Photo Overload: Prague, Czech Republic (or Blog from Prague)

The city after snow.

The Castle

Castle guard picture: check.

Gutter Love. I wish it were raining, because I'm pretty sure he'd look like he was drooling.

I avoided pictures inside the Cathedral. Been there done that x1000 in Europe.

Move over Big Ben. Coolest Clock ever! Check out the video.

Fred and Ginger. I don't really understand why Fred gets his name first though. And I'm not trying to get all feminist or anything. But seriously, unless Fred is a drag queen, I don't see how--looking left to right like most modern languages-- Fred could ever be written first in this couple.

Winceslas Square--the site of the massive protests against Soviet occupation in 1989.

My favorite character in Czech history, Jan Palach. He lit himself on fire to protest the Russian invasion in the 1960s. He became an instant national hero and the name which people rallied around for decades. Fast forward to 2011, Muhamed Bouazizi did the same thing in Tunisia to start their own uprising.

A Goy in Prague

Shalom! I was converted!

Jerusalem Synagogue.

The walls of this synagogue were covered with the names of those killed in the holocaust from the Czech Republic.

Up close.

Then I had to go to Church to get reconverted so my mom didn't kill me...

Bone Church!

I love cherubs holding skulls.

Hello Bone Chandelier.

The Lennon Wall (not to be confused with the Lenin Wall...which would imply something very different and doesn't exist).

After John Lennon's death in 1980, young Czechs went to this wall to commemorate the ideals represented by Lennon. They wrote quotes from his songs and grievances against the Soviets. Every day, the Soviet police would paint over the artwork, and every night, the artists would redo their work. This persisted until the fall of the Soviets in 1989. Now, people come to the wall to add their own messages of love and peace.

My message!

The legend is that whoever rubs the horse on this statue will get one wish. I'm still waiting for mine to come true...some legend.

Propoganda Bar...terrible, "authentic" food, but great authentic propaganda.

Franz Kafka statue- I will never understand anything related to this man. I'm still on the look out for the giant cockroach statue that is sure to pop up in Prague soon.

Food

Enjoying some Budweiser--Czech style. I've got to say, much better than the American beer with the same namesake.

"Czech" Goulash=Pot Roast...with dumplings (aka moist bread) and potato pancakes

I got tricked into ordering this dessert. Pancakes with jelly and Hot Chocolate (which literally is like melted chocolate in a cup).

Random

I almost like that I can't read this sign. It lets my mind wander. (I especially enjoy the detail on the cheek.)

Is that a...?

His expression is like: you idiot.

Photo Overload: Budapest, Hungary

The Sights (**yawn**)

I woke up to a conductor banging on my sleeper cabin door. And half-awake walked into this little communist treasure.

Tiger guarding the castle...that's actually just a mid-1900s replica of the real thing.

Love that dirty water...Budapest you're my home?

"No, its not Buddah as in the fat jolly man [Santa?]; its Buda as in the ancient city." -Tour guide
Thanks that clears everything up.

Parliament Building

Heroes monument. When I didn't recognize a single name on the monument, I knew I was in trouble. Thanks Hopkinton High School.

Opera House

Hermes (Not naked statue)! This is for all the Track Stars reading.

Communist Museum #1

Inside the communist party.

Food Hall

Cheap Food, Lots of it. Heaven.

Thermal Baths!!!

It looks like any other building from the outside.

Although the guy on the side looks relatively comfortable, the temperature was like 20F.

Outdoor hot tub! It smelled like eggs.

I told the girl if she dropped my camera in the water, I'd slit her throat. Luckily she didn't drop it, or she'd have found out I wasn't kidding.

Broadway in Budapest?
I think this idea is a train wreck waiting to happen. How can you possibly fit Hungarian words to a melody written for English.

Phantom of the Opera and The Producers

Jesus Christ Superstar

Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat

Food!

Soproni: Hungarian beer

"Hungarian" goulash= soupy

Hungary apparently doesn't have fire codes. This bar (The For Sale Pub) is made almost entirely of wood. On the inside, they have promoted customers to leave little slips of paper tacked to the walls. So logically, with all this flammable stuff around, they chose to light the place with candles.

Lawn-goosh: You don't even have to go to the State Fair to get fried dough in Hungary.

Langos: I think I prefer powdered sugar over sour cream, shredded cheese, and cucumber.

Sweden 20: I think we can all agree this was a step down in my hair stylings.

Hungary 2011: Much better.

Hitting the town in my zip-up hoodie. I really put a lot of effort into that night lol.