Shit happens, as does shenanigans (Prague part 1)

FUCK, FUCK!


I hurriedly unpacked and repacked my bags, but my camera was not to be found. Running from the peace of the Charles bride at 5 in the morning I dashed back to the nearest taxi and caught a ride back to the bus station where I had arrived into Prague, and originally repacked my bag. I knew I had put my camera down beside me, but it had gone. Swearing at myself, I through my bag over my shoulder, and headed back down the road the cab had come on. I had noticed a bar and being Prague they're open till the cold light of day. A shot, a beer, cigarette. A talk to Jack on facebook. A shot, a beer, cigarette. A talk with Dylan on facebook. It was not the lost of the camera that really annoyed me, but the loss of the memory card contained within. Out of all the photo's taken on the trip, some of my most favourite were of me and Szilvi at Mt. Ślęża gone. I have learnt not to let thing like this let me get down for long, but I wasn't a great way to start the morning.


Still annoyed but feeling a little better I headed back to admire the Charles bridge while it was still
quite and the masses had not yet awoke. Statues of stone and polished bronze lining both sides and
great decorative arches at either end looming proud. From the centre of this cobbled thoroughfare, I gazed out towards the photogenic city, the castle and Eiffel tower as I would discover it's known as. The grey light coming up killing the last of the night. I made it to the other side to my hostel, talking for a while with the early risers before heading to my room to pass out. The sleep was blissful after the bus ride, the middle back seat offering little in the way of comfort, doubting that those on either would appreciate me resting my head on them as the journey went; and of course, the missing camera wasn't helping matter either.


When I woke in the early afternoon, I took a trip up to the Prague Eiffel tower, I learnt later that
the design was based of the original, which can be clearly seen, but top point also shares the same hight above sea level. However there is a little cheating involved using a hill to gain most of it's hight and the construction, considerably smaller sits on top. It does however have an unbeatable view of the photogenic city below. Red roofs but not Florrintesk, the spectacular castle and the river that winds under the Charles bridge, now heavily laden with tourists on this cold but sunny day.


When I had my fill, and snapped my memories from every angle, I descended the tower and too to the building adjacent. The child that lives inside all of us, or at least that should live, got a chance to play, in the labyrinth of mirrors. I am glad to say, it's still amusing to watch your body distort as if standing three feat tall, or head elongated and sticking out like a giraffe and belly buldging in the next, head swelling like a cartoon in the one after. Filled with childish laughs I wondered round the summit, and then caching the funicular down back to the base. I spent my evening socialising, and when I headed back to my room I discovered all my room mates were beautiful, American, and staring into there phones. With a beaming smile I knew I couldn't let the opportunity go past without the first thing me saying was, "well I lucked out here!"


The next day brought about adventure, and a little more knowledge of the place I was in. I was proud of myself of the half a dozen Czech words I had already picked up; after Poland I was starting to get used to the Slavic sounds, and it helps that 'I don't understand' is nearly the same in both. A walking tour I joined showcasing the brilliance of Prague, visited very impressive churches. One with the odd tale that goes along the lines of: It is good luck to place a leave jewels on the high altar, the statue of the Virgin Marry. One man 400 years ago stayed in the church one night, to steel the precious gifts. Legend says that when he touched them the statue moved and grabbed him by the wrist. Try as he might, he could not break her grip. Being discovered in the morning not being able to be pulled from his place, the authority performed the act that was the penalty for stealing in those times, by cutting of his hand. The hand and upper arm can still be seen today, rotted dangling from a chain and nail near the entrance. Creepy but, there's character.




On this walking tour I met two people that I greatly enjoyed the company of for the next few days. A Kiwi called Barney, and a Turk called Ari. Drinking with our guide after our tour, learning a little more of the language, history, and had a good time. From there Ari, Barney and I went exploring the city bursting at the seems with beauty, with a few shenanigans along the way. We set out to find the John Lennon wall but happened to stumble across these giant brass babies with imploding faces. A little drunk still we posed like rock stars, taking a whole range of embarrassing photos that ended up on facebook. I wouldn't of posted the photo of me popping the cheeky nut, but it ended up there so I'll live with the laugh.

