Kyle’s European Adventure

After a highly eventful second day in Hohenschwangau that involved mountain bikes, unchecked border crossings, horses, cows, slides, one castle, a monastary and a spectacular lightning storm – it was time to leave the land of the fairytale castles. The kids (everyone but my parents) decided to take an early morning dip in the alp lake, which was freezing but quite refreshing. From there, we caught the series of trains that would (after 12 hours of traveling), deliver us to Prague.

I realized, as we crossed the border into the Czech Republic, that from here on we were going to be dumb Americans. Because my brother in law is fluent in German, and i know enough to get by, we’ve been able to communicate with everyone we needed to. Now, we’re truly tourists, and I think it makes some of my family a little nervous. Hell, it makes me a little nervous. I’ve always had a bit of anxiety over not being able to communicate with the people around me, but it seems like everyone in Prague speaks english.

I’m excited to be here – there’s something about this city that I react to in the same way that I do with Berlin. There’s potential here – ancient history mixed with the modern world. Art, nightlife, and great beer. We’ll be here for the next four nights, and I’m thinking I may sneak away from the family for an evening to see what I can see.