Brussels

Update: We had the Leaver's Serenade at Melissa's school. This involved a big group meeting at the dormitory where some of the kids stay...and all the other 12th graders graduating. So, this was just like an American graduation except...the kids were all drinking and cooking all day and then teachers came over to enjoy the party.  Also, if any teachers didn't come to the party then the group of students (all of them) would go to the teacher's house to serenade them at some point in the night. In other news, most teachers came to the party.

And, Meliss and I met some British folk that bought the house next to the school in which we live. They introduced us to another British couple (ok, both the husbands are British and both the wives are Hungarian) at the May Day Festival. We went to a "Garden Party" with them the other day and it turns out that Brits are more fun and crazy than Hungarians...or at least equal. 

Now, on to the blog...

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We had just been to Rome, Bratislava, and Prague in the last month -- and as such had figured out the cheap flight system here in Hungary. Lots of cheap flights to be had, but the cheapest we had was a flight to Brussels, Belgium. 

I shit you not, the flight (round trip, for two of us) was $24. Now, once fees were added and whatnot, it was about $100, but we thought, "hell yeah, Brussels for $100." We booked the tickets at once and started planning our trip. It was only then that we realized we were flying in to Brussels Charleroi Airport -- which is about an hour outside of Brussels itself. So, our cheap tix to Brussels just became quite a bit more expensive considering the cost of a shuttle bus to the center of town, but so be it. 

Also, we thought the tix were inexpensive because they were at 6 am. Now, a 6am flight out of Budapest means we have to take the last train out of Gyula the night before, get to the airport at midnight, and then waste time 'til boarding...no problem. Except, the last train in Gyula broke down halfway to Budapest. Luckily there were three people on the train, me, Melissa, and one of her students, Soma. He talked to the conductor and figured out (after we were stranded for quite awhile) that we would be sent another train and that train would make sure we get to the airport on time. It worked out well because we got to Budapest airport at about 2am and had to be in line at 4. So, all in all, whew!

We got on the plane and landed in Charleroi, found our way to the shuttle and made our way to Brussels. But, we figured out that, while this was cheaper than taking a regular flight, it was a bigger pain in the ass! We had also learned enough at this point that we didn't need to stay in the center of big cities, just as long as there was a short walk or a metro into the center was enough.

Sometimes, that's good enough...and sometimes it isn't.

Oh boy, where we stayed in Brussels was ungood. The hotel was fine -- but the area around us was shady as shit. Honestly, that probably colored our whole experience in Brussels. We dropped our stuff off and headed to the center and crossed over garbage bags, and feces of all different varieties -- we know some of those were human -- but we made it to the center.

In all fairness, we have talked to other folks that have been to Brussels and Amsterdam (that was our trip, a day and a half in Brussels and two days in Amsterdam) and they had the exact opposite experience, so I guess it depends on where and when you go.

Anyway, here is Brussels...

Meliss stopped to take a picture of some of the garbage

And some more -- honestly, this doesn't really do it justice because we didn't stop to take pics of all the literal shit on the street -- at least half of which we thought was human.

This was some building with a matching one right behind us that seemed to be a make-shift homeless shelter. We had to walk past this to and fro the center. It just bookended our whole time in Brussels and certainly colored our view of the city. 

But then, we made it to the center...

Yeah, Oiler Man made it

Just off this center square were a bunch of streets with restaurants and whatnot...

Mussels in Brussels?

We just walked around, up one side street and down another...

It also happened to be just past the Gay Parade day (not sure if that's the right term, so we apologize -- but we thought it was the Belgium flag for quite awhile til we figured it out. Also, don't ask how we figured it out.).

More streets of Belgium...

The Comic Book Museum

Now, in our minds, Belgium is only known for four things...and Jean Claude Van Damme was not around. So, we were left with Belgium waffles, Belgium beer, and the Belgium little boy peeing statue.

Belgium Waffles

Check!

Belgium Beer -- Check!

And the famous statue of the little boy peeing...

