Prague

They do not use Euros here in the Czech Republic.. also everything was in Czech which I completely failed to study up on.. ooops. I got a 24hr pass for the subway and made my way around just fine though.

A beautiful city... for the most part. I stayed two subways stops outside of the center, I enjoyed the realness. My airbnb host let me in, showed me around and pointed to a pile of city guides then I never saw him again until 10min prior to my departure he poked his head in to make sure I was gone... sorry dude! I'm not going to leave a review for that one...

I had a traditional meal for lunch which consisted of pork ribs... and man were they good.. horseraddish, mustard, bread and onions on the side...with a big ol beer. For dinner I had a bag of Gummi bears and a bottle of wine. I was still pretty full from lunch.

Great art here and there.. but this place is COVERED in tags, not visually appealing as they were crap.

Everything is so old and I love it

Charles bridge entry way. This is mos def the #1 tourist stop among all else I saw.

Around every corner (in and around Old Town) was picturesque.

A Ford!, A.J. 

You could be driven around the city in one of these... every time I saw one turn a corner I expected to see Hitler or something.. 

(Hitler wouldn't be in a Ford, I know)

I stopped caring about what was what and just snapped some photos. Churches do not interest me... just the structures themselves.

After seeing most things I could walk by and taking out more money than intended.. I figured I pay to see the few things that interested me.

I really enjoyed reading everything in here. Czechoslovakia had a busy past in the fight for/against Communism. The methods used in reprogramming the youth via education and propaganda really made me think about our current status in the US. The textbook fight to teach creationism and the bullshit I see on facebook everyday is like modern day propaganda... I almost felt like I should care a little more.

The Sex Machine Museum. I loved this!! I have photos but it would make some of you babies blush so thanks for ruining everything... here is a man's "He-wee".. intended for pissing without lifting up many layers of garment.

Prague Astronomical Clock

The John Lennon wall..... SWOON! I walked up as this guy was playing "Imagine"... I was immediately enamored.  This wall started as a way to piss off commies in the 1980s. Beatles inspired art and lyrics were painted on it, commies would paint it white, and their opponents would just make new art. Wonderful story to read up on. I have great video here. I love how the Beatles bring people of all countries together... I would have stayed all day.... Le sigh

Found ONE invader in all my travels...

Locks of love

I loved the John Lennon Wall so much I decided to spend exactly what money I had left on steak tartare and a beer at the John Lennon Pub. The entryway was round and painted like the Yellow Submarine.. couldnt resist!  Man this was DELICIOUS!!

No money left and hours to kill I just people watched at the train station.. once I thought I may brush my teeth and urinate but all I had was (equivilant) of 0.19 and needed 0.20 to use the toilet, DAMN! So I held it until my midnight train to Venice.

Prague was not my favorite place, but I'm glad I came.

Vienna

On the train from Füssen to Vienna, Austria (Wien)

Because I'm evil.... in a league with SAAAATAAAAN!!

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German poet among other things.

We met some folks from California and did a camera swap... They were ecstatic that we spoke English. A clearly tourist moment as the locals would NOT do something like that.

Inside of St. Stephen's Cathedral

During all those years of hunger and hardships its nice to know the religious hierarchy was living so comfortably. It is hard to enjoy places like this... but it is easier than stomaching present day mega churches which have zero redeeming qualities.

The outside of the Cathedral. Fun fact: The building is constantly undergoing renovations because it is entirely made of sandstone.

Statue outside Motzarthaus.  Mozart's residence from 1784 to 1787 in Wien.

Refugees Welcome!  :)   I saw this painted in multiple parts of town. It is insanely interesting being over here right now.  I have seen refugees in the train stations and talked about the situation in every country I have been with my hosts and heard many opinions and been educated on how different EU countries are dealing with the influx.  Everyone I have spoken to are on the welcoming side.  Talking to a girl on the train that is about to start her first year of university was about the most naive opinion I've heard... hey, like some of the ones I read from home. This is another topic meant for in-person discussion.

Visit to Wurstelprater amusement park

WTF, weird... I likey.  There are a number of Disney knock off decor and what not. But I love all this freaky deaky stuff.

Clowny clown clown

If I were a hot dog this is how I'd do myself up.

This place has a little bit of everything... Thinking of you, A.J.

Prater Turm. 117 meters tall.  Terrifying ain't it?!

Let's go!

Jake's friend Katrine joined us for the park trip.  Jake was not going on this puppy again so he held our stuff.

We are in a swing behind the one with a flag... so the first one to the right of the tower.  I did not film anything on my action cam because if dropped it by chance it could cause a fatality. 

