AM
I'm not sure what I was expecting…maybe a warm sunny welcoming stepping out from the airport and straight into a castle. But that wasn't quite how it happened. It's cold but sunny. I walked out and was hit by the sting of the cold and the bleakness of the Prague airport and surrounds. I had to take a reality check in that every airport in the world has bleak surrounds…there needs to be nothing around so the planes actually have room to take off! Haha! Anyway, after wandering around aimlessly for sometime looking for the transport booth and asking the information booth lady for help (although she wasn't very helpful) I noticed a chubby guy about my age with a big laminated sign saying 'Helen Jones' - I joked a bit with him which he clearly didn't get, grabbed my bags and led me to the big transport van that was picking up me and only me….eeek! The whole time, driving on the wrong (but right) side of the road, speaking on his phone in a very stressed manner and not daring to say a word to me, I sung along to the likes of the black eyed peas and other various new release songs and looked out at Prague as we drove along. Prague is huge! For some reason I thought it to be a cute little quaint town with a couple of castles but somewhere along the way I forgot it is the capital of the Czech Republic so should be somewhat sizeable.
For the most part it was ugly, dirty, boxy and industrial with the harshness of winter showing on the trees and foliage around but then you would get glimpses of its beauty with villas on hills and a huge sweeping river with huge bridges and a mini waterfall.
But then the magic abruptly ended when I was dropped off at the hotel at which I am staying with my 40kgs of luggage and made to climb a huge set of stairs while the chubby boy drove off!! Man I shoulda kept my gym workouts up whilst in Aus or brought a muscle bound assistant to help me. I am yet to see a castle.
I have read and heard that the Czech are particularly rude….so far I haven't experienced it to the full extent but my bubbly Aussie girl act hasn't yet got much reciprocation. Not with the welcoming staff at the airport, the guard on exit, the information clerk, the chubby transport boys…at least the hotel staff were lovely. Which is where I am sitting now…It's 10:40 here in Prague whilst it's 7:40pm in Aus on a Wednesday! I am waiting for one of the chickies from the TEFL school to show me around a bit! :)
Zurich airport…AMAZING by the way. I have never seen such a beautiful airport before…everything and everyone looked and smelt amazing! Very classy! I felt like the biggest slob walking through with all my mishmashed clothes from what I had taken off and put on on the plane. At least I remembered to take off my eye mask before disembarking. Haha! I am in desperate need of a shower and fresh clothes….I suppose this is welcome to the life of a traveller…Oh…and I really should think about culling more luggage…I thought I had the necessities…but four kilos of excess necessities cost me a very very very pretty penny!! But as my friend re-assured me….it's just money! Well at least those excess kilos made it here through 3 different flights.
PM
It's 7:40 pm here in Prague in 4:40am in Aus! No one is up to chat to but my Californian flat mate has just arrived and she is great! I have had a few hrs head start so my room is completely set up and organised. Love it! Haha! Got my hot shower and made it down to the shopping centre for groceries and free wifi in the cafe…yep…all cafes have free wifi! !How awesome!
Grocery shopping was an experience…but I made it out with a tonne of stuff and some pre-made dinners so I didn't have to decipher ingredients straight up…oh..and I found Australian white wine in the supermarket….yet to see if it is in Prague cause it's good or because that's the only place who takes it. Haha! At least I recognised salami and cheese! Yum…it is good too. The supermarket was like a gourmet deli - my Dad would have been in heaven!
I tried not to sleep but I ended up having a nap…a 4 hour nap! Oh well….I have a few days to get into routine before I start class…until then I will sleep until my heart's content!
So far loving it here!! Really can't believe I am in a completely different country across the other side of the world to begin this teaching and travelling journey! :)
Cheers all,
H xx
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