Yeah, even we could understand that one.

um, really 

Yeah, really

With Oilerman

And here was the scene behind us -- so many people to see this little boy peeing
The rain coat was because someone dresses the boy up from time to time depending on the weather.

I guess what surprised us most was how small the statue was -- but not the recreations of the statue...

Here's your souvenir from Brussels

Or these...

Or the chocolate one...do you think people fight over the penis like the ears on a easter bunny?

Anyway, more streets of Brussels...

We stopped and had a drink here

Across from this bar

And Meliss thought this was Smokey Robinson, so we took a picture. Belgium beer is a helluva thing!

Here are some other things from Brussels...

Yes, we had nobody to take a pic of the both of us -- thank god!

Go Panthers!

A bit of a skip ahead here, but we hopped on a train to Amsterdam the next morning...

Brussels Train Station

Oh, I hope this is the right train...

But, we made it to Amsterdam (next blog) but we had to return to Brussels in two days to catch our flight back to Budapest...

We made it -- look, traveling in the Spring is horrendous. Brussels was cold and rainy, thenAmsterdam was cold for one day, then nice the next, then back to Brussels for a day and it was hot. So, yeah, I rolled my pants up in Brussels when it was 85 degrees and not having anything to change in to - and my lovely wife insisted upon sittin in the sun.

But, I drank these...

And ate this!

Of course we enjoyed Brussels because, well - we were on vacation. We take in to mind that others have really like Brussels, but it was not our favorite. All in all, though -- how can you not enjoy a statue of a little boy peeing? Wait, what?

And here's a video of a pigeon sitting next to us eating out of the peanut tray...this is exactly how much fun we had in Brussels.

Next up, Amsterdam!

2 1/2 Days in Prague

Update: Not much, really...except Melissa got promoted (kind of). She was going to be one of the ESL teachers at Qatar Leadership Academy (QLA) but now she is the Head of the ESL Department. So, that's good and not at all causing her any anxiety or nervousness.

Anyway, we are finishing the paperwork for our Qatar jobs. Spring finally kicked in and we've had sunny skies and 80 degree weather for a few weeks -- which is why this blog is late.  We have another trip planned to Szeged, Hungary for the Wine Festival in May -- but until then, I think we will not do to much.

Oh, I think we mentioned that we had Melissa's "surprise" b-day party...well, here are some pics from that.

I managed to keep the band a secret, so when we walked in, Ákos and friends greeted Melissa with some traditional Hungarian celebration tunes.

And yeah, that kid is about 7 years old.

Then we had cake -- Meliss could not have cared less about all the other stuff, she just wanted that big freakin' birthday candle -- these are now illegal in Hungary, can't imagine why (but Rita found one, of course ).

And, thanks to Rita, an American themed cake (with a baseball cap too)

Andy and Laszlo

Ákos and Balázs

Csaba, Maria, Zsuzsie (Ákos' wife) and Zsuzsie

Tammie and Rita

Meliss and Maria -- who, after having a glass of wine said, "when I got dropped off, I had one husband...now I think I will have two." Then, after we all had our requisite shots of palinka, she just laughed and said, "now, I will have 3 husbands ."

It was an amazingly fun time -- and of course people brought gifts even though we asked them not to -- but Meliss ended up with some really nice wine, champagne, and chocolates.

Meliss also took this video and it makes us laugh because it's how a lot of our evenings go when we hang out with other folks.

What the video doesn't show, though, is how well they bounce back and forth from Hungarian to English. Anyway, a great time and Meliss only cried a little bit.

On to the blog!

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After a day and a half in Bratislava, we hopped a 4 hour bus to Prague. We thought we might be a bit hungry on the way so we bought some sandwiches in the Bratislava bus station. We bought two that we thought were some kind of ham or mystery meat, then we realized that maybe this wasn't meat at all. Guinea pig that I am, I tasted one and it turned out to be salmon. Meliss immediately went back and bought another sandwich -- but I devoured the first salmon bus station sandwich and ate the other one along the way. Nothing like a 4 hour bus ride with two bus station salmon sandwiches in my belly!