Ari has a few classically embarrassing photos too... Barney however scored a champion shot when we got to 'Before I die...' wall. There were items others had written like skydiving or meeting One Direction, but on stood out in big red letters "Before I die, I want too FUCK BARNEY.” Obliging he left his e-mail address next to it with an arrow. By the ever evolving wall of John Lennon we sat, singing some of the greatest lyrics ever to be penned down. Good to say we all like what we do because based on that performance none of us are going to make it as cover singers. More beers followed, as did the town centre and souvenir shops. As Halloween approached masks hung in many stores, the pictures at the bottom may give you an indication of the great laughs we had.

Before I die.. Ari and I

Great taste Barney

Gold

Line up ladies

Shenanigans

Hitting the half-way point (Written in Prague)

Wow!!!
I can't believe I just pasted the half way mark on my travels around Europe! It has been and still is, a hell of an exiting, life changing, wonderful experience.
From the architecture of Italy to the history of Poland and sheer vibrancy of the Czech republic.
With so much still to look forward to, see, learn, and many more amassing people to meet. I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who has made this, such an incredible journey, the memories we have shared, the hospitality you have shown me, and the inspiration you have imparted on me!

Shout outs to everyone of the Rome family. I could not of asked for a better tone or company to start this adventure with! You really were wonderful in setting me off on the rite foot!
Much love to Alex, for being awesome and hosting my stay in Milan. Brother, it's been great to have and old friend to share a part of this journey with!
And to a Angel amongst many, thank you for everything!! Every moment has been wonderful, so much to say, but I'll be seeing you soon!

To everyone else along the road, many thanks and love! We've had some crazy times and some wonderful moments. Weather it was a few fleeting moments in a cafe conversation, or long nights partying, you make this adventure such a special thing!
And lastly to everyone back home, thank you for your best wishes, and I miss you! Some hopefully I may see soon. If I don't, thank you for the time we have shared back is Aus!

So as time speeds by at an incredible pace, and we all go our separate ways, I wish everyone all the best with love and adventure!

x

-Facebook post 1/11/2013

Oh there's Gnomes too (Wrocław part 1)

Something come in high and lows, we try to put a handle on these things though the most influential
ones come as surprises. I was looking forward to meeting with Szilvi again, and what was a few days became a week, what was not meant to be happened. For those that say not to fall in love travelling, it is sometimes wise advice. Though beautiful witty women will always intrigue, mix that with a sweet disposition and good chemistry it is a potent combination that might make it very difficult for me to walk away from.
We spent our evenings ice skating, or quiet drinks with Szilvi's work collogues, and walking around in the crisp night to the beautiful lit up buildings of Wrocław. I don't know what it is with the Hungarian eyes, but there is a wonderful opening quality that is so temping to fall into I admit I did a little. It was something neither of us intended, but involve emotions happened, so we resolved to embody a mind state, and knowing it would not last, but to have it for what it is for a while.


When Szilvi went to work in the day, I would procrastinate till I finally made head way on my blog. Wander round the city, throwing some hammers down on the concrete wonderland designs of the metropolitan area. There are a few art instillation that can be found, one project that spans city are the Wrocław gnomes that come up in all kinds locations, but I always kept my eyes open for these little fella's each one a laugh and photographed.


On the weekend we went to Mt Ślęża. It was peaceful to get out of the city. Autumn leaves covered the ground the bear trees against the clear blue sky wind rustling the twigs and branches. We wound our way up the amber flour covering the slippery rocks below. The sent of burning wood grow stronger as we reached the top, many fires were there to great us with warmth as we reached the pinnacle, where groups of people cooked there lunch over and open flame. An abbey standing in the clearing looking out across the the lands lying below. A tower could be climbed near off where we had our lunch, the wind grows strong as we took the exposed ladders up, but the cold was not to deter. The view absolutely spectacular, adrenalin rushing as wind threatened to throw any article of loose clothing down the hill. We made our way down and returned back into town.


It was that night I had decided on leaving Wrocław for a while. Holding each other till the last possible moment. Lingering on that kiss till the moment I had to board my bus.

The Rynek (Town center)

One of my favorite photos

A little bit of silly fun

 Gnomes...

