Can I have a P please Bob? #parkrun #poland #prague #pivovar #peeingdown

Today's extended route, let's avoid going right through Prague I said, straight to the hotel I said, and that's what we did.  But it turned out the wrong Pivovar was entered into the maps, so we had an extended drive through Prague, not the centre, but enough trams and u turns to make for some interesting moments.

record numbers at kudowa

https://www.relive.cc/view/r10007298137

Anyway, before all that we had the joy of our third parkrun at Kudowa - Zdroj.  Suitably impressed with the town yesterday, the people came to the fore today, as we congregated next to the big piano for our parkrun briefing.  We met a few triathletes who had come down from the mountains for their first parkrun (much to Bryn's annoyance who had his eye on the first place prize) and who added a few explanatory words of English when needed. In my case they were probably 'go faster' but 2 weeks of European beer beginning to take their toll and a bit of an effort to just get close to respectability today.  The course was lovely, probably the nicest of the 3 European parkruns we have run, 3 loops of a really interesting park, with a range of surfaces, one sharp hill, a small lake, and a few historic buildings.  What am I saying, it was the Polish version of Tredegar House in Newport!

international tourists

can i play a song for you?

blog title mission accomplished

show me your zlots

A little discount available in the cafe across the road where the last of our Polish Zlots were used up, have managed our little time in Poland on a £50 budget, a very cheap place to come compared to the other European countries we have visited.  That said, our time really was limited, less than 24 hrs in Kudowa, another Travel Man record of sorts.  And certainly our shortest place in any country.  Spot prize for those who know the country we spent the second least amount of time in. Answer below in the comments.  And a better prize for those who have worked out where we spent the most time.

We hit the road to Prague, our final stop on this years European tour.  Much of the journey spent discussing our respective highlights (to be revealed tomorrow), although also passing a heavy metal festival in Jaromer, stopping for a Mc Donalds at a service station, and enjoying the grooves and shakes of motorway driving in the Czech Republic.  The rain joined us for the first time on this trip for an extended period, so really felt at home driving.

As mentioned above, having navigated the outskirts of Prague we got to what we thought was our hotel and I was emotionally finished for the day.  Sadly, I had to find more energy for another 30 minutes to get to our actual hotel, a quirky little number next to a crematorium.  A mad axe murder type was hanging around outside, so everyone on their toes. Convenient for the airport though :)

the right one, or the wrong one?

We caught a tram into Prague in the rain.  My last time in this city in 1999 was a miserable affair, and this version didn't lift the mood all that much.  Last day of travels, tired, raining etc  Shame really as if you can lift your eyes above street level and the mass of tourists, there are some really interesting features on almost all buildings.  Glimpses of the past everywhere and juxtaposed with the modern services and stag dos.

hang on its a tram

a feet eye view of wenceslas square

the day the russians arrive expo

look up for goblins

Not enough time to do very much so showed kids the Good King Wenceslas Square, the astronomical clock and the Charles Bridge.  Found a couple of bars for the last few beers of this trip, and a real taste of Prague, pork, saukraut, onions,pancakes, mint and gravy.  The sun came out as we headed back to our tram, and the bars and atmosphere on the streets below the castle hinted at some good vibes and places that we just didn't have the energy to sample.  Bit of second wind at the hotel where several beers, games of pool and games meant our concerns about the rough and ready nature of the hotel were allayed .. we were the rough ones :)

busy bridge

last bridge photo

rate my plate

hang one

not more beer surely?

-Carys-

Being so conveniently near the park was so helpful this morning - no rushing around, arguing about being late and getting lost. Simple and straighforward start to the morning. We got up, I watched some tv and we got ready with time to spare. The stroll to the start took 5 minutes, where we were greeted by the run director of the event and a team of what looked like pro-athletes.

serious competition today

We'd apparently come on a day where lots of people - including some fasties - had chosen to run. The run event had its record broken of attendance numbers. People just kept filing in, until we had 40 odd people - still a small enough number, but lots more people than we had expected because of prior attendance numbers.

I really liked the course, and even though I ran a few seconds slower than last week, this parkrun has been my favourite. It was a really lovely course, and I enjoyed it thoroughly - despite getting lost once and having a rather excitable dog bound around me. I think I've got a problem with dogs now.

parkrun tourism

Briefly, we had a drink in the cafe  - which we got a parkrun discount for - to quench our thirst and then had to rush a little to get showered and packed up ready to leave for 11. I always get paranoid about forgetting things, but i think everything is with me, besides, my charger. I don't think I've mentioned this, but a few accommodations ago I lost my charger somehow. I think I lost it in the car, so we need to have a good look for it before we give back the car.

Today's drive was a little shorter than other ones we've had, 2 and half hours or so - we're all getting a little tired by now. Dad noticed a McDonald's so we pulled over to get some food - we hadn't had any breakfast, besides our drinks. I just had fries, as I didn't fancy any vegetarian options, but they did have a McCafe where I had this really delightful slice of caramel apple pie. I was really surprised.

nearly made through the whole trip without a mcdonalds

Back on the road, and we were soon at our hotel, which wasn't actually our hotel. We came to the wrong place, as we were informed at the desk, so turned around in the car and drove to where we were meant to. Bags in the room, we hopped on the tram and rode it into Prague.

We'd happened to come on the day that Prague Pride was happening - the streets were filled with lots of people with glitter and flags. I even had a free hug off some people who were offering them out - it sounds weird but was cute. Mum and dad showed us some sights, the clock tower, bridge, castle, museum. All interesting tourist attractions but we all felt a little off because it was raining - unfortunate weather for the pride parade.

pride and oppression

astronomical clock

Near the clock tower - which i went to see strike at 6 with Bryn - we had a drink, and after crossing the bridge we ate our food. Instead of a pizza or anything similar, i tried something different. A salad with goats cheese and some of the best potatoes I've ever had. Tired still, we got the tram back to the hotel and spent the evening playing games and having drinks in the restaurant bar.

a whole vegi section, I'll have the lot

Tomorrow is our last blog, so we mention some stats of the holiday, our favourites list - which hasn't appeared at the end of a blog for a while - and the results of a little game we've called ''The European Cities Football Championships''.