This is my last night in Prague. I used the Marco Polo guide book that I had bought in Weimar to take a walking tour. This book was not that good. Of course it is in German so if you don't speak German you can ignore it. Anyway at the end of the walk I was by the river so I just followed it to the Charles Bridge, which as I have mentioned the tourists before, is a catastrophe. Anyway, I walked to the Hard Rock and enjoyed 3 beers there. I also bought 2 pint glasses, one for each of the nephews. After all, I will need someone to change the diapers when the day comes.
I slept for about 2 hours and then went to Giovanni's Trattoria for dinner. I had a Greek salad, a pizza and 1/2 liter of red for 480 kc or about $20. I leave for 4 nights in Cesky Krumlov tomorrow. I have never been there. There is no direct train there from here so I had 3 choices for transport. I could take the bus for about $6. I could ride in a van for about $40 or I could have the Hilton car take me for about $160. I went for the Hilton car. After all I pay $85 to go from my house to Newark airport and this is a 3 hour drive. I m looking forward to Cesky Krumlov as I have never been there. I have a tour guide booked for Saturday to show me around. Other than that.....
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Prague 2015
I arrived in Prague yesterday. The train trip from Dresden was easy and it was easy to walk from the train station to the Hilton. My deal at the Hilton worked out to be $58 a night! It did not include breakfast but I didn't care at that price and when I got here they told me to come to the desk if I wanted breakfast and get a voucher! This is a lovely hotel and the service is tremendous. I do recommend it if you are in Prague because it is also perfectly located.
I have to say that unless someone specifically asked me to come to Prague with them I doubt that I will come again. This place is over run with tourists. And I mean that there seem to be too many people for the city! The worst are the low-rent Spaniards, the well-heeled American seniors, and the Asians. I don't care from where you come or what your situation is, you can dress appropriately and not behave in an obnoxious manner. Which is what these groups in abundance.
Tonight I ate at an Italian restaurant that I found on trip advisor. Another gem! It is on u Ventkata street, I think. It is off the main square on the side with the Jan Huis monument. It was called Aldente Trattoria e vineratia(?). I sat inside. The service was great. I had a greens and warm goat cheese salad, great, lasagna and a cheese tray to eat. To drink I had 1/2 liter Peregrino water, 1 liter still water, 1/2 liter red wine and an Aperol Spritz - my first of the summer! All that cost 670 kc. Which is about $27!! In Manhatten that would have cost me $100. I then walked around a little and now I am in the hotel bar writing and drinking a beer and a fernet.
I have to say that unless someone specifically asked me to come to Prague with them I doubt that I will come again. This place is over run with tourists. And I mean that there seem to be too many people for the city! The worst are the low-rent Spaniards, the well-heeled American seniors, and the Asians. I don't care from where you come or what your situation is, you can dress appropriately and not behave in an obnoxious manner. Which is what these groups in abundance.
Tonight I ate at an Italian restaurant that I found on trip advisor. Another gem! It is on u Ventkata street, I think. It is off the main square on the side with the Jan Huis monument. It was called Aldente Trattoria e vineratia(?). I sat inside. The service was great. I had a greens and warm goat cheese salad, great, lasagna and a cheese tray to eat. To drink I had 1/2 liter Peregrino water, 1 liter still water, 1/2 liter red wine and an Aperol Spritz - my first of the summer! All that cost 670 kc. Which is about $27!! In Manhatten that would have cost me $100. I then walked around a little and now I am in the hotel bar writing and drinking a beer and a fernet.
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Dresden 25 July 2015
Today I got up and went to the Alte Meister Galarie. It does not open until 10 am and I was there a little early, so I walked through the Zwinger and took some pictures before I went inside. I began on the top floor and worked my way down. I did not hit any crowds until I got to the first floor where they have Raphael's Sistine Madonna. It is a world class collection, right up there with Berlin and Munchen. I was there about 2 1/2 hours.
I went to dinner tonight at a place I found this afternoon. It is around the corner and down the street from the Italian I ate at Thuursday night. It is called Taberna Portguguesa and is obviously a Portuguese restaurant. And it was tremendous! I had a glass of port to begin. To eat I had a skewer of pork and choirso(?) sausage with pommes and a side salad. To drink I had a small water and a 1/2 liter of red wine. After I had a piece of chocolate cake that was recommended to me by the waitress. It was all sooooo good. I paid 40 euro total. This place is at Ringstrasse 3 and if you are in Dresden go there.
I went to dinner tonight at a place I found this afternoon. It is around the corner and down the street from the Italian I ate at Thuursday night. It is called Taberna Portguguesa and is obviously a Portuguese restaurant. And it was tremendous! I had a glass of port to begin. To eat I had a skewer of pork and choirso(?) sausage with pommes and a side salad. To drink I had a small water and a 1/2 liter of red wine. After I had a piece of chocolate cake that was recommended to me by the waitress. It was all sooooo good. I paid 40 euro total. This place is at Ringstrasse 3 and if you are in Dresden go there.
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Dresden - 24 July 2015
Yesterday I left Weimar for Dresden. Another month in Weimar past! It is unbelievable but it happens every year. I took the 8:58 train direct to Dresden. Not having to change trains is always better and it only cost me 19 euro because I bought the sparpreise ticket. These tickets cost significantly less than others, it is just that you have to use the ticket on the specific train for which you bought it. Other tickets can be used on any train going to your destination.
