, save the scoffing Yanks who won't shut up, muttering complaints to each other or trying to guess the song title. I closed my eyes and listened. Even though it's money burning in front of you, you start to wish the hour were over.
Sheryl and I went to the Prague fountain display (Fontana), a little along the lines of the fountain at the Belaggio Casino in Vegas. It was a fountain with lights and music. Enough said.
Went for dinner at the Marina again, it was freezing cold on the top open deck, fortunately we were able to go downstairs after a short wait for a table. Dinner, again, was a delight.
Kids had gone out for dinner, on their own.
Wednesday 13/10
Bug-out day. Its so cold I bought some thermalite/ woollen gloves.
Today we are in transit from Prague to London via Amsterdam. (It's cheaper this way, -airfares are illogical )
A longish layover in Schiphol Airport (Amsterdam), and I am starting to call it Shiphole aiport.
There was a guy behind the Kids on the Easyjet plane into London that was sick all the way over. Pretty unpleasant for all of us to have to listen to him, but he couldn't help it. He was already sick in the Schiphol airport gate. Arrived in Gatwick London and caught a cab to the city. We dropped the kids off at a cheap hotel for their stay in London and went onto the Best Western for two nights for us.(If you think thats stingey, there are no triple rooms at the 3 star BW and we got a last minute 30% off special at $240 a night for a double) It's about 1 AM when we get to the hotel in London.
London Day two Thursday, 14/10
A decent cup of tea, at last!!
The Kids joined us in the morning for breakfast at our hotel, then we are all off to the Camden Markets on the Tube. For those who dont know Camden markets is a real eye-opener. It's the largest and most ecclectic market I have ever seen. The kids were fascinated with the selection available. Chloe found lots to buy, but the boys seem to only buy T-shirts. Chloe brought lots of prezzies for her friends back home. We lost Dean briefly in the busy town of Camden. He knew where he was. Back to London on the tube.
Left the kids to their own to find dinner, it seems if we all go together, Mum and Dad always pick up the bill.
We found a nice pub to have dinner in, near our hotel, but they had no Australian wines left, two Stump Jumps listed on the menu but they were all gone ... Is there a nice red somewhere??? The Girl behind the bar is an Aussie.
On our way back to the hotel we ran into Dean and Chloe sitting outside another Pub. Keith was flaked out in the hotel.
We went inside with them and continued with our evening till the girl rang the bell for last orders. Once again the bar staff are Aussies.
Day Three- Friday 15/10
We changed hotels to the Park Lane Inter-Continental for three nights. (It's a deal we have with our Ambassador membership.) Girl at the desk is from Adelaide.
Having not had a chance to see Cambridge and Oxford last time we were in England, we caught the train up to Cambridge for the day. What a great day it, was a little drizzley and very cold, but Cambridge is a lovely town. We took a personal punting tour up and down the Cam river and received a spoken tour of the different University Colleges (Colloquially known as "The Backs"), and some explanation about the history and the rules. It seems tourists have to pay to enter into areas in the colleges, and it's mostly closed to visitors. We found Trinity College, and I got to walk the halls and gardens that Isaac Newton and Stephen Hawking have walked (or ambulated). I bought a book about oceanography, published on my 50th birthday by Cambridge University Press, from the shop of the same name.
- Seats Taken!
Coming back to London on the train was a nightmare, it's Friday night and the platform is full because everyone wants to go to London. Sheryl was lucky and got at seat, but I stood up all the way for the 50 minute ride, as the train seats were full. Then, the tubes out of Kings Cross station were an unforgettable experience. People are the same everywhere, the train is full to the brim but they wont stop pushing you on. They behave like it's the last train they will ever see. It was squashy and hot, but, I got a nice cuddle from a young Blonde. I swear, I had no choice.
Kids joined us at the hotel . They had been on the Hop On - Hop Off bus for the day and had done some of the touristy things. London eye, Trafalga square etc. A big day for them.
