prague

After missing my connecting train, almost leaving my credit card at a random Czech train station booth, and then taking a fancy cheap business class train in to Prague... I had arrived!

Apparently Czech beer is the best beer in Europe. I stumbled upon an outdoor market within 15 minutes of leaving my AirBNB and tested that statement and grabbed a tomato mozzarella panini. It was very good beer! And the prices were great. 

So I knew nothing about Prague honestly besides that there was some kind of famous clock. I soon discovered that the architecture of the city is quite famous for being charming (truth, it's so pretty!), it has a pretty famous bridge (St. Charles), and there is A LOT of cobblestone (ouch).

There were a lot of tourists here but it was still a fun city to explore by all means. I did find a super hipster craft beer bar and enjoyed a beer with some kind of cheese and bread platter for dinner number 2.

I stumbled upon the famous clock. It was under construction. I should probably look up why it's famous. Also, I took a really great selfie with it the next morning but I'm saving that for a Europe 2017 outtakes post. 

For the record I averaged 6-6.5 hours of sleep each night this trip, except for the first three days (jet lag recovery + pre-marathon sleep). I was very excited to get out and photograph during golden hour and see sunrise. This does not bode well for my trip idea next year.

I asked foreign strangers to take my picture which was a rather amusing experience. In hindsight, I should have moved a little farther away from the cigarette butts. But hey, look, Prague Castle behind me!

St. Charles Bridge - go in the morning...or else. I went later this day in the afternoon and it was INSANE. So many touristy vendors, tourists - it was very difficult to move. The night wasn't as bad surprisingly.

The walk up to Prague Castle is uphill by the way. On cobblestone. I was so excited the night prior, I actually did go up there that evening. Then I went again this day because I actually wanted to go into the complex when it was open. There was a Starbucks up here that probably has the best view of all Starbucks (pretty much the view above). 

It wouldn't be a Europe trip without visiting a cathedral or 3. This is St. Vitus Cathedral.

Oh hey that's me.

I got there 5 minutes before everything opened because I am that person. It was a very pretty morning.

Charming!

Violence with a hint of charm! Not pictured: Mulled/Hot wine with spices. I don't know why that's not popular in the US but it needs to happen.

The Lennon Wall. Smaller than anticipated and a little more graffiti than one would prefer. 

If you don't take a picture in front of the Lennon Wall, it didn't happen.

Then I walked over to Wenceslas Square. Generally another touristy shopping area by the City Hall. 

And with some creepy art installations.

I had lunch at 2:30p because what are meals? The AirBNB host recommended Kolkovna Celnice - a Prague chain with Czech food so naturally I got the Czech sampler platter. Yes, that is meat. It tasted so good for the first 3 bites then I was over it. I enjoyed my beer and the cheese at the top there the most.

It was actually a national holiday - St. Wenesclasus Day so I could only go into the Cathedral during a specific time in the afternoon. So yes, I made the trek back up the cobblestone hill to the Castle complex to check out the inside of the cathedral. It was worth it and beautiful naturally. 

I am also glad I went back up because I totally missed that you could climb the South Tower of the Cathedral for a wonderful panoramic view of Prague. It was 297 steps. The girl in front of me really struggled in her platform flip flips and it probably took 100 steps of me following her very closely before she gave up and let me pass. 

These views!

Hi Spire!

From there my daily grumpiness started to settle in post-this epic sunset and I couldn't even tell you what I had for dinner but I can tell you it was NOT pizza. This place seated me..then let me sit for 10 minutes and then I went up and asked for a menu and they said they were closing in like 45 minutes and didn't know if they could serve me. I was peeved. Anyway.. now that I think about it, I had a veggie wrap that was pretty solid however not enough food for how much I walked that day. 32k steps and it felt like it!

warsaw

On Monday morning, I headed to the Berlin airport to fly to Warsaw.

It was either a 6 hour train ride that would put me in at 1p, or a 1.5 hour flight that would get me in at 10a. Plus..I'm a proponent of walking it out after a race. Breakfast was a plum filled donut since I was hungry and they were out of croissants. Darn. 

Propeller plane. I was terrified.

However we were rewarded with chocolate as we left the plane.

I ubered from the airport to Old Town where my hotel-esque/apartment place was at.. $2 uber ride and it was like a 20 minute ride. Let's just say I ubered everywhere on this first day due to you know, the legs. First stop - pierogis at Zapiecek which apparently is a Polish food chain there. To be honest...the compote tea I had was the best part of the meal (like a tea made from dried fruit). 

The Museum of the History of the Polish Jews was the only place I really trekked out to on my own two feet. Glad I did, I passed the Warsaw Ghetto on the way.

After...3 hours at the first museum (audioguides make you appreciate the experience), I learned that the Warsaw Uprising Museum (which was recommended by Uber driver #1) was going to be closed the next day...so I ubered over there. In which I discovered Warsaw is not just an "Old Town" but has a little cosmopolitan downtown too.

I then Ubered to the Warsaw University Library which was very green and pretty! Lighting wasn't in my favor..

Then I trekked back to Old Town and discovered some cute little side streets on the way.

Back to Old Town.

After rolling around in the hotel for a little bit, I headed out to dinner at Podwale 25 Kompania Piwna, as recommended by good ol' Foursquare and Yelp. Started off with a dark beer, and mushroom soup (which was soooo good). Not pictured is a giant bread basket that came with the meal, a pickle, and a huge piece of chocolate cake that I devoured. There was also some live Polish music. All of this for 20 bucks. Warsaw is cheap ya'll!

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Didn't expect the fish to be served like this. I was a little freaked out and didn't eat all of it. However, the fries were a different story. 

My little apartment/hotel was a 30 second walk from this!

Day 2... not feeling as sore so the world was my oyster.

Almost forgot to selfie! 

Breakfast just isn't as important to Europeans...but this was still good.

Old Town Morning.

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The square by my place.

I went on a random walk along the Royal Route - my intention was to go to the art museum since it was free on Tuesdays...but I got a little sidetracked... this is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Then I needed to use a bathroom desperately..so Starbucks it was... where I had a PSL with soy milk and it was incredible.

After some shopping I found myself on top of the tallest building in Warsaw.

The views were quite nice! 

Then I found a super cute healthy spot for lunch!

Then 6 hours later I arrived at the art museum. I was very excited to see something built in legos then I realized what he was doing.

This was the building that had the observatory at the top.

Not pictured: Long exhausting walk to the UPS store to pick up my train ticket to Prague. Yes, Polrail lives in the 1900s and insists on printing and shipping paper train tickets. They could not ship to my hotel because my hotel was more like an airBNB and there was no receptionist desk. Don't get me started on this situation.

Eventually I ubered from the UPS Store back to the hotel, and then grabbed dinner outside in the Square. It was such a cute little outdoor restaurant! They had blankets. This was probably my best meal in Europe on this trip - I had a beer, water, pumpkin soup, and these amazing pierogis. Not even 20 dollars.

My dessert was very classy.

And thus closed my last night in Warsaw!