Dumplings, beer, sachertorte, schnitzel. Rinse. Repeat.

Bear Necessities...!

Clockwise from 12 o'clock:

* Chocolate Chip roller bag
* Backpack doubles as weapon
* Adapters for European outlets
* Decoy wallet with expired credit cards - yes, in case I get mugged!
* Half a dozen Starbucks VIA - no more undrinkable airplane coffee
* Happy Van
* Prague tour book from the King County Library - your tax dollars at work!
* US Passport, in case I want to come home
* Money belt - yes, in case I get mugged!
* Journal and pen
* Binoculars
* "Black Gold" - last of my Starbucks Tribute Blend for Couch Surfer host/hostess
* Neck pillow

Well, friends, I am ready for Grande Adventure #2:  I am heading to Prague - the one in the Czech Republic, not Oklahoma - tomorrow!  Our Couch Surfer friends, Jan Patrick and Kristyna, whom we have hosted in early July, shall become my host/hostess this time around.  I will visit and Surf with them at Pardubice, an hour or so train ride east of Prague. 

Unless I make any grande detour, which is entirely possible, I shall be in Krakow, Poland, by early next week with a side trip to Auschwitz; and then Vienna, Austria by next weekend.  The return trip may include Brno before I finally reach Prague again, and come home via JFK on the 15th of September. 

I don't speak a word of German or Polish.  I have purposely done little planning, so I am just going to blend in with What Is.  Telling a project manager to not plan is almost the equivalence of telling a scorpion to not sting.  OK, may be not the exact equivalence but close...  I am proud to say I did really well.  I did let myself  check the train schedule...just to confirm that there ARE indeed overnight trains from Pardubice to Krakow and Vienna.  Other than that,  I have basically delegated the bulk of the research to Katie, my niece, who is my travel companion.  A girl's trip!  We intend to make this a Grande Food tour that includes dumplings, beer, chocolate, crepes, schnitzel, and that's just the beginning.   Girls gotta eat! 

I am excited for the trip, of course, but not the "OMG-I-won't-be-able-to-sleep-tonight" excitement.  It is an experience that I look forward to.  I hope to meet some new friends; try some new stuff; drink some good beer.   

I may have to miss you for two weeks, as I am not bringing my computer on the trip.  I will definitely miss blogging, but will rely on my journal to keep up with my writing. 

Would you please visit when I return?