Upon arrival in Prague, we had to figure out the subway system to get to our hotel. Usually, when we travel we try to find the cheapest place we can find that A) is within walking distance to the city center B) has free wifi and C) has a free breakfast. Prague was a bit different because by the time we looked for rooms (maybe because it was Easter weekend, maybe because it's Prague) almost everything was booked. We found rooms, and not terribly expensive, but Prague District 1 is the center and we were in Prague District 13 -- a bit out of town. 

We negotiated the subway fine and then walked uphill, in the rain, with our luggage, to our hotel. When we checked in we found out two things -- 1st, they had wifi but it cost like 5 Euros per day and 2nd, the subway between the hotel and the center was going to be under construction starting the next day. We immediately freaked out! But, when we calmed down, we realized all that meant was like a 5 minute transfer from the subway to a bus and back to the subway to get to the center...just follow the crowd.

So, all was good and we headed out to see Prague...

Wensenslas Square -- Prague
Lovely weather

Good King Wencenslas

Ok, first thing, convert money to Czech Crowns

Second thing, find the Hooters
Ok, we didn't...but we thought about it

And the good king again

So, those were the first couple things we ran into when we go off the subway in the center of Prague. We really did think about going to Hooters because it had been quite awhile since we had American hot wings -- there is just nothing like them over here -- but we skipped it because they had awesome sausage and meat type meals on the street. We did just go to the Hooters in Budapest about a week ago and it was fantastic... and fantastically expensive, but it tasted like home"ish."

Just like Bratislava on the first leg of our journey, Prague was in the midst of its Easter Markets and, since it's a bigger city, the markets were bigger. For the first day, we just walked along the streets and enjoyed the scenery...

Of course, the weather could have been better

Yep, bought some of these for 99 Whatevers

We did not buy any of these because they are terrifying

Harder to hide lotto scratchers in hand-painted eggs

But they are quite pretty

Or, you could buy an Easter whipping stick

King Wenceslas Square was really a long street that fed into another square with the main clock tower. This is where most of the Easter Market huts were set up.

The most well-known beer in the Czech Republic is Pilsner Urquell, but Meliss did not like it.
She preferred the Gambrinus, which we found out later is what all the locals drink (so we're told).

Once we hit the main square area, there was plenty of food and drink to keep us entertained for the rest of the day...

Fun in Prague Easter Market

And more fun...

I had a VERY expensive cut of pork butt (you're welcome Xander).

It was quite delicious...while Melissa stood staring at me

But she found a piece of corn on the cob -- we hadn't seen any prior to this, but we see them at a lot of festivals now

She was sooooo happy!

We also split a frankfurter -- but it was windy so all the mustard got in Melissa's hair

And we got a langos -- 1st because we knew what it was since langos is a Hungarian specialty
and 2nd because it's delicious!

We kept walking around and taking pictures afterwards...
This probably looks really nice in the sun.

Main Square -- Prague  Easter Market

Having exhausted the Easter Market area, we explored the center for awhile before heading back to the hotel.

Hey, a New Yorker - Meliss can't believe that this store is still in business...

We stopped at a restaurant on the way back to our hotel. We sat outside even though it was a little chilly and rainy -- cause how often do you get this view from a restaurant.

I offered to drink both of these since they were Pilsner Urquell, but Meliss said she would soldier through it.
Also, she  made fun of me the whole time because I lost my good stocking cap and had to wear this one.

On our way back to the hotel...

Prague at night

Just off the main square

In Prague, there were a handful of places/things we wanted to see -- but mainly they were the clock  tower, the castle/church, and the Charles Bridge. On the 2nd day, we walked through the main square to check out the clock tower first and then we went to the castle.

Prague Astronomical Clock

Side view of the clock

This thing is crazy. It has zodiac signs, moon and sun phases, ancient Czech time, blah, blah, blah. And when it chimes, you get a little show of figures chasing each other around. It was hard to get video of it because the square goes from almost empty to packed before each "performance."

Above -- a glimpse of the medieval figures chasing each other and below the trumpeter that plays at the end. 

