Travelling with Ivana and Lubos was great. They were so welcoming,
so generous, and so much fun to be with. Even though I would say 60% of the
time they spoke in Czech to each other, they were very helpful. From helping me
figure out the money (and loaning me a fair amount) to pointing out little
nuances they had learned about, they were great tour guides. It was also fun
conversation talking about each of our home countries, our families, our interests,
our take on global issues, etc.
I think using the iPhone for our guided tour may have been a
bit over zealous on our part. There is probably something to be said for some
old fashioned research and travel books. At the same time, having a smart phone
was useful for navigating and getting around. There was probably a time when
college students navigated cities with a map and guide book (How archaic…that
is so 1990!)
The cold weather definitely slowed down our trip. It just
isn’t as much fun to take pictures with frozen figures. The city is also so
spread out; a walking tour was a bit ambitious for one day. We knew going in
that we’d only be there for 24 hours, and given the weather I think we saw more
than most people would have, but when I go back there with my family in June, I
definitely think something more mobile would be a better method of site seeing.
Having been in two German cities now, I have a couple of
observations of the German people. First off, they are much more openly
friendly than the Czech people. They smile far more frequently and their
interactions with each other radiate more warmth than I’ve witnessed in Prague
(that’s not to say there aren’t warm interactions in Prague…they just manifest
differently, and the German behavior is closer to what I am used to seeing.) The
German people have not been as harsh as I imagined either. I think we have a
lot of stereotypes that they are all perfectionists who demand the absolute
best in everything. I would say they have very high expectations and conduct
themselves to a very set standard, but they are very understanding and fun
loving people too.
The visibility of police in German cities really is a spectacle.
They look like a branch of the military or armed guards of some sort. Ivana has
said it makes her uncomfortable. It probably would bother me more if I hadn’t
been warned about it before hand. I go under the impression that they really
are there for my own safety and there is nothing to worry about.
Aside from the schnitzel in Dresden, I haven’t tried much
German food. Looking forward to doing so in Munich next week.
All in all, it was a fantastic trip and a great first “overnight”
excursion in Europe! I can’t thank Ivana and Lubos enough for their help.
Travelling with friends really is more fun!
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