To Brooklyn I go…

Way down in Brooklyn. Ironically enough I am comforted by the fact that it is a Polish neighborhood and that is all that I seem to understand right now.

Spending the night at my sister and brother in laws place while they are still away. Grateful for alone time and time to take care of or try to generate some work so that I can pay my bills.

NO WIFI!

I have three sisters and one is THE WORST at answering her phone, text, whatsapp, anything! What is your wifi?

Okay let’s go find one.

Called a few places before going there who all told me that that they have wifi. Arrived. Ordered a drink.

Oh your wifi isn’t working? How strange.

I want my apt, my bed… my home.

 

From LI to Astoria… and a mindset.

Still have a friend in my place so can’t go home. I need a home.

Picked up my computer and some essentials from a friends to finally answer all of those emails and decided instead to get my mani/pedi and massage first. Awesome. My ideas get better and better every day.

I told someone what I was doing and he said he wanted my life. My response surprised me. I said… My life is a mindset. Where did that come from? Who am I? Wait this is what I have been searching for.

Proud of myself. Pat on my newly massaged and relaxed back. It is though. You do need to know what makes you happy in life before you can be happy with or truly for anyone else. My mind is set on living that kind of life. No more stress. Too much crap in the world to be stressed at jobs and life.

Picked up my mail and a package and decided to try to attempt some work. Can’t someone just pay me to travel… plan travel, travel, live, explore, research? Who wants to go somewhere? I promise it will be amazing!

Met my friend at a wine bar and decided to call it an early night, only to open wine when we got home to catch up.

She is generally my travel buddy but had some family and work events during this time and year so couldn’t make the trip.

I like my alone time but experiencing life and travel with someone else is so much better!

Who is it?

 

Back in the U.S… of ugh!

Finally to the airport and my car is out on Long Island (you say ON when you are from there and IN if you are not.)  I appreciate the many checkpoints to get out of here but get me out of the airport. Easily enough I found my way to my friends place, where my car was parked and reminded that there are places you don’t have to lock doors and you can hear the birds chirping.

Silence.

Where am I?

Have to stay awake to avoid jetlag. My friend actually has a washer and dryer in her house so looks like it’s laundry to keep me awake.

And Corona. Come on…

As my friend arrived home from work and I gifted her with the Amber necklace from Poland, which is what they are known for, I was reminded of how much I missed my friends.

It isn’t that I didn’t miss the people in my life while I was away but the way of life, the energy, the feel, how you live is just different. If I didn’t care so much then I may have stayed.

What to do now?

 

 

 

Coming home?

I woke up on Monday morning all set to have a nice family breakfast and head to the airport for my 9 hour flight on my own. Thankful to Delta for having the direct flight but reminded once again that I am alone on this journey.

What am I searching for? What do I truly want and desire?

Grateful for the people who reached out to me during this experience but something still feels vacant.

The long flight and mindless convo with those in my vicinity in the last hour of the flight and waiting two hours to get through customs in NY. Why did they ask us to download the app and put all of our personal passport information on it only to wait on this ridiculous line? No one knew the answer and the people working seemed stressed and annoyed at life… get me out of here.

Missing Europe already.

Finally made it to my luggage that was thrown on the floor… literally. If my bottle of wine from Eger, Hungary broke before I opened it then claws may be coming out!

Restroom… sorry but wines and water on the plane and that long line and it’s time…

Dirty.

I think it’s the first time that I realized how dirty it all is. Every country I have visited was clean. It didn’t matter if it was an airport, restaurant, or gas station stop. Clean and managed and respected.

Why is that? As Americans are we that disgusting? Are the people who work at these places just lazy? What is it?

Respect… is it respect?

Why am I home already? Maybe I should have stayed.

 

 

Prague!!!

I love the colors, the buildings, the streets, the feel, how it makes me feel.

Had a great breakfast at my hotel and off to explore! Right around the corner in the main square is a church. I heard some singing so decided to take a look inside. There was a choir visiting, Kennet School, and they were singing songs from Les Mis. With the acoustics in the church it was so beautiful.

Walked around the square where they have little stands of food and drinks. Next to one of the stands are the large pieces of meat roasting over firewood. It smelled soooo good!

Stopped off at a Thai spa and the kids had the fish treatment where the little fish come and bite your feet. I want to go back for that later!

Walking around the corner and right into the Anatomical Clock. It is the third largest Anatomical clock in the world and the oldest working clock. It is amazing and actually accurate. Not sure why I didnt think it would be. Remember to come back at night and see it. Every hour the windows open and the apostles appear in the windows. There are some fun characters in the square all trying to make a buck but were actually amusing.

