60.01 & 60.02: Prague, Czechia, a city perspective: Night and Day, day and night plus adventures we'd rather not face.

Prague Castle, St Vitus Cathedral and two wanderers in classical city wonder(land).

  Jen tells me we are one of the last of her friends to visit Czechia, more specifically, the City of Prague. Well, we eventually arrived in what we would term an old-world setting, classical, modern city. The views from wherever one stands are at times breathtaking especially as one takes in the architecture. It's magnificent. Whether the insides are comfortable and modern we are unaware but the facades are truly uplifting, inspirational and provide an awful lot of historical information. Perhaps the flow of water through the city, as in many places around the world, adds tremendous benefits in the form of visuals, transport, perhaps cooling properties and entertainment. 

  The Vltava River is attractive, some 240 miles long, of meaningful width, flowing through the city to make wonderful impressions. When the sun sets, another facet reveals itself in the form of reflections and nightlife. Admittedly, some forms of entertainment are not for everyone but there is always something for those who prefer not to see the surface become a wet discothèque. Should I have a criticism of the management of the aesthetics along the river, I would suggest more lighting be placed across the bridges. This feature has been perfected in at least one city we have visited, namely on the Danube through Budapest.  

  Our short stay of 5 nights was a link between San Diego and the High Tatras of Slovakia. After an enjoyable period in Czechia, it was clear that our hearts and everything attached thereto belong in the wilderness, clearly not the cities, no matter how distinguished they might be.

Bridge(s) over calm waters.

Classic and modern contrasts. 
'Lean on me' as the late sun hits the spot.
The former chairman (general secretary) of the Communist Party left in a hurry, after losing his seat in parliament to the Green Party. Did he leave a statement or was it merely carelessness?  

  Water not only provides life, but beauty, too. The Vltava River dominates the city.
Many times I'm grateful for not being young. Watching the screaming youngsters on the disco-boat was one of those times.
Petrin Tower protrudes in the background with domes and spires in the foreground.

If not very deep, the river is wide and long, flowing some 250 miles.
The tower in the background, we understand, was completed a short while before the collapse of the communist regime. It could be said that it was the final or high straw of a dictatorship. 

More spires, towers, domes and of course, buildings. 

The Charles Bridge, a major tourist spot.

  We’re supposedly a big girl and boy by now. So, we mention the trip from Prague, Czechia to Strba, Slovakia as an illustration of some of the challenges we face. We seek not sympathy but won’t turn it down, but rather mention that our life is not a bed of roses all the time. There is the occasional day when the levels of pain and frustration hit some high notes and we suppose, thorns. 

  After 5 days in Prague, we found hills but no mountains. Therefore, it was time to set out for the High Tatras. Just the name conjures both altitude and we suppose, attitude. 

  Both of us slept not a wink the night before the trip, a first…and second. In fact, Jen literally did not sleep. We set off for the bus terminus, arriving at 7:30am by foot, heavily laden with baggage. The bus ride of 5 hours was good, arriving in Bratislava, Slovakia before 1pm. The terminus is below an incredible shopping mall—world class, in our opinion. We searched for a taxi which became an ordeal. The first challenge was finding an exit from this massive place. After asking questions, using the local language of course, we were no wiser as we were sent to different parts of the building lugging luggage. Unfortunately, a brand-new bag snapped at the handle. Don’t you just love an extra challenge. We encouraged each other to hold it together: Not the bag but rather, our minds and temperaments. 

  We found an exit and continued to walk while seeking a driver. Our phone is not connected which knocked out possibilities for Lyft or Uber. Eventually, we identified one taxi driver receiving payment from his customer. Unfortunately, he was booked but after a further twenty minutes, we found another after a longish walk. He dropped us off at the airport. Why the airport? Surely, you don’t think we had a tantrum and decided to depart. Not yet! The plan was to arrive at the bus station, take a taxi to the airport at which time we would collect our previously booked rental car. Aha! Fortunately, that worked out smoothly until our GPS decided to play silly games. 

  We got lost a few times, one reason being is that no matter how many times we requested and allowed for using toll roads, the system refused to acknowledge our instruction. By this time, we were frustrated. The journey was supposed to be 3.25 hours to Strba but the GPS wanted to drive for well over 5 hours. Our hosts, people we have stayed with before, were expecting us based upon the 3-hour journey. Yikes. We have been locked out before, not a pleasant experience although we have always managed to sort such problems successfully. There we were, unrested, frustrated, facing a journey of say 4 hours to an unlimited amount, hot, hungry and lost. 

  Added to the circumstances, it’s not that we are that familiar with the country although we have visited twice before. However, on each occasion we drove from different starting points, that is, Serbia via Hungary, and Poland respectively. It makes a difference. We pushed on and fortunately, the tables turned. The highway traveling became familiar, the GPS stood down from a previous rebellious position and Strba eventually came into our sights. Unfortunately, it will occur in the future but that’s a price we pay. It would be helpful should we have a little more wisdom but…

Cheers, 

Jenni and Jeffrey