When it's all over, everybody claps and then goes back to whatever they were doing before. It's quite cheesy and stupid but it's something you are supposed to do while there. Oh, in Krakow they have a similar clock tower (well similar in that it's a big clock tower, but it doesn't have all the doohickey thingamajigs on it) and a similar trumpeter. But, the trumpeter in Krakow only plays about 3/4 of the song because some hundreds of years ago that trumpeter got shot with an arrow at that point in the song.

Neat to look at -- but that is simply gibberish

Pretty neat at night too!

We went up in the tower later in the day (after the castle/church) -- or maybe it was the next day, I can't remember -- all I know is it was when the freezing rain/sleet turned into snow for awhile. But here are some pics from atop the clock tower.

Easter Market

All of this looked like a fake Hollywood studio from above -- like something out of Blazing Saddles.

I mean, doesn't that look fake? Like Disney fake?

And Oilerman with fake Prague

Yeah, totally fake

Obviously, the views were awesome from atop the clock tower, but as we left it had started snowing. Next stop, Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral. 

St. Vitus Cathedral within the castle walls 

Greeted with this as we neared the castle

And then the actual entrance

Entrance from afar -- probably should be before the picture above but the computer won't let me do it.
"I'm sorry Dave, I can't do that." Damn computer.

Meliss was gonna go screw with this guy like at Buckingham Palace...
butwe don't know the rules here and she chickened out cause she thought she might get bayonneted.

St. Vitus from the castle grounds

Courtyard statue just inside the gates

From inside the courtyard

And then, through the courtyard to the church

Oilerman at St. Vitus Cathedral

Huge line to get in --- and you can see the umbrellas, plus the line to get in was about 25 minutes directly in the rain -- so, no pics inside St. Vitus from us!!

But the outside was pretty impressive

Not the City of 1000 Spires for nothing!

I think the crappy weather added to the gothic affect

I think, for me (Meliss wants to go back to Amsterdam), I would like to return to Prague in better weather and see it in all its glory -- because it's freakin' impressive in the rain/snow/sleet.

After the castle and church we started home. We would've spent more time up there but it was pretty miserable weather.

Down the stairs back into the city

watch out for this guy!

More pics from the street

We stopped in at a place for a bite to eat but mainly to get out of the wintery mix happening outside....

I ordered Goulash because it was perfect for this weather. Melissa doesn't like Goulash so she ordered something else...

This was basically beef stew with dumplings but she didn't like it -- so  I ate it and she had the Goulash...which she loved...which is bullshit!

After lunch and drying off, we hit the streets again.

Found a nice place to have a drink

This place was just to our right and had attracted quite a crowd

But it was just a band playing on a shelf

But a really small shelf

The rain kind of quit, so we walked along the streets until we found something interesting -- which didn't take too long...

This lady walked passed us in her yellow raincoat with her baby in a yellow raincoat and we both started laughing...then the husband walked up and made her stop so we could take a picture of them. The mother was not so happy about this but she smiled anyway. 

Prague Eiffel Tower -- we would go there the next day

Prague puppet shop that wouldn't let us take pictures inside -- I think it steals their souls.
But, Meliss got one from outside as we walked by

Just neat, quirky streets all around

After walking for awhile, we popped into a beer cellar for a drink...

Afterwards, we headed across the famous St. Charles Bridge...

St. Chuck's Bridge from afar and in the dank

One of the tower gates at the end of the bridge 

On our way home -- Prague Castle and Church

Back across St. Charles Bridge -- castle and church up and to the right

Saw this on the way home

Thought it deserved this

Oh, on our way back through the main part of Prague towards the subway, we came across this...

I wonder if we could get a teacher discount for this?
Also -- Really? A museum? What is this, Amsterdam?

Streets of Prague at dusk

We got back to the hotel and grabbed a snack and a drink -- plus Diehard was on the TV. So, we sat and watched "Johann" McClain save the world (it was dubbed, so yes, it really was Johann).

The next morning (after what we both have agreed were the best showers we have had in Europe), we decided to jump on a tour bus to catch some of the outlying sites.

First up, the Prague Eiffel Tower...