Headed west to the famous Charles Bridge. The statues all along the bridge are unbelievable. Gorgeous views of the Castle and all of the boats on the water.

Once we reached the other side of the bridge we ran into the rest of the family so decided to stop for lunch and beer of course. We found a great outdoor restaurant called Restaurant Pod Vezi.  Great prices and food for a tourist trap area. It is hidden a little behind the bridge which is probably why.

Decided to walk off our lunch and make our way up the steep hill and steps to the Castle. Wow was the view worth it! Gorgeous! Walked around the grounds for a bit but the kids were getting antsy and we still had to walk all the way back to our side of the water.

Stopped for a special treat which is known in Prague. The name of it has left my mind but it is a dough that is wrapped and filled with icecream and chocolate. It is really tasty and refreshing on those hot days. Super filling though!

Made a stop off in the main square for a beer to cool off some more =)

I went off exploring on my own and got a little shopping in.

Met up with the whole family for our last dinner together of the trip. U Zlateho Hada, which had a pig roasting outside all day, is where we ended up. Big beers, wine, Authentic Austrian cuisine but low key and we were stuffed.

Walked around some more and made my way back to the Anatomical clock in time for the 11 o’clock viewing of the Apostles. Everything lit perfectly at night. I feel safe here, I feel calm here. Can I stay here?

Had one last beer in the square by my moms hotel before making my way back to mine to pack. I guess I have to go home.

 

 

Off to Prague…

Off to Prague… It’s Sunday and another long day of driving ahead of us. The scenery from Vienna to Prague is plain and not as beautiful as the rest of our drives. Once entering the Czech Republic the border was almost non existent but you knew when you stopped for food and drinks. Things are cheaper again which is a relief after Vienna.

Upon arriving in Prague, our hotel was in the city center. Going to pat myself on the back for this one. Unfortunately cars couldn’t go up there but that is what I like about it. I immediately fell in love with Prague. The Hotel Rott is right next to the main square. The glass elevator goes through the lobby with a glass roof. My room overlooks a square and colorful buildings and my bathroom floor is heated. Loving it.

I would gladly get lost here. There was a sense of peace that came over me and I couldn’t wait to see what else this city had to offer.

The hotel offers a free welcome drink in the bar so stopped for a class of Czech wine before making a right out of the hotel to get lost for a little while.

Happened upon a street and looked up a restaurant named U Modre Kachnicky. Always looking at reviews and ratings before going to a place for dinner. Talk about an amazing place. There was a piano player and it the restaurant was filled with couches and Victorian chairs. The name translates to The Blue Duck as duck is their specialty. Everything was great but our New York selves began getting a little impatient with the wait. I know it’s the European way to take a long time for dinner but when you have two hungry kids and it’s late then they should bend their rules.

After our tasty meal we walked around Prague and ran into other family that had just arrived. We had some drinks together and parted ways again.

It’s a Sunday and the streets are packed with people. You can drink in the streets here and that is exactly what everyone was doing. Too much of a frat scene for me today.

Decided to make my way back to my hotel for some alone time. I really love my alone time. This experience only solidified for me that I do want that special someone in my life but I also like to have some time just for myself as well.

Is that too much to ask? Can you have both and be in a happy relationship?

Tour of Vienna

Roamed around the city center exploring the architecture on the buildings. Fascinated by each turn.

My family went to the Spanish riding school to see the horses in training. The kids loved it and got to pet the horses as they rode around.

Met for a nice lunch at Hofburg cafe in the city center. Really great service and the food was yummy. Most places seem to only have one beer on tap but it is always good. Not too heavy and not hoppy at all so I am happy.

Hopped on the big bus tour bus again and did the red line around the city. Interesting to learn that the graffiti all along the Danube is actually street art and well respected in the city. Many signs written in English saying refugees welcome.

Someone painted two butterflies under a bridge and my eye happened to catch it. Another reminder that my dad is here with me. Lots of ladybugs and butterflies all throughout the trip.

After touring the city we hopped off to have a drink at Platchuttas Gathaus Zur oper near the opera house. Wonderful service even though we only stopped for wine.

Made our way to our dinner reservation at a place I found called Fromme Helene. It is authentic Austrian with pictures of celebrity actors, soccer players and musicians. Started with an Aperol aperitivo which was refreshing and then changing to a bottle of the grunner vetliner, which is authentic to Austria. Appetizer was a baked garlic, cranberry and melted Brie. Yum!!! I got a sausage dish which had so much flavor to it and the sausage melted in my mouth.

Big day tomorrow with my nieces birthday so need to try to get some sleep.

