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Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Prague.....Part 1

Dobrý den!That would be Good Day in Czech! I'm so excited to begin my series of posts from my trip to Prague. I arrived home around 8 PM Saturday evening and am just now feeling like I am getting back to normal. Jet lag is for real! I have never been as tired as I was Sunday afternoon. I went to bed almost immediately upon arriving home Saturday and woke up Sunday morning feeling good....or so I thought! I piddled around the house and took down the remaining Christmas decorations, unpacked and so on. And. Then. It. Hit! Extreme fatigue! I felt as though I had been run over by a truck! I slept the afternoon away and felt better again on Monday morning. Good thing since I had to go to work. Fortunately we have two days without students after Christmas break and I managed to muddle through the days. The kiddos came back today and I was happy to see them! Thankfully I felt really good today....almost back to normal. I have went to bed crazy early the past few nights and am trying to catch up on sleep and am feeling good. I am only sharing the first day of my trip today but will be sharing it all. I have never had a more amazing time in my life!
It started Christmas day....the hubby and son dropped me off at my friend's house since she was going with me and driving us to the airport. We headed to Tampa and boarded our plane around 1 PM. We departed around 1:50 headed for Washington DC.  This flight was around 2 hours long. We had a couple hour layonver in DC and then we boarded toe plane bound for Munich, Germany. This flight was around 8 1/2 hours long and we flew through the night.  We arrived in Munich around 8 AM which was around  AM back home. 


Leaving Munich, Germany
Somewhere over Germany or the Czech Republic
Nearing Prague

We had a really long 4 hour layover here but it passed pretty quickly and we continued on the last leg of our journey around noon. Here are a few photos from the plane window leaving Munich and heading to Prague. This flight was only around 45 minutes. I was about to burst with excitement by this point! I was glad to be near a window in this smaller plane so I could snap a few photos. 

Now, by the time we landed and we claimed our bags and exchanged our currency, I was in a bit of a state of shock I think and did not take any pictures until we went to eat. Let me say though that seeing my Randa waiting for me (along with her boyfriend) was a sight for sore eyes! I have never been so happy!

She had arranged transportation for us, so we loaded up and headed to our hotel to check in and drop off our bags. after that, we headed out to grab something to eat. I was excited to have a Pepsi (my favorite soda) to go with my meal. Miranda had told me that drinks aren't served over ice in the Czech Republic so I was prepared for this. LOL! It was a bit different but I got used to this by the time we left. Here in America, it is common to get free refills which means we drink way too much soda or sweet tea if that's what we order. That isn't the case over there. You get one small, chilled  bottle of soda and they pour a small amount in your glass for you when they bring it to the table. If you run out or want more, you order another one. I made mine last...:) One difference in culture.


One of the highlights of my trip was getting to meet this handsome man, Shahid! He has stolen my daughter's heart and I was so excited to meet him and get to know him a little before he left. He isn't from Prague,...he lives in the UK. They met just after Miranda moved to Prague while he was vacationing there. They hit it off and remained in contact and he has flown over to see her twice. This time he got to spend a couple weeks there. He flew out the night I arrived. It makes me so happy to see her so in love. They are just precious. :)


Moving on, we had out first authentic Czech meal....Goulash. Now, my goulash is much different than this. But, this was delicious! And, the presentation was awesome! Just look at that little kettle over the tea light candle. Love it! It is delicious chunks of the most tender beef in a rich and tasty gravy. It is served with bread dumplings and sliced bread. Quite tasty!


Here it is all together. Yum!


We all enjoyed this delicious meal and wonderful conversation. After we finished eating, we went to one of the Christmas Markets for Shahid to pick up some things for his family members. After that, we headed back to the hotel to drop off Jeana and Ashley. Jeana is one of my best friends and Ashley is her daughter. She and Miranda are third cousins since their dads are first cousins and they have been close their whole lives. Miranda was so glad she was able to come too. Anywho, we dropped them off  at the hotel and I went with Miranda and Shahid to the airport. Yes, I went back to the airport...lol! I wanted to spend some more time with them and I wanted Miranda to have company after she dropped him off. I knew she would be sad...and she was. But, she was happy that Ashley, Jeana, and I were there to spend a week with her.


I have never spent so much time on public transportation. We rode the trams a lot, along with the metro and even an occasional bus. On this night, we rode all three to get to the airport. Here we are going down to the metro. 


I can't wait to share my other days with you. I will be posting again as soon as I can. We are still in the middle of the bathroom remodel as we put it on hold until after I got back home. It gets dark too early to do much after work each day so we will be working on it this weekend. But, I will try to squeeze in a post too. I also want to visit your blogs and catch up but I've been falling asleep so early and just haven't been able to get to all of them. I will though...:) I hope you have a lovely rest of the week. Until next time.....Na shledanou! 
that's good-bye in Czech!


26 comments:

  1. Vicky! I'm so happy you had a great trip! I could read how excited you were to see your daughter. And how wonderful that you got to meet her boyfriend. I enjoyed reading every detail and I look forward to the rest of the trip. That goulash looked so good too!

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  2. Vicky! I'm so happy you had a great trip! I could read how excited you were to see your daughter. And how wonderful that you got to meet her boyfriend. I enjoyed reading every detail and I look forward to the rest of the trip. That goulash looked so good too!

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  3. What an amazing adventure! I'm sure you miss every moment of it already and the fun visit with your daughter. Looking forward to hearing more about your vacation. Next time I talk to my son, I'll have to great him and say good-bye in Czech, lol.