Hold me tight tiny chains!!

Finally got a Käsekrainer hot dog!  It is a cheese filled sausage (like kielbasa) in a baguette filled with ketchup and/or mustard with a lil bread hat!  DROOOOOL!!! Loved it. Top of my hot dog list now.

We walked along the canal to meet some friends.  There was SO MUCH amazing art painted along the way.  I understand that this was a legal zone for art.  I did not take any photos because EVERYTHING was so cool to stare at.

The Hofburg - currently the National Library.  We attended a Thanksgiving or Harvest Festival. Erntedankfest auf Deutsch.  That is where Hitler spoke once upon a time... crazy to see the space that was filled to the brim with spectators.  This is also where we met up for the Wien street skate.

Another wonderful breakfast. Jakey loves his spreads (and me too!)

Pizza Fritte, pretty much a deep fried pizza... it was delicious!!

Friday night city skate!

There were a lot of bikes in comparison to my other adventures. This event is hosted by the Green Party.  I did not see another quad skater the entire time. A lady even pointed me out with a "wooooah" of sorts :)

I really love how large and organized the skates are over here while back in Houston we just want a group big enough to not be taken out by a shitty driver... I cannot wait to get home and encourage more of my fellow retirees to come out on Tuesday nights (including myself!) so happy about retiring from the league and all this fresh new time to do meaningful stuff or at least escaping the doldrums of practice time. 

Sorry for potato quality view. Outside photos were scary due to the insane wind.

We went to the top of the tallest building/tower in Austria today and had coffee and topfenstrudel. The restaurant rotated and there were stationary signs around the ceiling so when you look up then out the window you would know what you were looking at more or less, neat!

We went to Wiener Schnitz'l Land!

In the morning I will be on my way to Prague in the Czech Republic. Being in Wien with Jake and Sven has been a blast and I cannot wait to host them in Texas this December <3 <3

Eindhoven

On the train to Eindhoven. We saw lots of sheep, some miniature ponies, windmills and greenery along the way.

finally tried some Bitterballen among other things..

Got off the train... escorted to Turn Left Skate Shop and there was a ramp in the backyard!

all within the first 30min of being in Eindhoven, sweet!

A cheese bread roll with some amazing garlic sause concoction.

Derby scarf! They got these for the Dutch championships... it was fun watching the Rockcity Rollers footage as well as their juniors. So cute! And I love seeing derby from around the world.

We shared our views on the subject of an over-sensitive society... I learned about Dutch Santa..I have more to say on the subject but this is a public blog and I'm not interested in your opinion of what I think.. just to follow the journey. so I'll save it for a conversation. What I learned is that it's no different over here, some people love to make something out of what could be nothing. At this rate in a hundred thousand years we will over-analyze ourselves to the point that we just have to end human interaction all together. Yeeesh.

We drank some beers...

On my Neverending quest to define "kolache" in other lands... in Dutch it is Worstenbroodje. The sausage is more like a flat patty and not a dog. No cheese.

Belgian chocolates.... holy. moly. Words don't need to express... just know all those Russell Stover turds are turds in comparison.

A courtesy safety meeting spot? Oh how nice :)

Their convention center is this UFO. I love it

Hahaha 

The bar that sponsored their league scarves was closed so I couldn't get a picture of the logo painted on the wall. They have a rockin' tournament this weekend that if I had foreseen I would have planned for Paris first.

Fine for public pissing. I hope to get a photo with my shee-wee by the Manekin pis :]

This is the Eindhoven not-so-cruel-equivalent to "Moses", for those of you at the UofA... 

The blurry photo Jake snapped :)

The Netherlands flag is there, so whateva!

Practice was great. A first non-English derby experience. Things were translated for me but honestly hand motions and track location/pointing was almost good enough. We did frenchy walls by another name and the flank and evil washing machine we both called Blocktapuss... I laughed. We scrimmaged a little bit too! A few girls played at World Cup for Team Netherlands, neat!!! And of course it was awesome to finally play with Sif Stichess, whom I met at a Gotham practice back in 2010 or so :):):)

Found on the locker room wall

Excellent poster at the pub across from practice. (It's a glass a wine) 

New beers everyday!!

THIS! Was way awesome.  This would be the Dutch cousin of Trailer Park Boys. I will be seeking out the other movie when. I return home. I also won't be paying for anything anymore!!! Hahahahaha

Our lovely hosts

Note to self... holder of the stick should wave around when taking a silly photo.... derp

Now we are on the train to Brussels enjoying some nice burger cookies