Travelog for: Wieka

The train slowed down again! It was raining and the journey was comfortable. Misa told us that we are not yet getting off. I must confess that I was quite happy we don't have to get off when I saw the rain from the window and was hoping it stops raining soon.
We arrived to Brno. It's the second largest city in the Czech republic.

It stopped raining! That's great! We still had to hold on in the train as we weren't at the end of our jurney yet. I can't wait!
We were in Breclav here. When we looked at a map we realized it seems like we were leaving Czech republic! 

We finally arrived! Wow!!! Misa took us to Vienna, Austria! What a surprise. How she knew I have never been there before? 
Here I am with our train.



First place we visited was Belvedere and its garden. I guess there was a dry summer. The small lake in front of the Oberes Belvedere was completely empty!



We saw some crows. (Are they crows?) We asked them to take a group photo with them but we weren't allowed 
So we have photos with them only.





The gardens around Belvedere were amazing. I think they are even nicer in spring!



There was also a fantastic fountain! Look at the crow flying over it!



Another fountain! I am keen on fountains! 



Heh 



Ready - Steady - Go !



We found and interesting place. It was shop selling nesting boxes. They were so cute!



Then we went to a Stephansdom (St. Stephen Cathedral) which is situated in Stephansplatz. It's one of the most important Austrian Gothic monuments and a symbol of Vienna. It was built in 12th century.



This is Vienna State Opera. It's also a beautiful and significant building.



This is interesting, there were many riding statues. Maybe it's because the famous breed of horse Lipizzan which is closely associated with the Spanish Riding Shool of Vienna. The Lipizzan breed dates back to the 16th century, when it was developed with the support of the Habsburg nobility. The Riding School belongs to the complex of Hofburg which was Habsburg winter residence.



Here we are having rest in front of Hofburg



Wow! A historic bus!



In Austria they have really beautiful building of Parliament.



And supposedly a great bathing!  Papelbon jumped in the fountain and said the water is great but I didn't believe him!



The man was so charmed by the woman on the right that he is still spilling water from pitcher. Lubber!



A lady with laptop! 





My first experience with underground in Vienna!





As we were in Vienna we had to visit famous Prater with its Riesenrad (Ferris Wheel). It stands at the entrance of the Prater (amusement park in Leopoldstadt). It is one of the most popular tourist attractions.



Later we saw this beautiful castle. Unfortunately Misa is forgetful and she doesn't remember its name. Anyway it's quite similar to one castle in the Czech republic if it helps. 





And another place that we couldn't omit! The Danube!



After that we were on our way to Hundertwasserhaus. Before we got there we met a similar building. It was a Hundertwasser Museum.



And here it is... Hundertwasser House. It's an apartment house and is one of Vienna's most visited buildings so we cannot be absent



Later we met a rabbit. Someone's hands were just taking him out from a magic hat. Poor guy!



And then it was time to return back to Prague. Me, Dottie Mouse and Papelbon were so tired that we slept on our seat in train.



Good night!

Wieka

Hi mom!

It was really horrible weather this week. So cold and windy! The winter arrived one month earlier than usually.
It even snowed today! I would never expect snow at the middle of October here. Misa read in newspaper today was the coldest day in last 30 years (It means the coldest 15th October in last 30 years to be specific).
I better looked out from the terrace for a while and I was glad that I didn't need to go anywhere.



Hugs,
Wieka

Hi mommy!

As it was rainy weather we stayed home and helped Misa with jigsaw puzzle. I think she will have hard work with it because the puzzle contains 10.000 pieces. Hopefully the finishes it someday. I will keep fingers crossed 



This is how it should look like when it is finished. It's a painting by Diego Velasquez called The Surrender of Breda. In final the puzzle will be much more bigger than this image.



Bye

Wieka

Hi mom!

Today me and Papelbon went out in order to lull to sleep Misa's niece in a pram. Dottie Mouse stayed home and continnued with the puzzle.
At first we had to go under a highway.



Then appeared some colorful trees.



And in a while we were at Memorial of Premysl Orac.



According to a legend Premysl was a ploughman (in czech it is orac) and he was an ancestor of first governing dynasty called  Premyslovci. They ruled in the Czech lands from 9th century.