-Friday

Ten miles and wine

Started the day early (well every day has been) and learned the subways of Vienna. They are easy and clean and people aren’t cramped and pushed. Took the subway out to Schonbrunn Palace. Decided to do a combination tour of the palace and gardens. The gardens are breathtaking. Everything is perfect and so tastefully designed you have to remember to close your mouth. The first gardens (orange gardens) are full of orange and lime trees. Walking through arches of ivy brought me back to watching Anne of green gables. On to the tour of the palace. It is a Baroque palace with well over 1000 rooms of gold and history and me wanting to live there. The stories of the kings and queens and what went on is fascinating and I couldn’t help but picture them all surrounding me. It gave me the chills a few times.

Out to more gardens with a view of the Gloriette on top of the hill. Went through three labyrinths which was a lot of fun.

The zoo is on the same grounds as the palace. The Tiergarten Schonbrunn is the oldest zoo in the world. They have animals that most do not. It was extremely clean for a zoo and I can’t help but feel that way about everything on the trip so far. Is NY that dirty?

After walking the whole zoo we ended up heading up to the Gloriette to get the most amazing panoramic view of Vienna. Climbing to the top and taking in the air and beauty was relaxing and cleansing.

So much beauty in this world.

Making our way down the steep hill and back to the subway. Wind blown from a rainy to sunny to rainy to sunny to so much wind we all turned red day.

Decided on Mexican bc it was close to their hotel and it was a long day. Seriously can not have a bad meal anywhere here. Even the margaritas and Mexican were amazing and tasty. Interesting to have the names of the meals in Spanish with the description in German! Thankful for my years of Spanish and Google translate but remember how well that has worked out.

My brother in law said he would put the kids to bed and my sister and I went down to the wine bar. We finally got to catch up and talk about things that are going on.

I think this trip has been revealing to me more than I thought and exactly what I was looking for.

Grateful.

A Polish reception

We all headed over to the reception hall in the next town. The parents presented a beautiful loaf of bread with a heart shaped in the middle and salt inside the heart. The couple takes the salt and throws it. The parents and couple are then presented with vodka and they do a shot and throw the shotglass over their heads. The glass has to break or else it’s bad luck.

Everyone then goes inside and presents the couple with gifts and well wishes. We find our seats and a meal is served. Food for days. Courses served and food on the table. The best man is in charge of making sure vodka bottles are full on the tables at all time. There is the local Lezajsk beer on tap and another beer. Two kinds of wine and a barrel of moonshine. No moonshine for me. Remember.

Then the dancing starts. Dancing and dancing and more dancing and fast dancing and hard dancing and fun dancing and this is going to hurt tomorrow dancing.

More food. Shots of vodka. Everyone does shots together. It’s good luck for the couple. Why do I feel like I am getting played here.

They have songs to make the couple do shots or kiss or I don’t even know bc I obviously don’t understand.

Let’s get back to dancing. I understand dancing. Pretty sure the entire town asked me to dance to be nice.

Twelve hours. The party lasted for twelve hours!!! Don’t know how many meals were served or food put out. I only ate the first course. The food was unbelievable though. The wine and beer were better. How many shots do I have to do?

Do we have to meet for breakfast in four hours and I have to be packed? Oh man.

One of the most fun weddings I have ever been to and I didn’t understand 75% of the people there.

Hmmm communication seems to be a theme.

Krakow

Half of my welcoming committee was fast asleep in their car seats. The surprise on their face when they woke up to Aunt Eileen being there was priceless.

Quick drop off at my hotel. Hotel Frankuski is over 100 years old. The key alone weighs about five pounds and is bigger than both of my hands together. No time to check out hotel, we are off to explore the main square before the sun sets.

The main square is filled with gorgeous buildings. The architecture and precision is beautiful. St. Mary’s Basillica is a sight. You are only allowed in to “pray” so I took a quick peak in and there was a mass happening. Wow. Gorgeous.  Breathtaking. I should probably take some holy water and pretend I prayed. Sinner.

Cloth Hall expands across the middle of the main square. Filled with booths of everything you could want or need. Cafes and outdoor restaurants fill the perimeter of the square. Where to have dinner?

Musicians playing traditional polish music. Fiona and I stopped to dance in the square. The next set of musicians were playing jazz. Big jazz scene here. They are setting up for a jazz festival right now.

The wind picks up as we walk around the square and decide on dinner at Piano Rouge. Outdoor seating with a heat lamp. Time for a polish beer. I will take a large. Make it a double. Need to stay awake to get used to this time zone.

Met some nice people at the next table and then off to the BierHall to watch the soccer game. More German beer. Met a family from Scotland so my brother in law was happy. Someone who understands what he is saying!!

Rest of the family came in late and met us for a beer. How am I still awake?

Sleep, please!!

Less than two hours later I am back up. It’s 230 am and I have to be up at 6 am… Or midnight.