Elisa's Daily BlogTravelin' Tuesday Itinerary Planning for PragueHow are you today?? Well, I'm happy to report that Gianna is doing fine from her tooth extraction yesterday. She was very woozy and tired yesterday. And yes, she did have some pain for most of the day and evening. But, she woke up today feeling pretty good. She went off to school since she had 2 tests. I told her she could leave early if she felt pain, so we'll see how that goes. I'm headed to meet up with Danielle later to help her buy a new laptop. I tried to convince her to get a MAC, but she doesn't want to spend that much money, so we'll be looking at pc's.  Me and Danielle this morning It's Travelin' Tuesday Time!! As I mentioned in my blog yesterday, I am beginning the fun task of planning the itinerary of sights to see and places to eat at during Tanya and my Eastern European trip. We began planning this trip a little less than a year ago when we decided we had to celebrate her 40th and my 50th with a really cool trip! What could be cooler than a rail trip through 5 countries in Eastern Europe!!!  Prague Old Town Square at night I decided to start my itinerary planning with the first city on our trip - Prague, Czech Republic! Tanya and I will be flying into Prague and staying there for three nights. So, this is what I have come up with thus far: Day 1 Arrive Prague via U.S. Hotel Check in Climb Old Town Hall Tower Watch Astronomical Clock on the hour Charles Bridge New Town - Church of Lady Victorious - Walk around Mala Strana (Old Town over Charles Bridge) Dinner in Old Town Square  Old Town Hall Tower Day 2 Prague Castle - St. George's Basilica - St. Vitus Cathedral - Wenceslas Chapel - Bell Tower Lunch Cruise on Vltava River Lesser Town - Petrin Tower Lobkowicz Palace (2 mile walk from Prague Castle) Dinner  On the Charles Bridge - looking out at the Vltava River (April 2014) What I can tell you is that I LOVE Prague!! I was there last Spring and felt like I was in something out of a storybook. It is definitely one of my favorite cities in the world and I cannot wait to go back with Tanya, for her first visit to this charming destination! What I'm most looking forward to is seeing some of the places I was unable to while visiting with my girls last year. This will include: > A lunch cruise on the Vltava River > Petrin Tower > Lobkowicz Palace  Petrin Tower (courtesy trip advisor.com)  Lobkowicz Palace (courtesy infotraveler.net) The lunch cruise is something I had wanted to do last visit, but unfortunately, traveling with kids did not allow us to do as much each day as they get tired and have a short attention span. So, it will be a treat to ride along the Vlatava River this time! I'm also stoked that we will be going to the Estates Opera House! And one of my absolute favorites is being performed while we are there - Don Giovanni!! Next week, I'll share with you, our itinerary for Krakow, Poland, the second city we will be visiting on our trip! Or you can check in on our Tanya & Elisa's Milestone Birthday Eastern Europe Rail Trip page - which has much more information about our adventure I've gotta get going to meet Danielle so I'll meet you back here tomorrow! Thanks for keeping the votes coming! ---->>---->>---->>---->>---->> -E xoxo  | Tanya's Daily BlogSorry, I was LOST in the Azores!Boa tarde (Boh-ah tahr-jia) / Good Afternoon in Portuguese!  Our view at breakfast this morning. How is everyone doing today? (answer in the comments) I'm doing well. Delightful in fact. I mean how could I not be, when I'm leading my life by my design and I'm vacationing here in the gorgeous Portuguese archipelago of the Azores?!  I'm so glad that we chose to stay here in Caloura rather than in Ponta Delgada. The views are magnificent and it is quiet and serene. Ponta Delgada is only around a 20-30 minute drive (just 11 miles) from here...if you know which way to go and don't end up in a driving adventure - like we did last night on the way to dinner!  Last night, sunset from our balcony. Dinner btw was quite wonderful. I was so happy! After being discouraged all day long, my hopes weren't all that high that the food would be vegan and be delicious too! Well it certainly was, and we made reservations for just about every night we are here (with the exception of Thursday - going to try our luck here at the resort and pray that they don't screw up a simple request of pasta primavera prepared in EVOO). WE SHALL SEE! Now to tell you a little bit about our driving adventure... After a break at our resort and relaxing our room. Me chatting with family and friends. Dave in a deep slumber. We had left to go back to Ponta Delgada. Let me forewarn you...the Azoreans do not believe in many signs! So off we went... I was behind the wheel and drove up to a corner where I knew (from earlier in the day) there was a sign pointing us towards Ponta Delgada. I made that turn and then that was it, no more signs or indication on how to get to the main highway. I followed in the direction that I felt it was (as I have a decent sense of direction), next thing we know I was driving over the highway and in hopes of finding the on ramp... Those hopes never became reality...because the road quickly became a one lane dirt road, no place to turn around or even do a 3 point turn. The road continued up a fairly steep hill, and I was Thanking the Lord that I was driving, rather than Dave because next up was a crevice down the center of this off roading adventure! And with Dave's inexperience behind the wheel, well we would've probably rolled backwards down and off of the hill or had to stay the night in the farmlands and wake up next to one of the 125,000 cows on this island!  Some Happy Cows! In my error yesterday I noted that the cows that dot the landscape are used to supply the local big meat eaters, when in actuality these are dairy cows and although we are not anywhere near California and the "phoney" expression of "happy cows" these cows ARE the real deal - they are truly "Happy Cows"! And finally I'll tell you about our day exploring the island with Azores Private Tours, and the highly recommend local native tour guide 'Rui' all in tomorrow's SCOOP! I promise that I woke be late! Until then, I wish you all the best and a wonderful Tuesday! -T |