Dresden is as beautiful as ever. After I checked in, I showered and went for a walk and lunch in the Biergarten over the Augustus bridge. I have the last 3 times I was here, stayed in the Steigenburger de Saxe hotel but this time I am in the Dresden Hilton. It is wonderful! I am on the executive floor in a double deluxe room. My breakfast is included and it cost 140 euro per night!! How can you beat that? And, Hiltons are always wonderful here in Europe and in my opinion offer great value for the money. You couldn't touch this in the USA for less than 350 dollars a night. I slept great last night. I also took some pictures around here yesterday during my walk.
Dresden is as beautiful as ever. After I checked in, I showered and went for a walk and lunch in the Biergarten over the Augustus bridge. I have the last 3 times I was here, stayed in the Steigenburger de Saxe hotel but this time I am in the Dresden Hilton. It is wonderful! I am on the executive floor in a double deluxe room. My breakfast is included and it cost 140 euro per night!! How can you beat that? And, Hiltons are always wonderful here in Europe and in my opinion offer great value for the money. You couldn't touch this in the USA for less than 350 dollars a night. I slept great last night. I also took some pictures around here yesterday during my walk.
Friday, July 17, 2015
Weimar July 2015
I had a wonderful experience tonight at the Schwarzburger Hof. This is the bar up the street from my apartment here. I went to dinner at Napoli and had the penne bolonese - very good. I then went to my favorite Weimar bar - Schwartzburger Hof. I entered on the terrasse side and immediately went to the bathroom. When I sat in my usual seat the waitress came out with her tray and came to me with beer. I thought she had made a mistake and said that I had not yet ordered. But she knew what I wanted and was bringing the beer to me!!! How wonderful to be a regular in a bar in Weimar.
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Weimar July 2015
Well, I have been in my apartment in Weimar for 3 weeks and have done nothing. I have shopped a little and goner to favorite places and jogged in the park a lot. But today was special. Today was the first night of the annual Sommer Weimfest. I love this. I remember the first time that I went and how fun it was. I ate home today and at about 20:00 Uhr I walked over to the Fest.
As good as always. If you are in Weimar at this time you definitely should go. I visited 4 Winery stands and had 0.7 l wine. The Grauen Burgunden was the best. I may contact them and have a few cases delivered to my house. I also ate a pretzel. The only bad moments occurred at the end of my visit. I was standing at the end of the bar enjoying my drink when a man came up to my right and ordered a bottle. The next thing I knew I was surrounded - literally. I was pissed but simply finished my wine and left. On my way past the surrounding crowd, I did say "fuck you" in the ear of one of the ken surrounding me.
Other than that everything is going well. Last night I are at Napoli and it was wonderful. I had a Caprese salad and then my new favorite pasta dish Spaghetti Aglio. I also drank 1/2 lifer of Chianti and had a water. All for a total of 28 euro. Thursday I leave for 4 nights in Dresden.
As good as always. If you are in Weimar at this time you definitely should go. I visited 4 Winery stands and had 0.7 l wine. The Grauen Burgunden was the best. I may contact them and have a few cases delivered to my house. I also ate a pretzel. The only bad moments occurred at the end of my visit. I was standing at the end of the bar enjoying my drink when a man came up to my right and ordered a bottle. The next thing I knew I was surrounded - literally. I was pissed but simply finished my wine and left. On my way past the surrounding crowd, I did say "fuck you" in the ear of one of the ken surrounding me.
Other than that everything is going well. Last night I are at Napoli and it was wonderful. I had a Caprese salad and then my new favorite pasta dish Spaghetti Aglio. I also drank 1/2 lifer of Chianti and had a water. All for a total of 28 euro. Thursday I leave for 4 nights in Dresden.
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Weimar 7 July 2015
Well, I have been in Weimar for over a week now. I can't say that I have done anything. I have been running in the park. Run 2 days, don't run one day. Other than that I have been trying to just relax. I have eaten out plenty. I have been to Elephanten Keller, Apollon, Trattoria, Napoli, Texas, Kostritzer. I have been enjoying beers at the Ratskeller Kiosk in the afternoon and at Schwarzburger Hof in the evening, ( not every evening).
None of these places is new. The only thing new is that LaPerle Italian restaurant has closed. A lot of people complained about it, but I always enjoyed it. I especially enjoyed Apollon and Texas. These are my 2 favorites. Never a bad meal and the people there know me now and everything is always good.
As always I have mixed feelings about this. I love being here and I love the idea of being here. I do what I want. But I have to ask, is it a waste of time and money? If I think of my first week in Berlin as vacation and then think of the places I go after here as the traveling part of the summer, staying here is smart. I don't have to pay for air fare traveling back and forth more than once.
There is a special exhibit in Erfurt that I want to go see. It is about altarpiece art and is being held in the Marian Dom. I think I will go tomorrow.
None of these places is new. The only thing new is that LaPerle Italian restaurant has closed. A lot of people complained about it, but I always enjoyed it. I especially enjoyed Apollon and Texas. These are my 2 favorites. Never a bad meal and the people there know me now and everything is always good.
As always I have mixed feelings about this. I love being here and I love the idea of being here. I do what I want. But I have to ask, is it a waste of time and money? If I think of my first week in Berlin as vacation and then think of the places I go after here as the traveling part of the summer, staying here is smart. I don't have to pay for air fare traveling back and forth more than once.
There is a special exhibit in Erfurt that I want to go see. It is about altarpiece art and is being held in the Marian Dom. I think I will go tomorrow.
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