Prague: May the force be with you

Day 20:

Headed to Prague in the Czech Republic today. On the way we stopped in Regensburg, Germany; a cute, small town filled with more medieval modeled churches and stone bridges. I split from the others for the two hours we were there and wandered on my own. I stumbled across a book store (my favorite.) Lucky for me, they had English books for 5 euro each. I picked four since I'd already finished the other four books I'd packed. I bought a strange, yet delicious, strawberry cake. It was a pound-cake-like base with real strawberries on top. I sat along the water's edge while I ate my cake. And they say you can't have your cake and eat it, too. With my headphones in and a slight breeze, I enjoyed my cake and the view, while denying the lingering pigeons my crumbs or attention. I was able to capture some great shots from below the bridge, where I sat. I met up with the rest of the group and we headed out for our four hour journey to Prague.

Entrance to the bridge

On top of the bridge

Yet another church

Adorable town of Regensburg

Slant view from the edge

Stone Bridge

Pigeons...

Directly across from me; Regensburg :)

We finally arrived in Prague around six in the evening. We are in another PLUS Hostel, but boy let me tell you this one does not get an A+ review. Here is where hell meets earth. I'm from Louisiana; I can take the heat. At least, I can take it when given a cold shower and A/C at the end of the day. Well, we kissed all of those luxuries aside once we reached Prague. Never, and I mean never without exaggeration, have I ever been so hot and/or close to a heat stroke. In our three days there, there was never an adjustment to the heat.
The plan was to take the coldest shower possible, wrap in your towel and lay in the bed for the next 15 minutes, wet hair and all, praying for a few minutes of comfort and not sweat. We though the a/c breaking on the bus or Venice was bad. Well, not that I've survived Prague I could survive a war. That's how strongly I feel about it.
Aside from the heat, Prague was beautiful. The day we arrived I went for a run around our hostel; careful not to stray too many blocks. Similar to Athens, I was initially unimpressed with Prague and had little optimistic outlook for the city. However, much like in Athens, we were just housed in the outskirts in a shadier part of town. Well, I've heard most areas of Prague are shady and that it isn't the best or safest, but we all made it out alive. (Sorry, mom!)
That night we went on a party cruise. By party cruise I mean we all piled onto a semi-decent-sized three-story party barge along with 300 or so other people and made three U-turns on the river. We found seats in the top deck and stayed put. Alcohol choices were slim pickings and expensive. I think we thought we'd board the boat, cruise the river and it would drop us off at the club. Wrong! We docked where we took off and unloaded; all 300+ of us. They herded us like Kindergartners and shooed us to the five-story night club.
The walking like children was obnoxious but the night club made it well worth it. This five-story mad house had a different genre of music on each floor: Techno, house, hip-hop and retro. Insane amounts of fun here. Let's not forget the ice bar! Yes, ice. You need a parka before they let you enter this level and your time is limited because it's so cold. (I passed that opportunity.)
We split ways and the seven or so with me made our way to the dance floor. On this particular level the dance floor was in a pit in the middle of the room so we barreled past the crowds and down the stairs until we found a space. We finally tired out around 4 a.m., and once again, thanks to Anna, we made it back via public transportation. It was 5:30 a.m. or so by then and the sun was barely rising in the distance. Didn't matter that we had an eight o' clock tour because you can't sleep in those conditions anyway. The two hour nap I somehow managed was just enough rest to start the day for our three hour tour that morning.

This tour guide was excellent (that was often a rarity between accents.) Prague is so beautiful, amazing, gigantic and classic. I was too tired to enjoy most of the tour, or retain my focus, but I got some great shots along the way. 

Church I can't name :/

inside

side view

Old, mini town

My knight in shining armor.

View from top of city

Notice all the clay roofs

Superstitions: Good luck to touch/rub

Charles Bridge

I couldn't hang in town with my lack of sleep so I headed back to the hotel and did some laundry and sat around reading in puddles of my own sweat.
The next day was a free day and a couple of us ventured out to explore all we'd missed the day before. Our main goal was the John Lennon Wall. It is literally just a wall, maybe 30 feet long filled with graffiti. Whoever said graffiti wasn't beautiful has clearly never seen this. It's so inspirational. Words and pictures fill the wall with color and motivation. Some people just sign their names and others write stories or draw characters. It's the brightest part of the city no doubt. I signed my name with lipstick because that's all I had. It's washed away by now I'm sure, melted away with the heat or been painted over by another visitor, but I got to say I signed it. That's enough for me. After the John Lennon Wall we found a bed lounge to have a few drinks, smoke hookah, and of course, use the free WiFi.

PEACE :)

"We accept the love the we think we deserve."

"I see humans, but I see no humanity."

"The sun is up, the sky is blue; it's beautiful and so are you."

My name in lipstick :)

"Signing walls is so mainstream," painted on the pathway. Clever! 

This is what free WiFi looks like :)

As we left the hookah bar dark clouds filled the sky. By the time we got off the bus and reached the block of our hostel the wind was sending whirlwinds of leaves and trash through the air. A storm was brewing and the hot heat of the wretched sun was gone. When I reached out room, I went to the two giant-paneled open windows and watched the rain pour from the skies onto the streets outside my window. I made a video diary of how glorious the weather turned in a matter of an hour. Needless to say, we all slept like babies that night :) It also goes without saying that this was my favorite day in Prague, ha!