An Afternoon with Friends

I met with friends for a delicious cup of coffee at the Malongo Café (50, rue Saint André des Arts).

After coffee, we went for a wonderful walk around the St. Germain des Prés and St. Michel area.

Fête !!

Our flat door welcoming our friends from Hungary, Japan, Canada, India, France and the U.S.

Saucisson...

Bourbon hotdogs that didn't explode in our oven!!

Bob is always the "problem" - doesn't enjoy being on my blog...

Leesa brought the delicious meringue delicacies from Strasbourg - really, really good!

Prague, Czech Republic

Yes...we did arrive in Prague at 3:55 AM!!!  We were supposed to arrive at 9:30pm but due to weather and other problems, we were delayed slightly.  We flew on Czech Airlines and they were absolutely wonderful.

Tom and I love Prague - it's a wonderful city and the people are so warm and friendly.  Below, Tom is in Wenceslas Square.  St Wenceslas is the Czechs' patron saint and the Good King Wenceslas of Christmas carol fame.

The astronomical clock...tells current time as well as relating the movement of the planets around the earth and the sun through the signs of the zodiac.

On a boat on the Vltava-Moldau - a river that goes through Prague.

Entering Prazsky Hrad (Prague Castle) which is the biggest castle complex in the world.  Our guide, Radek, in the blue jacket, was so knowledgeable and funny.

Changing of the guard at the castle...

The metro and tram system made getting around the city very easy - once you got used to the language.

FYI...how to say hot, mulled wine in Czech...

The Christmas market in Staromestské Namesti (Old Town Square).  We love these dough-like tube things that are dipped in cinnamon, sugar and other delicious things.  Yum!!

It was so cold in Prague that there were also polar bears there and they were extremely friendly!!

I wonder who selected our hotel for this trip??  It was called the U Medvidku Brewery AND Hotel.  We could eat, drink and sleep without having to go outside!!

There was even this beer thingy in the hotel lobby!!

Actually, this hotel was wonderful.  It was within walking distance to most everything in Prague and just a block away from the metro and tram stops.  In addition, we had made reservations for a car from the hotel to pick us up at the airport and he was there at 4AM waiting for us!!  What a great trip!

Krakow, Poland

Loved Krakow - friendly people, beautiful city, and so clean!   Krakow really reminded us of Budapest.

The Wawal Royal Castle ...

Dragon water spouts at the Wawal Royal Castle...

We took a city tour of old town and the Jewish quarter on this "oversized golf cart".  It was a great way to see the city and get information about the different areas.

Rynek Glowny is the focus of Old Town.  It is Europe's largest medievel square and the holiday market is held here.

Tom ordering our Grzaniec Galicyjski (not so easy to say - also known as hot, mulled, spice red wine) - yum!!

Lots of meat!!

Looking for a bottle of red wine....

Oh my gosh!!!! Snow!!!!

Part of the old wall...

Auschwitz 1 ... absolutely evil and so terrifying that something like this happened 60+ years ago.

Birkenau (Auschwitz 2) is actually where the mass murders of Jews took place.  Horrifying..

Old Town...

Pierogies - yum!!

Opera house...

The best Georgian (not the US state but the country located in Eastern Europe) food ever!!