The process of heading back to the USA and my job has begun, and will finish in about 42 hours (as of when I started this) when I land in Reno. I’m in Václav Havel airport, it’s misty, foggy and chill. That seems to be a perfect end to a good trip. Though I’ve only been away for seventeen days, it seems like I’ve been gone much longer. Maybe it’s the number of different places I’ve stayed, and the number of different cultures I’ve seen - four countries and significantly different cultures. Vienna was the most western and familiar, Budapest and Prague both were a little more different in different ways - likely as the result of being on the other side of the Iron Curtain for a time, and Istanbul was the most foreign.
At any rate, back to the US I go, whether or not I am ready - or willing.
Some takeaways:
1. Smoking is quite prevalent everywhere I went - I think Istanbul was the worst.
2. People were cautiously friendly in general. I did get some direct looks now and again, but I’ll attribute that to my rugged good looks, rather than being an obvious stranger in a strange land.
3. Food everywhere was relatively inexpensive, and tasty. Vienna was the most expensive, Budapest the least. For beer, though Prague definitely was the best place. Even in the airport lounge, a beer is only $2.50.
4. Kebabs are everywhere in Istanbul, Budapest and Prague. Universally good, and inexpensive - especially in Budapest: $2.00 for enough for a meal stuffed in a pita.
5. Budapest tram and subway are easy to do, and cheap. I didn’t try it anywhere else.
6. Flying in Europe is so painless compared to the USA. Ten access points to scan your boarding pass, and you’re in. No one or two TSA agents scrutinizing your ID and boarding pass. Shoes? They stay on your feet. Pull out big electronics? Sure, but they go in the same bin as your carry-on, and coat. The longest it ever took to get through security was maybe 10 minutes.
7. RyanAir is certainly low cost, no frills. You walk out in the rain and climb the stairs to get on. And storage is a free-for-all. While I wasn’t looking, someone else stuffed a bag under the seat in front of me. Ballsy.
8. Europe is “pay to pee,” which is different. Public restrooms are not free.
9. Top sheets are not a thing. I stayed in six different places, and none had one. Bottom sheet and a single-wide duvet. On a double bed, there were two single-wide duvets.
10. Traveling with Spencer was better than traveling alone, and traveling alone was better than not traveling at all.
It’s time to go, so I must ask myself, of the places I’ve just been, do I want to return?
Istanbul: maybe
Budapest: nah - I was there long enough
Vienna: sure
Prague: definitely. I’d like to get more comfortable and do some exploring outside the city as well.
Sbohem Praha.
At any rate, back to the US I go, whether or not I am ready - or willing.
Some takeaways:
1. Smoking is quite prevalent everywhere I went - I think Istanbul was the worst.
2. People were cautiously friendly in general. I did get some direct looks now and again, but I’ll attribute that to my rugged good looks, rather than being an obvious stranger in a strange land.
3. Food everywhere was relatively inexpensive, and tasty. Vienna was the most expensive, Budapest the least. For beer, though Prague definitely was the best place. Even in the airport lounge, a beer is only $2.50.
4. Kebabs are everywhere in Istanbul, Budapest and Prague. Universally good, and inexpensive - especially in Budapest: $2.00 for enough for a meal stuffed in a pita.
5. Budapest tram and subway are easy to do, and cheap. I didn’t try it anywhere else.
6. Flying in Europe is so painless compared to the USA. Ten access points to scan your boarding pass, and you’re in. No one or two TSA agents scrutinizing your ID and boarding pass. Shoes? They stay on your feet. Pull out big electronics? Sure, but they go in the same bin as your carry-on, and coat. The longest it ever took to get through security was maybe 10 minutes.
7. RyanAir is certainly low cost, no frills. You walk out in the rain and climb the stairs to get on. And storage is a free-for-all. While I wasn’t looking, someone else stuffed a bag under the seat in front of me. Ballsy.
8. Europe is “pay to pee,” which is different. Public restrooms are not free.
9. Top sheets are not a thing. I stayed in six different places, and none had one. Bottom sheet and a single-wide duvet. On a double bed, there were two single-wide duvets.
10. Traveling with Spencer was better than traveling alone, and traveling alone was better than not traveling at all.
It’s time to go, so I must ask myself, of the places I’ve just been, do I want to return?
Istanbul: maybe
Budapest: nah - I was there long enough
Vienna: sure
Prague: definitely. I’d like to get more comfortable and do some exploring outside the city as well.
Sbohem Praha.
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