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  4. Happy New Year Vicky! Welcome back home. I'm so glad you had a great time away visiting with your daughter! Hope you cope with the jet lag. Enjoy the rest of the week.
    Hugs Julie

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  5. I would love to have an adventure like that! Your daughter and her new boyfriend look so cute together, it's too bad he doesn't live there. I'm looking forward to seeing more about your trip!

    Tania

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  6. I have been so excited to read your posts on this trip and see all your amazing pictures. I can't wait for more.

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  7. So glad to see you are back and had such a wonderful trip, as we all knew you would! Wow, that was quite a trip just to get there. Your daughter is so pretty and sure does look happy. Looking forward to all your posts. :)

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  8. Oh how wonderful Vicky ! Your daughter is just beautiful and Shahid is one handsome dude - what a sweet couple they make !
    Looking forward to seeing pics of the architecture !
    Happy New Year to you and yours - what a blessing that your were able to spend time with your girl !
    xox

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  9. Oh good! I was afraid I'd missed your post! Jet lag is something, isn't it? It took me about two weeks to readjust after our London trip. Just keep going to bed early as long as you need too! It sounds like you all had so much fun! Can't wait to hear more. :-)
    Hugs

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  10. Vicky, I thought about you the week you were in Prague as I knew you would be having an amazing time. I'm so glad you got to meet Miranda's boyfriend, what a handsome young man. The food looks amazing. I can't wait for more posts, but boy do I understand about jet lag and fatigue! Glad you are feeling a bit better.
    Big Hugs,
    Linda

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  11. Wonderful! How fabulous that you were able to spend time with Miranda and meet her bf and spend some time in that great city. I look forward to reading more about it. I've never been anywhere like that so I will see it vicariously though you.

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  12. Hi Vicky, Win, Win, Win . . . great to hear that you had a wonderful trip, great to hear that you made it home safe, and great to get to tag along on your trip through your posts. I'm really looking forward to seeing Prague through your eyes. I know that the best part was seeing your daughter again and knowing that she is safe and happy.
    Get some rest.
    Connie :)

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  13. Oh Vicky, how exciting! I was not aware you were going to Prague! For some reason I thought your daughter was coming home. You did indeed have an exciting Christmas holiday {{smiles}}

    Your daughter is such a beautiful lady and what a joy for her to have found someone that completes her. They make a darling couple.

    I look forward to hearing more about your trip. Love and hugs to you!

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  14. What an exciting trip! Glad you were able to meet your daughters boyfriend too. She is a lovely young lady. Thanks so much for sharing with us and looking forward to Part 2 :)
    Happy New Year!
    Karen

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  15. Vicky, So fun to follow along on your fantastic trip. Your daughter and boyfriend are such a cute couple. Loved hearing about the food and beautiful sights. Happy New Year to you!

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  16. How wonderful!!! I can hear your happiness and joy bursting out of every word that you have written! It is so great to know that you had such a good time and enjoyed it so much. I look forward to hearing about the rest of your journey. Hope that you are feeling back to normal soon. Happy New Year! xx

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  17. Hi Vicky,
    'Boyfriend'...What??!! I am glad that he passed 'the mom test'! ;)
    I have been looking forward to your posts, I have followed along with some of your Face book posts, and your photos are amazing! It is amazing to see the differences in cultures, and in food...being Canadian when we moved here to the USA we found it strange that the meal portions here in the restaurants were so huge...and you are right unlimited pop here too!
    Glad you are rested up now!
    Have a wonderful weekend and can't wait for your next post!!
    Hugs, Kimberley

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  18. So glad you had a great trip! What an adventure your daughter is on and to find love as well is just so wonderful. How nice for you to see it all in person! Looking forward to hearing about the rest of your trip.

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  19. Loved reading all about the first day....it really has whetted my appetite for more! Can't wait!

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  20. Wow! What a fantastic trip. The goulash looks delicious. And it's always such a tremendous blessing when we are reunited (even for a short time) with a loved one!

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  21. I bet Miranda was so happy to see you!! That goulash made me extremely hungry. So many things to see....and a new boyfriend too. I am looking forward to 2016 with you Vicky! Happy New Year.

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  22. Jet lag is the worst, and it seems the older I get the less I can deal.

    So glad you had a great time! Now, inquiring minds want to know...what's going to happen with the boyfriend?!

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  23. Wow this was such an exciting post! I loved the pictures. I felt like a had taken a mini vacation. I can't wait to see what comes next. Have a very blessed week!

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  24. Wow this was such an exciting post! I loved the pictures. I felt like a had taken a mini vacation. I can't wait to see what comes next. Have a very blessed week!

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  25. What a fun, picture filled post this was, dear Vicky! I absolutely loved every moment of reading it, and oh! To have been able to see Miranda all the way in Prague and explore with her...such a delight! Hmmm...your goulash looks amazing, Vicky! How interesting about the differences in Prague...actually, it is the same in S. Africa in that you order one can of soda and well...there are no refills unless you order more! Hee!
    And goodness! How exciting Miranda has met a wonderful man! How fantastic you could meet him, dear Vicky!
    I can only imagine how exhasuted you must have been after all your travelling...I hope you've been able to get lots of of rest! Thinking of you! Oh, and your sweet card arrived in the mail this week...thank you so much!
    Hugs and lots of love to you...can't wait for more pictures!
    Kelly-Anne

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  26. Your daughter looks so happy! Europeans live so differently than us. I guess that's why I ADORE spending time in Europe. I am so glad you arrived safely there and had such a wonderful time. Looking forward to Trip post #2.

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Thank you so very much for taking time to leave such kind words for me. Your sweet comments make my heart smile!
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