Vary, Karlovy Vary

A wrench was thrown in our epic post-certification travel plans.  We took our reputation as 'European Nomads' a little too lackadaisically, and planned our Berlin adventures all wrong.  After a last minute decision about wanting to spend more than two nights there (which is all we would have), we opted to check out the town of Karlovy Vary, about two hours to the west of Prague.  The main draw of Karlovy Vary varies according to age--the older traveler visits for the hot springs that are rumored to cure any gastric issues one may have, the younger traveler (such as three girls in their early twenties) visits because it is the town where Daniel Craig competed in a high stakes poker game as seen in the James Bond film 'Casino Royale'.  The town was majestic, and our hostel was...curious...to say the least.  The map placed 'Pension Village' far, far out of the center of town.  The map was right.  It was a thirty minute walk--probably double that when there are bags involved...add an extra ten minutes when one has a bag with a bum wheel (*cough*me*cough*).  The cab we took (best decision of the day) dropped us off in front of a building that had one door marked 'Pension Village' and one door leading to a home improvement-type store; check-in was at the home improvement store.  We decided that the man's wife is probably in charge of the hostel, and she had either left town, or left him and he hadn't gained confidence with the hostel-keeping business yet.  In any case, we had beds to sleep in and after taking the night bus from Budapest to Prague, and then the bus from Prague to Karlovy Vary an hour later, this was the most exciting thing ever.

The journey back to the city center was made by foot once our luggage was dropped off (and secured) as we now had food as our motivational source for a destination.  The interesting thing about the town is that it looked like it belonged in a theme park...there were layers and layers of old, beautiful buildings!  Hidden away in the hills, any lack of space did not dissuade the founders from creating a wonderland of resorts around the 'magic water', as we took to calling it.

None of us quite comprehended the epic-ness of the 'magic' water, and made fun of all the souvenir stands' collection of tacky, tourist mugs.  It wasn't until after dinner and exploration that we happened upon the mecca of the hot springs and understood why everyone was walking around with the half-sized mugs.  The way the older population of tourists flocked to the water, filling and re-filling their tiny mugs was a sport in itself.  We decided we must try this water!  Having purchased our own tacky miniature mugs we headed toward the mecca ("Wait guys, if we're going to drink some 'magic' water, I'm going to have to pee first").

Let me just say this about the 'magic' water: It was foul.  It had a severe taste of metal and salt.  It did not taste good.  I suggest all of those who visit to avoid it...the aftertaste is worse than I could have thought possible.  Here's another interesting fact about drinking the 'magic' hot springs water--it does not taste better when one turns it into tea.  It becomes worse than one could ever believe possible.  Just ask Meghan (English Breakfast) and Maddie (Peppermint), and me who foolishly tried them both.

We arrived back in Prague at about 18.00 (yes, that 24 hour clock just happened) and headed to the pre-chosen hostel, where we would be meeting a fourth member for our coming two days of adventures.  On our way to the Zanzibar Cafe for supper, we were marveling at how we feel like we're home when on the Prague Metro.  The words were still in the air when the Metro cops hopped on the train one station before our restaurant stop, and they flashed their badges in my face.  I whipped out my one-way ticket with confidence (my student pass had expired whilst I was traipsing around Budapest), and the cop leaned over and asked what I thought was a strangely irrelevant question: "How old are you?"  I answered honestly, tacking on a question mark to the end to convey my confusion, "Twenty-four...?"  Evidently in my ticket purchasing I had unintentionally punched the button for 'Youth, 12 and under'...which I am quite clearly not.  The fine was 800kc, or about $40.  What a bummer.  Welcome back to Prague, indeed.

The next few days are going to be a full tour of internet coffee shops, and potential life plans.  I know, I know.  Get jealous.  There will be lots of brainstorming to be had.