Czech Replublic - Day 1

I didn't bring my laptop to Czech Republic, but I did bring paper!  So what you are about to read will sound as though it was very fresh in my mind, because it was when I wrote it.  The past week has been one of the most interesting in my entire life so far.  I didn't know what to expect in Czech Republic, but many experiences there were things I never would have anticipated.  It was an incredible week!  So here begins my recount of my many incredible adventures:

Oh, and before I begin I should probably give just a bit more background.  This trip was with Effeweg, a Dutch touring company that does tour trips all over Europe.  At just 140 euros for five days including transport, tour guide, hotels, and breakfast, that was a pretty skookum deal!

Oh, and just one more note: the writing style is probably a bit different than usual, because I wrote it more in the style that I write in my diary, and not so much like a blog post.  But hopefully it still makes sense.


Prague Diary- Day 1, April 14, 2014, Monday

I made it to Czech Republic!!  It was a long day -15 hours travelling including stops.  On a double decker bus, which was pretty cool.  (Check mark on my bucket list!).  I'd tried to pack as lightly as possible for this trip, and was proud to have everything I need in just one backpack.  However, I rather foolishly didn't bring anything for entertainment on the bus ride.  Oops.  It was a rather boring bus ride, and I wasn't feeling very well which didn't help either. 

On the way Kim and I looked around at our fellow passengers.  We were naturally quite curious about who we'd be spending the next week with.  To our surprise we seemed to be the only young people.  Our conversation went something like this:
Kim: "Uhhh, Val, do you see any young people?"
Me: "Hmmm... nope.  I only see old people.  But there must at least be some young adults.  Is there anyone who looks younger than 50?"
Both of us give each other a look with raised eyebrows: "Nope."

So it seemed this was going to be a rather interesting trip, with Kim and I being sort of the odd ones in the group.  But on the other hand we were also still very excited.  We were on the way to Czech Republic!  And there were still lots of people to meet, even if they weren't young people, and most of them didn't speak English.  Still, Kim and I were very glad we had each other. 

The first thing Kim and I did when we got to the hotel was check in, drop off our bags, get all excited about our very own hotel room, and then dash outside to take advantage of the last 20 minutes of daylight for exploring.  The hotel, which is in a little village called Stara Splavy, about a 50 minute drive from Prague, is surrounded by forest, and there's also a lake nearby.  Oh!  It was so very refreshing and familiar and wonderful to skip and run around tall trees which aren't planted in straight rows, and jump on rocks, and climb hills.  And there's that large, gorgeous lake with tree-covered hills behind it, and some with castles or strongholds on the top.  I felt like a kid in a candy store, except that instead I was a nature-deprived Canadian in a beautiful forest.  Czech Republic reminds me very much of Telkwa, Sumas Prairie, and Cultus Lake all rolled into one new land.  It was like being home and on holidays at the same time.  The bus ride (especially the first part where I was super tired and not feeling well) was kind of miserable and long, but now I feel so free and thankful to God that I can enjoy this gorgeous and familiar nature that He created.  Another cool thing- the money here!  I exchanged 20 euros for over 400... well, Czech dollars, or whatever they're called.  It's so unique and excited and fun that 25 Czech dollars are worth one just one euro.  Things at the hotel are super cheap too- only 7 for a postcard, which is about 30 cents!  Kim and I can't wait to go shopping.  We're going to have to, because we're not going to eat at the hotel like everyone else.  Breakfast is included, but for lunch and supper it's 18 euros.  For one thing, we're on a student budget, and for another, it'll be way more exciting to experience the local grocery stores!

But anyways, I'd better get to sleep now.  The bus leaves at 8:30 tomorrow morning, and I got hardly any sleep last night (though I did doze a lot on the bus).  But I also need enough time to eat lots of buffet breakfast, especially if Kim and I can't find a grocery store tomorrow on time for lunch.  I admit I'm a bit nervous about that.  But there are worse things than being a bit hungry, and God will take care of me.  He always does.