Tanzania 2009-2010: April 2010

After traveling for almost 24 hours via cabs, a ferry, and multiple overnight flights through Ethiopia and Italy, I arrived in the beautiful city of Prague, Czech Republic!! My fabulous college friend Megan, who has been living and working in Prague for a year and a half, met me at the airport and we started our day with a huge latte and lots of girl talk! We took the Metro to Megan's cute flat, dropped my luggage, and hit the town. We wandered along the Vltava river, drank Czech beer and ate sausage at the local Easter market, and visited the Prague castle and many other famous sites. It was weird to walk on quiet, paved sidewalks and wait at stoplights! We ended our day with spicy Thai food and drinks at a local bar!

A view of the Prague Castle from Charles' bridge

Beer + sausage = Yummy!!

Good luck for 10 years!!

St. Vitus Cathedral at the Prague Castle

This is supposedly the narrowest "street" in the world!

Megan checking on her lock at the lovers' gate. Here lovers put a padlock on the gate, throw the key in the canal, and enjoy a lifetime of relationship bliss! I think Phillip and I need to go to Prague!

The Lennon Wall

Weird baby statue!

"Dancing House" designed by Frank Gehrey who also did the Weisman in Minneapolis

Megan and I celebrated Easter in Prague with delicious brunch at her friend's house, hot wine at the Easter market, church, and a fun Czech dinner of fried cheese, rabbit, and schnitzel. It is a tradition in Prague for the boys to whip the girls with willow sticks to bring them good luck and fertility in exchange for liquor, chocolate, and eggs. We did get a few whippings, but had nothing to give in exchange.

Easter willow whips!

Painted eggs

Hot wine at the market

Megan's little dream car

A scary Easter lamb cake

On my remaining days in Prague I took a great guided walking tour of the city, visited the Communist museum, spent a day at a Nazi prison camp and Jewish ghetto, visited the beer gardens, and enjoyed many hours of bonding time with Megan! I couldn't ask for a better re-introduction to the developed world!!

The famous astronomical clock in Old Town Square

The cemetery at Terezin prison camp and Jewish ghetto

"Work will set you free" ... a Nazi lie

The typical barracks for the Jewish prisoners. You would not believe how cold, damp, and dark this room was.

The crematorium

I am safely back in Minnesota after fabulous trips to Zanzibar (with my family), Prague (with my college friend Megan), and Naples, Florida (with Phillip and his family)!

In Zanzibar, my family and I enjoyed touring Stone Town, visiting a spice farm, and playing in the Indian Ocean! Here are a few pictures from our days on the exotic island!

In Stone Town we wandered through the narrow, winding streets looking at the famous Zanzibar doors before visiting a former slave market and church, a museum, and the old fort!