La sagrada familia

The visit to La sagrada familia was a long time coming. I had tried to visit the famous Gaudí cathedral around ten years prior but due to the church unexpectedly closing for a private event and then subsequently getting food poisoning the rest of my Barcelona visit, it never happened. Luckily this never finished cathedral is now ten years more completed then it would have been for my original visit.

I make a reservation to be sure I am able to get in during my visit. The group gathers outside for a while before the church opens. Finally we are let in and we get to see this amazing church virtually empty. I didn’t really plan it this way on purpose but it is quite nice to not be surrounded by crowds. I spent lots of time inside admiring all the different features and eventually the crowd does grow in time.

I can’t wait to return when it’s complete.

End of Prague visit

I signed up for a wine tour today to try some wines from the Czech Republic. I enjoy trying local wines when I can. The tour ends up being more of a walking tour with a little wine and snacks at the end. It is me and one family of four from the USA on this tour.

Our guide points out some Art Nouveau architecture, the famous upside horse in a mall, and a hidden park (Frantiskanska) – most of it I had already found on my own earlier in the day but its nice to learn the history behind it all. The upside down horse, Statue of King Wenceslas riding an upside-down dead horse by David Černý, is in the same shopping center where I attended a movie the other night. In the same complex is the former Paternoster Lift, an elevator that doesn’t stop or slow down. To ride this elevator one would have to time it just right to jump on. Unfortunately they are all closed to the public now because of safety.

Owl traffic signal. If the owl is upright there is vacancy for horses, no vacancy if turned down.

Prague Free walking tour

In the morning I have another walking tour, this time the free one. It is on this tour I see the rotating Kafka for the third time. He isn’t rotating this time but I think I’ve seen it enough. I do see another Kafka though; another Cerny work.

Astronomical clock and old town hall, only building partially destroyed in war

Rococo facades

Our guide also takes through the Jewish quarter and tells us the terrible history of the Jews in Prague. There are very few Jewish people left in town to this day due to the atrocities during WWII. This town was not spared in the horrors except it is one of few places that wasn’t bombed, rumor is Hitler had a soft spot for Czech Republic or had it in mind as his retirement country. Who knows.

Guide hates this building’s architecture

After the tour I rush down to Náplavka park for their Saturday market. I’ve been to so many markets now that things rarely impress me anymore but it is still a nice market. Some of the booths are on boats on the water. I note the cafes right on the river. It’s just a very hot day so I grab a wrap and a strudel and desperately try to find a shaded spot to eat.

I commute up the hill to the Strahov monastery and associated brewery. The original plan is to tour the monastery and then try some of their beers. The heat has zapped all my energy. All I have in me is to try one beer. I later regret cutting my visit short when I realize I miss out on seeing a historical library – I love old libraries. I run back to my hotel to rest until dinner, hoping going back out later will be cooler.

My plan for the evening is to get dinner and then see the town lit up. I choose pizza for the night because I am tired of Czech food. The restaurant has no AC so it is a very uncomfortable meal. I am actually excited to go back outside since the sun is setting. I don’t stay out too late but I do see the city awaken for the evening.

The next day is a mostly work day. I have to go across town to do laundry but the laundry place is probably the nicest I have seen in a while. I order fancy coffee nearby while I wait. I love this coffee house.

Later I try some open face sandwiches and get a cocktail at an Anonymous themed bar. I had tried to book a massage at the Czech beer spa attached to my hotel where I would soak in a beer tub but they cancel on me because they are having equipment malfunction. The experience wasn’t high on my list but I regret a little that I didn’t try the spa earlier.

I leave early tomorrow to visit another city in the Czech Republic.

I like Prague but I’d come back during a shoulder season for less crowds and cooler temps. And while my hotel was generally clean and had AC, the moisture in the room messed with my sinuses so I felt like I was sick for two days-even taking cold medicine. I do worry at times that I will get sick but 9 times out of 10 as soon as I change hotels I am miraculously better. It becomes more and more apparent that I need to start staying in nicer hotels unless I want to feel terrible during my travels.

Next up Český Krumlov.

Solvorn to Ålesund

Fortunately I am at another hotel that has breakfast included and I don’t have to leave so early to miss it. I am heading to Ålesund (west coast of Norway) to return the rental car today and I am relieved because I am tired of driving. First I want to visit a stave church at the nearby village of Ornes (Urnes Stave church). The church doesn’t open until 10:30 AM and there is a ferry ride to get there. The ferry leaves from the small town of Solvorn. While waiting for the 10 AM ferry I walk around town along the water. Also during this time I have a chance to evaluate the ferry situation and realize that it is loads of trouble to take your car on this kind of ferry since you have to back it in. The walk once you get off the ferry is only 15-20 minutes to the church (says the nearby sign). The best idea seems to be to leave the car at the port and walk onto the ferry instead; most of the people here decide to do the same. Backing in the car seems too complicated and a perfect scenario to go wrong.

The ferry ride is relatively short but pretty. Once we get to the other side it is apparent that the walk to the church is entirely uphill. I guess I need a cardiovascular workout anyway since most of my day will be spent driving.

Once at the top they are about to open the Urnes Stave church (a UNESCO protected church) in a few minutes for a tour. It is one of the oldest preserved stave churches in Norway with a piece of the building going back to 1100’s. Many of such churches were destroyed or fell apart due to neglect for various reasons over time. The name stave represents the columns used to construct this style of church. Due to many additions over the years additional supporting beams had to be added because basically people building the additions had no construction or engineering experience. The church is a nice mix of old medieval styles. You can see the distinct animal scenes on the outside. There used to be over a thousand of such churches around the country but now only 28 remain. Norway takes good care to protect the churches that are left.

After a visit to the church I swiftly walk down the hill because the ferry is to return in 20 minutes and I dont want to wait another hour for the next one. Fortunately I make it. The drive ahead is long and there are more delays. I eventually make it to the airport around 6:00 PM. The rental counter is already closed for the day so I drop the keys in the drop area and head out to the bus to take me to Alesund city.

Alesund is an old fishing town that is know for its Art Noveau architecture. I admire the architecture and get an early dinner. Yes it is pizza again. I try to get Mexican tonight but the Mexican restaurant is full with no seats available. I don’t have the patience to wait.

Many of these pics are taken after 9 pm. Lots of light here.

I fully expect to get a good night’s sleep and let my body wake up whenever it wants but the universe has another plan. It seems like someone has set some dumb alarm clock on the TV and it turns on loudly at 6 am. When I wake up I am rarely able to go back to sleep. I enjoy the full breakfast downstairs and then take my time to head out to enjoy town. I could have planned hiking up a hill or taking a cruise to an island to look at some birds but I do none of that; instead I leisurely walk around a normally quiet city that is alive today with people running a marathon and daily cruise ship visitors. I spend some time watching a charming band playing music as they ride a boat in the canal.

I catch lunch at a tapas place because the fish and chips line is taking too long.

I stop in some shops and then pick up some snacks for my travels tomorrow.

I spend the rest of the afternoon trip plannning because I am behind and I meet with my friends tomorrow. I doubt I’ll get any “work” done once I join my friends so I have to take my planning time whenever I can get it. Eventually I’ll get to the point where the rest of my travels are planned and I just enjoy. I am sure it will come soon enough.

Plethora of Trolls from last couple days

I am happy to meet up with friends tomorrow but sad to leave this region so soon. I cut my time here short to save money since it is expensive to travel around Norway compared to other countries I am visiting. If I were to plan this trip again I would double the time here, take the drives slower and maybe do some hikes along the way. Another place to add back to the list.