Sunday, August 25, 1991
Anne, Fab, and I woke up with the all time worst stomachache and diarrhea. It will forever live as the DAY OF THE HERSHEY SQUIRTS! Little did we think that the only remedy was a $200 hotel room and a McDonald’s feast. Yum. I felt sooooo bad I wanted to stay in Prague. Every time I would try to get dressed, I would go to the bathroom and Ana and Fab weren’t too far behind, but it seems I had it the worst. Finally, Fab, Anne, Carlos, and I get to the airport and we checked in for the flight. It wasn’t a problem because flight was empty. The flight took off on time at 0805 to arrive in FRA about one hour later. The whole time my stomach was killing me. Fab, Anne, and I had the same problem so it was kind of impossible to do anything because we had to constantly excuse ourselves to run to the nearest bathroom. We just couldn’t do anything. Carlos chickened out and decided to leave to MIA. It was great because he took back all the shit Anne bought in the Soviet Union including some think Leningrad books.
NOTE: I believe Vivian and Ralph stayed in Prague a couple of extra days. I do not recall them flying with us to FRA that morning.
We went to check in for the Athens flight and we were told it was oversold and that we would never get on. They advised us to try Olympic Airways. So, we lugged all our bags to a different terminal via foot and bus and then were turned away by this big fat Olympic Airways guy. We were so pissed because he told us we needed a printed ID75 ticket. We could only get it through Pan Am, but the flight was leaving within 10 minutes. We were so stuck. We took bus back to the Pan Am terminal to see if they could help us. The fare from FRA to Cairo was $250 and we couldn’t afford it. We tried every possible connection and the only thing we could do was fly to Istanbul the next day on Pan Am and take ID75 ($50) ticket on Olympic Airways from Istanbul to Athens. There were two problems with this solution:
1) We had to overnight in Frankfurt.
2) We had to overnight in Istanbul.
We were all tired and sleepy. Since we were so tired, we stayed at the Frankfurt Sheraton hotel. Awesome room (about $123 buckaroos) awaited us. We changed and went to the bathroom again. After some good bathroom time, we were starved. We roamed FRA airport and discovered it had a theatre, cinema, museum, library, supermarket, and of all things as Dr. Mueller’s Sex Shop. It was incredible to us. We have never seen an airport feel so much like a mall. It was like a little city. We didn’t go into the city itself because we didn’t want to change money and FRA didn’t really interest us too much. Finally, we found a McDonalds. I longed for American food especially French Fries. We pigged out and went to the supermarket to buy these chocolate cheesecake things. We didn’t care if were sick to our stomachs, we were going to eat those things. We went back to hotel and we fell asleep watching and old episode of Hart to Hart.
Showing posts with label Prague. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prague. Show all posts
St. Charles Bridge and walking through INXS video - Saturday, August 24, 1991
Saturday, August 24, 1991
We woke up to an awesome day in Prague. The room rate included breakfast buffet so we all went downstairs and munched on the best food. It had been a long time since we ate so good. We also made sandwiches to save them for lunch. After breakfast, we took the metro and stopped by the church of Baby Jesus and St. Nicholas. Baby Jesus Church housed this small statue of Jesus. It is really famous, but I felt it was NO big deal. The church was under restoration so we could hardly see anything.
St. Nicholas is a big cathedral with beautiful marble, statues, and an altar. After the churches, we went to Old Town Square again and there were loads of people. Everyone crowded around these guys hammering into steel objects and making them into icons and statutes. They would melt the steel in front of everyone. After, Fab, Anne, and I got lost from everyone. We rode a horse carriage around Old Town. It was good because we were tired. After that, we walked Prague’s historical mile. It extends from the first arch (i.e. we went to the top and view was incredible. It then goes through St. Charles’ Bridge. The bridge was crowded, but all the local artists and views from the bridge make it good. We took about an hour to walk the whole thing.
After the bridge, Ana, Carlos, and I wanted to find the Palace, but Ralph, Vivian, and Fab wanted to go back to the hotel. Actually, R and V wanted to go see the Kafka museum and Fab wanted to sleep. After walking a while, we went into the booth and found out that the castle closes at 1700. So, we went back to the hotel to get Fab so she could see it. Of course, she didn’t go. So, Anne, Carlos, and I went on the metro and by foot to the Palace. It wasn’t that far walking, but we had to walk up a hill.
The first thing we saw was the Church. It was the largest and most beautiful church I had ever seen. The outside looked ancient and the inside was hu-fucken-mungous. It was awesome. As we were leaving, the guards weren’t letting anyone else in and we felt lucky we got to see it before we would leave the next day. After the church, we walked around the Palace grounds and saw incredible views of Prague. It’s such a strange city in that it is much nicer than what the name implies. It sounds better in Spanish – Praga. We then decided to walk through old town one more time and get the metro by the museum stop. We walked on a bridge that was next to the St. Charles Bridge. The was view was spectacular because you saw people kayaking, boating, and sailing on the river with the bridge and the city view on top of them.