This is up on a hill above the city -- and is actually higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris...of course, that's because it's up on a giant hill -- but who cares.

Still crappy weather for now -- Prague with castle and church

Again

The Children's Television Tower  -- you can just barely make out the figures of little kids crawling up the tower -- some kind of remark about the power of TV in children's lives

And on our way down...

Ok, this should go before the picture above but the computer won't let me.
In any event, view over Prague from tower

St Charles' Bridge

And, after this we took the funicular down and, guess what? The sun came out! "Quick, Meliss, take some pictures!!"

Sunlight!

Us, in sunlight, over Prague

Off the funicular to the John Lennon Wall...

Which, while neat, just seemed like an excuse for a bunch of hippies to write a bunch of shit on a wall

Damn hippies

But, all the same -- we love the Beatles and John Lennon so...

Plus, M+P -- that's Melissa + Patton as far as we figured

And some kind of Lover's Bridge...

So, you're supposed to put your lock on this bridge with your loved one and blah, blah, blah.
All Meliss and I could think of is that someone should have had a little stand selling locks right here (but we wouldn't have bought one anyway).

Back towards the river 

Wait, what's that?!

Looks like a Vice City boat jump!!

More Vltava River

It looks so nice in the sun!

We hurried on to the St. Charles Bridge to try to catch the sun as well...

And the statues on the St. Charles Bridge

As they walked by, people were stroking cats, dogs, boobs, whatever was "holy," I guess.

Melissa just figured that was where all the germs were and this is how diseases were spread.

It was crowded, so we didn't spend a lot of time on who each statue was -- we were just happy to see them in the sun

Tower Gate to Charles' Bridge

Here are some more pics from the bridge...

And the other tower gate

And some more "sunny" pictures from around Prague...

We walked around for most of the afternoon, snapping sunny pictures, but we had a bus to catch at 7AM, so we started heading back to the hotel -- and decided to stop and eat at a restaurant right next to it.

This restaurant looked like the one next to my mom and dad's house in Pontoon Beach (the one that always is shut down due to food and/or gang related deaths), but we are adventurous and decided to give it a shot. Thank goodness we did! Inside, this place was fabulous and had a Gypsy band playing and a solid menu, which included Pig's Knee. So that's what I ordered.

Now, Meliss ordered some kind of pig chunk of meat with a bunch of fruit -- but we didn't care cause I was getting a pig's knee. Here they are...

Pig's Knee with fresh horseradish and mustard

It was freakin' delicious!!! Honestly, one of the best meals I have had in Europe. Flat out tremendous. Problem was, I couldn't eat all of this and we had to get on a bus at 7AM. So, I put the leftovers in a ziploc that we had with us and ate them when we got home. I'm not proud.

Melissa's meal turned out to be really good too.

And, for Grandma, Meliss and I tried to re-create this for our Thanksgiving with pork loin and assorted fruits.
And it was good again!

Anyway, we ate, we drank, we slept, and then we got on a bus back to Budapest. Prague was a lot of fun -- better for the few hours we had sun -- but so be it.

As we end, here are some random pics of Prague...

Us at the castle

King Wenscenslas Square

I spent ten minutes convincing Melissa that this was not a real person

And, for Sarah and Colten

Again

More Easter Whipping Sticks

The Black Madonna

Oilerman over Prague

Extra streets of Prague

Us (Melissa with a cross coming out of her head) in Prague

St. Vitus

Vltava River with Dancing House
Dancing house was built based on Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire.
People of Prague hate it (according to the tour guide) but have begun to get used to it lately
We thought it was neat

Plus, on the bus tour we sat in front of two Australian couples in search of the best beer in the world.
They really were on a world-wide trip (from Australia-to the Us-to Europe-through Singapore- then Asia -- back home). They were, by far, the best part of the tour. They just laughed at American beer, though. Not a surprise.

More Vltava River

And finally, us in Prague Astro-clock above Easter Market

Thoroughly enjoyed the trip to Bratislava and Prague -- despite the weather. Good beer, good food, and lots of nice things to see.

Next up: Brussels and Amsterdam