We checked out of the hotel the day after the wedding and the families spent the afternoon at the one place that was open in Mölkau on a Sunday, Stadtgut Mölkau. It was a cross between a petting zoo, playground, beer garden, and restaurant in what looked like to be the old village square.
Caro and I shared schnitzel for lunch. We took the twins on the swings (which they loved!) and to watch the horses in the field (although my lens cap was far more entertaining). Volkmar’s dad brought the leftover dessert from the wedding, and we decided to hand it out to everyone at the beer garden. People were resistant at first, but once we learned the German word for ‘free’ the cake got eaten up.
Volkmar and Nicole drove me to the bus ride. Both Nicole and I were tearing up! Volkmar gave me some travel advice – not to take taxis, not to use Euros or to do currency exchange outside of a bank. My best bet was to draw out money from a bank. This was problematic…
Train to Prague
Nicole came into the train station with me. This was very fortunate as my train had changed tracks and was late. There were no English announcements in Leipzig like in Berlin! We ran to the right track, then Nicole asked some passengers for help reading the ticket. One of the passengers explained to me seating, then checked up on me when we arrived in Dresden. I was a bit confused – Dresden had 3 train stops! She said the train ride to Prague was one of the most beautiful in Europe!
Dresden looked beautiful from the train window; vineyards, grand houses, old bridges and dome buildings. I think I’d like to visit there one day! Volkmar said its very pretty.
The train to Prague was different than either of the two trains I’d ridden in Germany. The first car I got into had cabin style seating with 6 seats. Turned out two seats in the cabin were reserved, so I got up so that a group of three could stay. I then migrated to another train with single seating. This train had electrical outlets at the seats with tables.
Arrival in Prague
Upon my arrival, I went to a exchange booth and got local currency. That done, I bought a train ticket. English was everywhere here!
It was very easy to navigate the train station and the metro to my AirBnB accommodation. The subway system had the same look and smell of the blue line of Montreal’s metro.
I found my AirBnB easily enough, but no one answered my rings. I asked some guys smoking on the corner where the nearest wifi or phone box was and they directed me to a small bar. The middle-aged woman working there didnt speak English, but I managed to get the wifi password and a beer.
Turned out my AirBnB host was running late. She offered to pick me up at the bar. She seemed a bit frantic as she gave me a quick tour of the apartment. It was a very odd apartment – I felt like I was in some college student apartment with its mismatched salvaged furniture, bare walls, old stained carpet, and facets that disconnected from the sink when you turned them on. This was nothing like my Rochester or Berlin AirBnB accommodations!
I checked the mattress for bedbugs and got a glass of water for my bouquet of flowers. I encountered one of her roommates in the kitchen, but he didn’t speak English or smile. So I retreated to my room and went to sleep. I was exhausted!
