Prague Day 3...

We got back around 6am from the club, but at the same time Sunday was our final day in Prague. I set my alarm for 9:30 so we could get a decent amount of sleep in when including the time shift for daylight savings. I figured that my phone would automatically adjust for the time shift, but I was sorely mistaken at 8:30 when we headed down for breakfast... It was fine though. Breakfast included many nice cheeses and breads. I didn't eat the eggs or bacon though, but Lili said they were fantastic.

A shower and haphazard packing later we were back on the street headed directly to the Jewish district, Josefov, as it was our last chance to see it. Although Prague was occupied by the nazis and most jewish ghettos were destroyed as part of the holocaust this section of town was supposedly preserved to be a 'museum of the exterminated race.' The messed up part is that it is now a major tourist attraction full of museums...
Major highlights of this section of the town are the 13 century old new synagogue which we went to first. In order to enter I had to wear a yamecha which made for some hilarious pictures. Then we went to another synagogue which was converted to a museum. Inside you can find pictures drawn by the children held in the ghetto during world war 2. Apparently there was about 4000 children and less than 500 survived. It was very sad and I didn't want to stay long. This was followed by the old Jewish cemetery. This cemetery is the oldest Jewish cemetery in Europe and it was amazing to see how the headstones were basically set up like dominos with no real space in between.
The Maisel synagogue was unfortunately closed due to technical difficulties, but we did make our final stop at the Spanish synagogue. Although you won't find the Spanish synagogue named that way in wikipedia nor on most city maps. I'm not sure why it is called that way, but it didn't stop me from enjoying the facility. A really interesting thing is that most of the museums and treasuries of the Jewish synagogues did not have very many opulent treasures. Sure there were a bunch of silver Torah pointers and a few silver Torah shields. I confused the first with a back scratcher the first time I saw one... The main items are books and pictures that are under the glass cases in the museums. Of course part of the history is that when money etc. was needed the expensive items were melted down and sold or traded.
Time ran out on us and after a brief stop at the astronomical clock to watch it ring in the new hour, I had to make a quick trip to the airport. I asked the lady at the desk of the hotel the best way to the airport and she said I could take a taxi for about €30 or a train to the bus station and it would take about an hour. Not wanting the hassle I opted for the taxi and was at the airport with 1.5 hours to spare before liftoff... or so I thought. I got inside to find that my flight was canceled. I went through the massive check in line to try for assistance and I got passed off to another line. They gave me a new flight with Lufthansa, but it left more than 3 hours later. Which was just enough time to piss me off and not enough to get to the city and back. I went to my gate and hung out. I spent the last of my Czech money and waited with a red bull in hand. About 5 minutes before I was supposed to begin boarding the staff finally arrived at the desk. It was about the time where you second guess yourself whether or not you're in the right location.
A short announcement was made. The flight has been delayed, more information will be given in 40 minutes... scheisse... I was out of money and fading very fast. I managed to stay awake reading an interesting book about a non-fiction view of Lord Byron. Finally I got on the bus to the plane after hearing 3 other flights get cancelled due to the fog. See I told you we'd get back to that. In the end I got on the smallest plane I can remember flying on and it was quite rickety and I feared for my life. But it did the job and I got back to Deutschland ok.
Finding my auto was another issue. Turns out there's multiple parkhouses in the same area that look vaguely similar with the same numbers on the spots. So when I got to the spot marked 4.547 and there was no car there I was quite upset. I went to the SOS phone and the gentleman spoke no English, but I was able to understand that I needed to go to parkhaus 3 to make a police report. On the way out I called Kai and explained the situation which she found hilarious. The good news is that on the way to the other parkhaus... well the direction I felt was right... I recognized the on-ramp I had used days earlier. Sure enough I was in the wrong parkhaus the first time. After that I forgot to get the receipt for the €63 parking bill, but I did take a picture of the screen as proof... But at least I could blame a long weekend ;-)


That about sums up my Czech adventures... I'd go back... even move there if I could for a short time as that city is alive. Anyone who has the chance, should go.


I also apologize for the spelling... once I get a chance to use my laptop again I'll come back through and fix the last few posts. It just goes to show how illiterate I've become here...