No Oktoberfest Needed- A Visit to the Royal Beer Hall

Our own little Oktoberfest in the middle of Summer.

Apparetly there is an idea shared by most Westerners that you must go to Munich during Oktoberfest. I am sure that this is quite an experience in and of itself, but since I live in Prague (which i would like to add consumes more alcohol than any other country per year... yes this includes Germany during Oktoberfest) drinking is no longer a big deal. However, taking in the atmosphere of a place so historic to beer drinking culture is... enter the Haufbrauhaus. A place of magic, lederhosen and dirndle. A place with 1 liter beer, German ompa bands, old men that still play cards at the reserved table and German banter... I am sure Oktoberfest is an excited experience, but I am glad I got to see the German side of this fantastic beer hall... to my American friends.. go to Germany during the summer when you can actually meet Germans.

What would Germany be without a pretzel?

Or sausage?

We tried to conceal our 1 liter mas beers

My first real "Munich man". His wife was putting the 1 liters back faster than Dave and I and she was about 65-70 years old!

 

Daddy and I before he left

Literally, the happiest man on earth. Surronded by three women in cleavagey dresses

Our new friends. Ladies from Northern Germany that Dave was flirting with... they were here for a Lawn Bowling Tournament.

Rock for People- 2nd year and even better

"Wow! I don't know what is worse... being hot or freezing with no way to get warm?"

This year Dave and I once again invaded the small town of Hradec Kralove for the annual Rock for People concert. This year was promising to be better than ever with such acts as: The Prodigy, Muse, Morcheeba, The Editos and many others. Because of the incliment weather Dave and I spent more time drinking water than putting back beer or any other beverage. We were lucky this year that our neighboors weren't crazy so we "slept" a little bit this year; or at least more than last year.  This year was almost more crowded than last year by over 15,000 people (Grand total was in the ball park of 30,000 people). Keep in mind that the Czech Republic has a meagerly 10 million residence to its name.

The Prodigy Concert- I was VERY happy that we were no where near the front of the stage.

Monday morning we took time out of being dirty to go into town, do some sightseeing, and eat some food.

Monday afternoon Dave and I decided to do, Dinner in the sky. It's basically a table with chairs that are welded onto the table. Then a crane lifts you about 60-70 meters into the air and you drink a beer. The pictures don't do it justice but it was REALLY high. Not to mention that you are just sitting on a chair dangling your feet off your foot rest... it was a bit unsettling but we got some amazing pictures out of it!

Getting strapped in

Dave's next. He was a tiny bit nervous

up, up in the air. Our beautiful view and fabulous beer.

Dirty and waiting for the Muse concert to start. Day two of no hair washing combined with rain and sweat. GROSS

Muse concert... worth the hour long stand to keep these places! Dave was right... it was a fabulous concert!

Last day... Freezing with a small sweater and dress. Eating lunch in a fabulous restaurant where Pope John Paul II visited while in the CZech Republic.

It was a really fantastic trip again, and if we are here next year I know we will go back again!

Girls Night Out- Summer Edition

"Sometimes you just need to talk with people who understand you... women."

Girls night is one of my favorite events in the entire world. I love being with Dave, but sometimes, since he's a man, he doesn't understand my plight with finding a pair of shoes, talking about asshole bosses, or just gossiping with the Czech In Touch Magazine!

Drinks, Drinks, drinks....

Looks Christina and I give each other when making jokes about world affairs. We are too funny

My dearest partner in crime... now married and now leaving for DC. You will be missed!

Ana and I at Fragola (fraggle rocks) enjoying a cocktail

The ladies... Christina, Kristy, and Jen at Fragola. So much fun people watching and of course... making fun

Lots of Americans celebrating America

"Happy Birthday Dear Friend... I miss you more and more every year that I am away from you."

They say absense makes the heart grow fonder and that couldn't be more true. Last year Dave and I celebrated July 4th at the Rock for People festival (we did the same this year too), and I have to admit I miss the BBQ parties, fireworks etc that I always had planned growing up in Georgia and later, continuing with in Los Angeles. Our dear friends Josh and Eduardo had their American friends in town from Phoenix so on the 3rd of July we had a big party to celebrate American's Independence.

There are days that I can say I get annoyed with being an American. You know, when they interview some loser on the TV, or some Senator makes so gaff which makes us all look like morons. I hate when i hear American girls on the tram talk about their sexual experiences in Prague (we talk a little too loudly). But, living in Central Europe I have begun to appreciate my Americanism's. I like the fact that my self-confidence is higher than everyone elses... by a long shot! I like that I really don't need a visa for anywhere in the world, should i choose to take off to Malaysia tomorrow ... i am visa free for 3 months! I like that I have a special line at the Foreign Police in the Czech Republic because I am VIP.

Here are some of the pictures from the party: Happy Birthday America.. you are one amazing lady!

 

Gay Bar celebrating our Founding Father's

Valentino's- dancing the night away to really good dance music. Sorry, America isn't very good at producing excellent dance music

Chips from Target and American flags from China

 

Birthday party- countries all celebrating America: Mexico, America, France, Czech Republic, Slovakia, UK

See... we are loved all over the world

Budapest- an epic journey

"Beautiful countryside. Train is the best way to see normal life."

We started our grand, epic adventure at 11:30am from Prague's main train station. It was hot when we left, and I mean hot! Our cabin "had" air conditioning, but after a while of sweating the ticket controler came by to open the windows so that we could all breathe a little easier. This essentially meant that any hair style that I had worked hard on earlier in the morning became a disaster at around 1pm.

