prague

charles bridge

this is prague. pretty huh? yeah, it's not too bad. i liked it a hell of a lot. there's much to say. how do i say it all? well, in one HUGE post i assume. so bear with me....

i started off at LAX in where, once i checked in, i was told i could wait in the lufthansa business lounge. excuse me? some magical place that business and 1st class passengers get to wait? would they have the same rows of uncomfortable chairs? screaming kids? nope. not a one. all they had was big huge leather chairs and all the free alcohol, drinks, and snacks you could want. what the hell? where was this all hiding? i got on the plane and immediately started playing with the huge recliner i found myself sitting in. like a big lazy boy with a foot rest and everything. ah, luxury. i started the flight with champagne and i think i followed it with a few more. i remember a few meals with four courses and a menu that we got to choose off of. of course, i didn't have the little faux pas of not knowing that i was being handed a tablecloth for my tray rather than a napkin, but oh well. check out the sweet view from business class. okay, fine, that's just a view from any seat, but still, it's a cool picture.

these girls were waiting in the frankfurt airport with me. ever notice how all eastern european girls have dyed hair? that's just my observation. my room at my hotel room in prague was cool but not what i'd expect from a 5-star hotel. but i think czechs aren't big on luxury. the best part of my room had to be the rad mirror in the bathroom that didn't fog up in this one little square. very cool. of course, getting room service on someone else's dime was pretty awesome too. though my first dinner of czech food was a little too heavy even for me. but i had to try it.

prague is a beautiful city and very manageable. it's easy to get around and by day 3 i wasn't even using my little fold-out map. of course, my single status and walking with confidence and purpose lead some to believe i was a local which turned out to be awkward when people came up to me and tried to ask directions in czech. i just smiled and said i was a stupid american. i wonder if they understood.

the prague castle sits atop a big hill and is one of the city's main landmarks. one morning i hiked all the way up there and got this view and this view. so beautiful. and such great autumn colors. here's the church at prague castle. looks like any european church i guess, but still pretty.

did i mention i went to karlstejn castle about an hour outside of prague? it was one of the prettiest settings i've ever seen. don't believe me? well, how about this view from the top? or here's looking up at the castle. did i mention the fall colors? i know everyone else gets them but i'm just a naive california girl so leave me alone.

now to the fun stuff. did you know that there's such a thing as hot wine? well, of course you did. but in czech it's called svorak and i loved it. it's hot, tastes like wine, but also has a hint of apple cider taste. yummy. and check out this pastry. it's hollow but delicious and sugary. the two hugest things in prague (at least in the tourist shops) are nesting dolls and marionettes. very weird. and stacey will be happy to know that christmas starts early in prague as well as los angeles. and the biggest draw in town? definitely gloria gaynor on ice.

all in all, it was an awesome trip. i even ran into an old college friend who lives in prague now and she showed me around. went to a concert in a church to nurture my 'cultural' side. and bought socks to nurture my 'shopping' side. ate a ton of gelato to nurture my 'gelato' side. oh, and the actual "work" portion of my business trip could not have been any cooler. got to meet the rock and just let me say that he could not have been any nicer. the nicest celeb i've met by far. we talked football and prague and he even insisted on giving me a ride home in his car. awesome.

it was fun. i am eternally grateful to my boss. it was a great trip. see how happy i am? but it all had to end and after a 13 hour flight, two glasses of champagne, one bloody mary, and one glass of red wine, i arrived at LAX and found my way home.

** edited to add: oh my god. why do i have a jay leno chin in that last picture of me? please someone tell me that it doesn't always look that pointy and huge.