Prague
3/26/2004 1:02 PM
I've always wanted to go to Prague. I've read a lot about it. I've never seen it referred to as "that festering hole: Prague". But we were looking at taking a riverboat cruise in Europe this summer. Kendra, who has heard me glow about it over the past 5 years of marriage. Although lately its been Spiderman 2...I know, geek. Kendra said, "How about we go to Prague." Wow. I was literally stunned. I wasn't expecting THIS. I had always thought of going to Prague and seeing it but it seemed just out of reach. Something to dream about. Put yourself in the postcard when you see it. The chances I would actually would go was probably no better than 30%. But in a sentence she raised it to over 98%. So a small grin...and "wow" was all I could muster. When really inside I was doing Daffy Duck handsprings. The catch is that we'd be traveling on a guided riverboat cruise from Prague to Paris. I have never been one for "guided" tours. I don't think they give an accurate depiction of an area. You see what they want you to see and in a way to feel how'd they'd like you to feel. Disturbance free...luxury...no having to think much. Personally, the struggle and the troubles you overcome are a majority of the fun of a trip. They always leave you with a good story and a laugh in the end. The second part, I don't like about these tours are the rubes that flock to these types of trips. I have always broken down people who travel as either "tourists" or "travelers". Tourists expected to be treated the exact same way they are treated at home...in fact the amazing part is the "tourist" even had the wherewithal to leave home. A traveler tries to immerse himself to the locale he is in. Take in the experience. Let go the familair. I know this sounds more than a little elist. And to be sure there are plenty of polite and courteous tourists out there who get a bad rap from the bad ones. I've always envisioned myself traveling through Europe alone just a pack and my camera. But that’s the stuff of fantasy...when the reality hits its not a great way to travel. Maybe in your 20's but now in the mid 30’s I see that the fuel tank is just about halfway and I don't have the time to just dally anymore. To see the places I want...I've got to Go! Go Go! So I lose some of the travel "experience" but they also are going to take some of the frustration out of touring a foreign land. It will save me from having to argue with Parisian cab driver...just saying "non! non! non!" because I can't argue in French properly. Which does have its appeal.

So Prague it is!