I organised the concierge (also an Aussie) to find an Indian Restaurant close by for dinner. It's freezing outside! Very good food in the curry place, not such good service, and it's in Mayfair, so kind of exxey.
The kids went off to meet a friend in London and party more - we are off to bed coz we had a big day. The Balcony room with views over Hyde park and the soft bed was very welcome.
London - Day four
Saturday 16/10
Started the day with a fabulous breakie in the Club Lounge. Eggs benedict, hot tea, croissants. Restaurant manager is an Aussie. The girl at the internet desk is from Sydney.
We have been into St Peter's in Rome and St Mark's in Venice, so our very last church experience needs to be St Paul's Cathedral in London.
What a difference between this and the the other two. The English have made this tour a work of significant detail and a pleasure to take. You pay your money and receive a mult-functional interactive iPod which has commentary, video, music and instructions. We spent a couple of hours in the cathedral and felt that this was the way to run tours. You can take your time, and when you want to know about something, push the button on the picture. But if you do not want to use this device there are many volunteers willing to offer guided tours, who are very knowledgable and helpful.
Then we went to Sheryl's favourite- Paul pastry and had afternoon tea, hot tea!!!
Back to our hotel, and have we been upgraded into a suite and the kids joined us the hotel club room for free drinks and canapes. We got our money's worth. Black Label Johny Walker for us and Chloe wanted bubbles. "I am sorry Miss, we only have Moet". She managed to force down four glasses in a bit over an hour.
Went outside to look for Pub for dinner. It was very cold but we found somewhere in Mayfair - kids went off to party - we went back to our suite and the soft bed.
Sunday 17/10
We have no clean washing, bags are in a state, Sheryl has chosen to stay in today. I went for a walk in Hyde Park. Sheryl went up to Primark (equivalent to K-Mart for clothes) for shopping and it was an absolute crush. People everywhere, very cheap clothing but there's no service and it's simply hard to even get around in the shop. She bought some great clothes for Willow and undies for Chloe and me. But it was a task.
I caught up with the kids at their hotel about lunch time, and we went off walking through Hyde park to the Natural History Musuem. Chloe and I laughed at the squirrels burying chestnuts under the trees in Hyde Park. The Museum was a factual treat. I got to see the museum wing I had missed last year. Keith walked into the main hall where a huge dinosaur skeleton is, and the exhibit starts, and immediately said "Diplodocus". He was right. But the one thing I took them all to see was the Star of Africa(?), a huge diamond, and it was GONE, perhaps stolen! We all met up at the hotel, everyone was very worn out.
We all went to the Hard Rock Cafe for a look, it's kind of a let down. Sheryl and I went for dinner on Piccadilly, and the Kids went to meet up with Lloyd and friends and more party.
Monday 18/10
Sheryl and Chloe went last minute shopping at Primark and the boys and I went to Buckingham Place for a gekko. We had lunch in a Knightsbridge pub that sells Fullers and I introduced them to the 1845, a broad ale with lots of fruit flavour. The taxi driver arrived at Park Lane at 3pm to take us to Gatwick for a flight at 7pm.
The flights to and from London and Prague from Amsterdam are mercifully short, so Easyjet was the choice. Their planes are all brand new, like Airasia, and the service and free seating is adequate. All very tired. In the Vander Valk hotep Schiphol the Kids got a huge room. Its more like an apartment, and Sheryl worked till 2 am playing Tetris with the suit cases. The kids are leaving for Perth Tuesday 11.30am.
Tuesday 19/10
Left hotel at 8am dropped the kids off at airport and all had breakfast together. It has been fun having them around and we are so lucky that they joined us. I feel very privileged to have had them with us for this time. It has been fantastic. I'll miss them lots.
We have orangised to catch the train up to the Hague and met up with Pete and Erica who we have not seen since my birthday on the 7th. We found a specialist beer pub in the middle of the city while dodging the downpours. A really pleasant catch-up. In both directions no-one checked our train tickets.
Wed 20th - Thurs 21st.
In transit to Penang. When we left Schiphol, it was bucketting rain and about 6 degrees.
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