A black page in history (Auschwitz)

The hell pit of mankind's history. It's not the sights of Auschwitz that are truly horrifying, it's more of the thought of, how can so many people can do so many evil
atrocities to so many other? Selecting a whole group, for segregation, extermination and torcher. The sights I was prepared for and I do not have a weak stomach either;
it was not staring at the piles of matted hair, of thousands shaved for felt production; it was not the thousands of possessions stacked up for sorting and redistribution
It was staring into the eyes of the photographs of the people, under harsh labour to death, gassed and killed, torched, poisoned, and used in twisted science experiments,
to amongst other abominable things, create infertility. The footage of a soviet soldier says so much of the deplorable conditions, people emaciated; there skin as if draped straight over there bones, heaped on top of each other in the sleeping bunks. Eyes gaunt and sunk, past the point of fear, no disappear, just nothing.
At a point it stops becoming disgusting, it stops being gruesome, it becomes numbing and the coping mechanism come in as cold numbers. How can you comprehend 1.1 millions people being told that these are the showers undress and stepped into this building, cyclone 2 filling the room of 800 Jews or other sub humans in Nazi eyes? How can you comprehend the inhumanity of those how took pleasure in directing these actions? Blackest pages of human existence animate in flashes; the fact of being there trying to fill the gaps, grappling for comprehension of something so hateful and immense. People taken from all part of Europe that could be touched, from Romania to the Netherlands carted as animals to Poland, and other similar camps across Europe.


It is a strange thing and unpleasant think to look in to the eyes of so many innocents, that have been killed and think, who was that? What kink of life did they lead?


I chose no to write this as a journal entry at first. What I wanted was a drink, and distractions. For the first time since arriving I had a hangover in the morning. Not from an excess of alcohol, but from the weight of the day before, still lingering in the thoughts of yesterday. I chose not to take any photo's, I will openly talk about my impressions of that place, but how do I say 'oh this is Auschwitz, over a million people were senselessly killed here?' I guess like that, but it's not something that can be, put into through away comments. It's a discussion or not really something that I would comment on. Through the many evils of history, this is the first I have recognised in a way that sank in so hard, though not a big part in Australian history, it is a big part of human history, what ever you beliefs, skin colour or background. You cannot look apon that place without sorrow, and think how we all feel, bleed and are similar in so many ways. How can this be done over our differences? And it's just one example.



I have seen the best in people, but this day was one that made me hand my head in shame of the some of history of the human race.

To be young and social (Cracaw)

Normally I take it as part of my exploring to find the best spots, but the first night in Cracow I went on my first and only organised pub crawl night. Wondering through the cobbled street to our first destination someone said to me “Hey, remember me?” I was honest and a little embraced that I didn't, the girl that said 'Hi' to me was Anna, she and Nadene who I had already met as well in Warsaw as well were travelling together. Fortunately I didn't offend them by my lack of memory, and over the next few day we became quite good friends. The first place was a generic night club, free shots from the crawl, and American pop music playing. Some one commented on my hard core vodka embracing approach, my answer was I'll slow down when I feel it, but I need to be drunk to dance to this shit! Turned out to be a good night all the same.

I met my room mates in the morning, the first I met was another Ozi chef, so we talked kitchens and shit, and the pranks we had played. We split to do our own things, before going for a walking tour in the afternoon. I was writing my journal and was going to head into town to post my cards, but I was feeling inspired to write a song, the song of many titles which I'm sure different people will read different things into.
The second was a German on his first travel, that we bumped into in that afternoon, so instead of the tour we when on a walk around the town instead. A complete contrast from the grey squares of Warsaw, the building in Cracow just have so much more life. (Cracow became part of the German general government under control of the Nazis in WW2, and did not get bombed)

I took a day to do the Jewish district walking tour. the WW2 stories do sit uneasily sometimes, every now and then you tent to talk normal things with the surrounding people to liven things up. One of the people I met was Lise, and it was nice to talk politics again which I guess is a rather boring conversation for most, but its one of my interest that I find hard to find company for. I had to pick up my washing that afternoon, its been along time since I've been that excited to have my washing done (and folded) for me. Later that night I bumping into Maddie my old room mate, great girl, and a lot of fun to chat to so we decided to meet for a drink the next night.

After Auschwitz, we met up for a drink with her friend, after a few dead locations, we decided to try one more before calling it a night. What we found was the lowest bar in Cracow, as in depth in the ground. Three flights down we saw the bar tenders, and they where drunker than we were! At this point I would say we were toasty, the tenders were near on hammered. There was an interesting incident with the change given, instead of the correct change, we received 50zl more than we paid. The money was given back to the tenders, so grateful we where thanked in free shots for the rest of the night. It was a lot of fun to have a catch up, and kababs were in order on the way home. That's not bad considering last time me and Maddie went out drinking, we sung Bohemian Rhapsody the way back.

  

Jewish cemetery

Words to live by (from the hostel)