It was funny because there were these backpackers on the river bank with all of their things sprawled out. They must have smelled like crap. After the walk and Old Town for the third time, we went back to the hotel. We had to take a shower, pack, and sleep because were to leave for Egypt the next day. Carlos was still undecided about going. When we got to the hotel, Fab was hungry so we all went to the hotel’s restaurant and had the worst and most expensive meal in a long time. We ordered cheeseburgers, but all we got was bread with melted blue cheese. We also ate these slices of awesome chocolate cake that Ralph would devour each night there. After dinner, we went back to the room and slept until the next morning.
We woke up to an awesome day in Prague. The room rate included breakfast buffet so we all went downstairs and munched on the best food. It had been a long time since we ate so good. We also made sandwiches to save them for lunch. After breakfast, we took the metro and stopped by the church of Baby Jesus and St. Nicholas. Baby Jesus Church housed this small statue of Jesus. It is really famous, but I felt it was NO big deal. The church was under restoration so we could hardly see anything.
St. Nicholas is a big cathedral with beautiful marble, statues, and an altar. After the churches, we went to Old Town Square again and there were loads of people. Everyone crowded around these guys hammering into steel objects and making them into icons and statutes. They would melt the steel in front of everyone. After, Fab, Anne, and I got lost from everyone. We rode a horse carriage around Old Town. It was good because we were tired. After that, we walked Prague’s historical mile. It extends from the first arch (i.e. we went to the top and view was incredible. It then goes through St. Charles’ Bridge. The bridge was crowded, but all the local artists and views from the bridge make it good. We took about an hour to walk the whole thing.
After the bridge, Ana, Carlos, and I wanted to find the Palace, but Ralph, Vivian, and Fab wanted to go back to the hotel. Actually, R and V wanted to go see the Kafka museum and Fab wanted to sleep. After walking a while, we went into the booth and found out that the castle closes at 1700. So, we went back to the hotel to get Fab so she could see it. Of course, she didn’t go. So, Anne, Carlos, and I went on the metro and by foot to the Palace. It wasn’t that far walking, but we had to walk up a hill.
The first thing we saw was the Church. It was the largest and most beautiful church I had ever seen. The outside looked ancient and the inside was hu-fucken-mungous. It was awesome. As we were leaving, the guards weren’t letting anyone else in and we felt lucky we got to see it before we would leave the next day. After the church, we walked around the Palace grounds and saw incredible views of Prague. It’s such a strange city in that it is much nicer than what the name implies. It sounds better in Spanish – Praga. We then decided to walk through old town one more time and get the metro by the museum stop. We walked on a bridge that was next to the St. Charles Bridge. The was view was spectacular because you saw people kayaking, boating, and sailing on the river with the bridge and the city view on top of them.
It was funny because there were these backpackers on the river bank with all of their things sprawled out. They must have smelled like crap. After the walk and Old Town for the third time, we went back to the hotel. We had to take a shower, pack, and sleep because were to leave for Egypt the next day. Carlos was still undecided about going. When we got to the hotel, Fab was hungry so we all went to the hotel’s restaurant and had the worst and most expensive meal in a long time. We ordered cheeseburgers, but all we got was bread with melted blue cheese. We also ate these slices of awesome chocolate cake that Ralph would devour each night there. After dinner, we went back to the room and slept until the next morning.
Onward to Prague - Friday, August 23, 1991
Friday, August 23, 1991
We all woke up at 0445 to get ready for the airport. Thank God that I took a shower and packed because in the morning I didn’t feel like doing anything. The bus was waiting for us at 0530. The PA flight was at 0805, but you had to go through customs so everything took longer. All us were scared of getting all out things confiscated. So, we hid them well in our bags. When we got on the bus, everyone was dead asleep or waiting for us.
The ride to the airport was long and gloomy because it was raining hard. We checked in and passed through customs with no problem. I was surprised they didn’t even open any of our bags. Ana got a first class seat, but I didn’t so she gave it to Cristina (NOTE FROM 2001: Who the hell is Cristina?). The flight was two hours long and comfortable and the plane was empty. After we landed, we had to find Fab and Carlos so we can all go to Prague.
As we checked in, the person at the counter advised me that I had to call home urgently. I ran to a phone and spoke with Mom. She said everything was fine, but that Pan Am had been calling the house for days saying that I got recalled back to work and to report to work on Monday, August 23! There’s no way I could make it to work. When my brother called for me, they tried to trick him, but everything is fine because Pan Am has NOT spoken with me or advised me of anything. We’re simply going to day that I had a flight with family and that I simply took off. I have not even called home. They do not know where I am.