We went through the Czech Republic and into Slovakia. The Czech Republic, when you aren't on the D1, has some splendid countryside, which really must be seen. We made our way into Slovakia, which is flat (think the great plains) until you get near the Hungarian border. Immediately you see rolling hills and mountains in the distance. It's picturesque, like something that you would see in the King and I or any Roger and Hammerstein film.

Slovakian countryside as we near the Hungarian border

Once inside Hungary Dave pointed out this magical little castle on top of a large hill over looking a river, which had crested probably the week before. We had had some terrible flooding in the area 2 weeks prior to travelling down there, so we fully expected to see lots of damage (luckily it seemed minimal)

The remains of a castle/fort in Hungary

After an hour and 30 minute train delay we finally arrived at the station. Tara was in the greenhouse sweating her ass off, as were Dave and I. We walked to Tara's new hood and made it inside, showered and then went out to dinner. We decided on a pizza place as it looked fantastic and was really the cheapiest of all the other restaurants in the area that we were in. Plus, we could sit outside, people watch, and the men could watch the beginning of world cup games.

Tara and Koen at the end of dinner

Can you tell we showered? Yeah, me neither!

The next day we met up with some of Tara and Koen's friends in Budapest to head over to an Aqua park, on one of the islands, in the center. We, of course, were late, but i did have time to take a picture of Tara's hood while we waited.

Tara's hood. The cables are for the buses. The night before we had the pleasure of taking one of the old communist buses.. such a treat!

Finally, at the Aqua Park. Waiting to get in... and what do i see? That's right... spray painted Beyonce on some chicks shirt. I had to take a picture... it was too good!

All the single ladies, all the single ladies

Wave pool. Dave is giving it a thumbs up approval rating!

View walking over the bridge to the aqua park. The cathedral in the background is what we visited the next day.

Budapest- a pitiful British story

"Tying is like kissing your sister."- Bear Bryant

What legendary words! Who ever would have thought that even 6 years out of college I would still be using that memorable phrase to describe the embarassment that is english football. It's bad enough that American's don't even really like the sport, but then, to tie against england? This country invented it, perfected it, they have whole gossip columns dedicated to footballers and their wives weekly escapades, and we tied them? Pre-match Dave and fellow Brits were quite energetic, arrogant really about the up-coming match. My fellow Americans were happily enjoying the pizza, beer and the stunning weather that had turned out for the evening. We were fully expecting to lose.. but somewhere I held out hope that my sweet little "soccer" boys might pull off the unthinkable and win or at least, TIE with England. Here's how the pictures went:

Game faces- this is obviously the start of the match. English flag with Danni and Dave's crusader faces... these expression will change as the match goes on.

Where we watched the game. It was in the middle of his fantastic square, flanked by beautifully designed buildings!

I believe this is "half-time" or how ever they call it in soccer. We had scored and I was very happy!

Similar shots for cousins. This was our ooppss face for the goalie letting our ball in. Thank you England!

Terror in Dave and Danni's hearts. I was putting up the #1 sign for America and Dave quickly tried to put up the #2. Together we make #3... England's place always in anything that matters... third

For the record, it was a lot of fun watching football with the whole gang. Dave was actually not nearly as pissed off as what I was expecting, but that's probably because we both went through to the next round, otherwise I am sure it would have been a messy situation.

Budapest- a castle story

"I feel like I am melting. Why did I even bother putting on make-up."

On our last full day in Budapest me, Dave, Tara and Koen, did a little bit of sightseeing up near the Buda castle. I had never been there, even from my previous visit, so I was looking forward to taking in a little bit of history. The view from the top is spectacular! The castle reminds me a lot of the buildings we saw in Vienna, when Dave and I were ther for the Florence and the Machine concert.  There were, unfortunately, no tours the day that we went, but to be honest, it was so freaking hot up there that I am not sure I would have been able to deal with one if there had been one. Being sweaty is not one of my favorite past times. I did manage to find a fountain at the top though. and I just stood there in it's spray. Best free shower ever!

Below are some quick snaps from our castle adventure!

The cathedral at the top of the castle. I loved the mosaic tiles on the roof. The picture lookes like I am in some Balkan or North African country.

This place had an observatory deck. If you went up top, you paid like $5. If you stayed at the bottom, it was free. Guess which one we all picked?

View from the observation deck. You can see Parliament in the background

Walking up to the beginning of the castle. There will be a fountain dead ahead... this was not the free shower fountain. It's spray stayed nicely in it's "bowl".

Dave and I in front of the fountain. I have seen similar artwork/sculpture at the Konopiste Castle in the Czech Republic. (they were apart of one lovely empire for a while so that could explain it)

Walking down into the english gardens

Dave's favorite picture of me. Apparently, I look very much like the above lion when I wake up in the morning, or when I am in a bad mood!

A lovely little pool inside the gardens.

Beware of falling rocks. This was written where the garden edge met the actual working part of the castle. They don't keep this part in good condition, obviously.

Budapest- a love story

"There's no other place quite like it"

In our many part blog entry you will see lots of pictures of Dave and I in Budapest. We took this little trip on a 1000czk (about $50) train ticket down and back for a little weekend get-away to visit Tara and Koen. While we were there we did a bit of sight seeing and of course did some normal Budapest fan fare... like the water park... AWESOME. Enjoy the pictures below

Me in Hero's Square

Dave's dream car... really this is the car he wants more than any other in the entire world

Gargoyles lighting the way to dinner

The two whitest people I know breaking out west coast hand signs...

Me and the man

Cutest couple ever! Can't wait for the wedding!