I was happy to talk to Mom and Pe. I kind of wanted to go home. After a week, which seemed like a month, I didn’t want to sleep in a hotel or eat unfamiliar food. I was exhausted and sick to my stomach. I told Mom and Pe that I would continue to Prague and make a decision on Sunday, August 25. After I hung up the phone, I saw Fab and Carlos. They were glad to see us. They had been traveling on their own through Budapest, Vienna, and Frankfurt. During the military coup, Fab’s father sent them out of Hungary. He was scared they would close the border.
Everything is looking good for U.S.S.R. The coup failed and that is very important. They checked in and all if us were ready for Czechlosavaskia (sp?). The plane ride was only one hour. I was glad to see a new place and Prague has always been on my list because of all the INXS videos from the Kick album. By the time we changed money and hotel room it was about 1600. We all crammed into a two-person room at the Diplomat. It came to about $38 per person for two nights and that included breakfast!!!
After we got the room, everyone got dressed and we took the metro to the museum shop. Ana coordinates this elaborate plan not to pay for the metro ride, because there were no attendants, but in actuality we had to get a pass or something. So, we got snagged and fined like $30. Everyone was not too happy. Prague didn’t look like any other E. European city. The city is vibrant and exciting. We walked around to find something to eat. We went into this restaurant with a garden and we all had Czech beer, chicken, or beef. It was OK. Dinner came to about $6 per person. After dinner, we walked to Old Town Square and it was cool. It wasn’t really what I expected, but it was great nonetheless.
The city actually reminds me a lot of Paris, but better and different. We also saw the view of the palace from across the Vltava river. It looked incredible. After that, we all decided to go back to the hotel. There were only two beds so you do the math. We were traveling on a shoe-string and we could not afford another room.
We all woke up at 0445 to get ready for the airport. Thank God that I took a shower and packed because in the morning I didn’t feel like doing anything. The bus was waiting for us at 0530. The PA flight was at 0805, but you had to go through customs so everything took longer. All us were scared of getting all out things confiscated. So, we hid them well in our bags. When we got on the bus, everyone was dead asleep or waiting for us.
The ride to the airport was long and gloomy because it was raining hard. We checked in and passed through customs with no problem. I was surprised they didn’t even open any of our bags. Ana got a first class seat, but I didn’t so she gave it to Cristina (NOTE FROM 2001: Who the hell is Cristina?). The flight was two hours long and comfortable and the plane was empty. After we landed, we had to find Fab and Carlos so we can all go to Prague.
As we checked in, the person at the counter advised me that I had to call home urgently. I ran to a phone and spoke with Mom. She said everything was fine, but that Pan Am had been calling the house for days saying that I got recalled back to work and to report to work on Monday, August 23! There’s no way I could make it to work. When my brother called for me, they tried to trick him, but everything is fine because Pan Am has NOT spoken with me or advised me of anything. We’re simply going to day that I had a flight with family and that I simply took off. I have not even called home. They do not know where I am.
I was happy to talk to Mom and Pe. I kind of wanted to go home. After a week, which seemed like a month, I didn’t want to sleep in a hotel or eat unfamiliar food. I was exhausted and sick to my stomach. I told Mom and Pe that I would continue to Prague and make a decision on Sunday, August 25. After I hung up the phone, I saw Fab and Carlos. They were glad to see us. They had been traveling on their own through Budapest, Vienna, and Frankfurt. During the military coup, Fab’s father sent them out of Hungary. He was scared they would close the border.
Everything is looking good for U.S.S.R. The coup failed and that is very important. They checked in and all if us were ready for Czechlosavaskia (sp?). The plane ride was only one hour. I was glad to see a new place and Prague has always been on my list because of all the INXS videos from the Kick album. By the time we changed money and hotel room it was about 1600. We all crammed into a two-person room at the Diplomat. It came to about $38 per person for two nights and that included breakfast!!!
After we got the room, everyone got dressed and we took the metro to the museum shop. Ana coordinates this elaborate plan not to pay for the metro ride, because there were no attendants, but in actuality we had to get a pass or something. So, we got snagged and fined like $30. Everyone was not too happy. Prague didn’t look like any other E. European city. The city is vibrant and exciting. We walked around to find something to eat. We went into this restaurant with a garden and we all had Czech beer, chicken, or beef. It was OK. Dinner came to about $6 per person. After dinner, we walked to Old Town Square and it was cool. It wasn’t really what I expected, but it was great nonetheless.
The city actually reminds me a lot of Paris, but better and different. We also saw the view of the palace from across the Vltava river. It looked incredible. After that, we all decided to go back to the hotel. There were only two beds so you do the math. We were traveling on a shoe-string and we could not afford another room.
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