On the memorial there are two reliefs. The first show arrival of emissaries and telling Premysl that he must go to Prague, marry duchess Libuse and rule to Czech lands...



... and the second relief shows Premysl's arrival to castle Vysehrad and his reception by duchess Libuse.



Premysl and Libuse married and lived contentedly till death. 

On the lateral side was something written also. There is information that the memorial was built in 1841.



I tried myself to operate the plough!



I saw many chestnut trees!



Then we continued on our way.



Later we came to a meadow whose path was full of mud so we couldn't pass through. Sometimes we can see roe deers here but noone today.



We rather returned back to where we walked before. Look at the fog over the hills!



As we succeed in lulling to sleep Misa's niece and it started raining again we returned home.

Wieka

Hello mum,
at the afternoon when we returned from our walk around Rehlovice I experienced something I won't never forget!
I was playing with Misa's niece when suddenly appeared a yellow monster with huge mouth!
It catched me and I wasn't able to move! The monster held me in teeth! 
Zuzanka (Misa's niece) was a bit scared like me.



But later she had big fun from my mischance. She laughed really a lot when the monster dropped me from mouth and I landed at her.



Later she started pushing me into the monter's mouth herself! So little girl and so malicious! 





After that started laughing even Papelbon. He must iron things out with me! I won't laugh if this happen to him!

But don't worry mommy, I am fine. I had only a bit crumpled wings but Misa helped me to smooth them up.

Hugs,

Wieka

Hello mom!
Today we were playing a board game! It's called Cesko and we could verify our knowledge about the Czech republic in this game. Fantastic! We learned so many new things! And it was so much fun!
Guess who won?



Bye,

Wieka

Today Dottie Mouse is leaving for another adventures. She is going to United Kingdom.

I said good bye and hugged her. I was so sad that she is leaving and so did she. I hope I will meet her again one day at some other host.



I was hiding from camera because I didn't want everybody see my red eyes.



This everything - it was very touching. At last before she jumped into the envelope me and Papelbon were waving at her.



Bye for now,
Wieka

Hello!
Finally! Misa took us to see the historic center of Prague! I am so happy because I was looking forward to it very much! We had such a great day and we met some interesting people as well. 

We started at Namesti Republiky. The square is lying on the boundary of the Old Town and the New Town. Close to it stands The Municipal House which is a concert hall. It's an Art Nouveau building whose construction started in 1905 and it was finished in 1912.



Next to the Municipal House (in czech called 'Obecni dum') stands another fantastic building. It's The Powder Gate. It's a Gothic gate and one of the symbols of Prague. It leads to The Old Town. Dating from 1475, the Powder Gate was built as one of 13 gates to the city of Prague.



Later we went by tram to Prague Castle. At first we wanted to see the Royal Garden.



There is castle Micovna. It's really interesting and beautiful building. It comes from 16th century and it was used for playing ball games.  Really!



On the other side of the Royal garden is Queen's Anna Folly which is also called Belvedere. It comes from the 16th century too and is built in Renaissance style.



All the old buildings were so beautiful!



We saw a helicopter!



It was a day when Joe Biden, the US vice-president, arrived to Prague. The Prague castle was full of soldiers and policemen. That was a really big event. They made many security moves. I was feeling so safe there! 

Me in courtyard.



Some archeological discoveries.



And of course The St. Vitus Cathedral. The main dominant of the castle!
It's a roman catholic cathedral and the seat of Archbishop of Prague. It contains tombs of many Bohemian kings. It's the biggest and the most important church in the Czech republic. The present day Gothic Cathedral was founded in 1344.







As I said we met many soldiers.



We saw another church too! This time it was St. George Church with a convent.





We met a really cool place there! The Toy Museum! I think I am not old enough to be n specimen for museums but I feel the chance that maybe one time... 



Here we were walking in another garden. It's called Na Valech.



On the right is St. Nikolas Church.



And then the beautiful red roofs.







And this is Senate.



We were coming to the Charles bridge, a place always full of tourists and a very magical place.



We met a completely alive wasp! Mmm, how interesting!



Besides we saw so called Rudolfinum, the concert hall.



The Old Town Bridge Tower is a tower in the entrance to Charles bridge. No need to tell you how important, old and beautiful building it is.



Here is the Prague castle from the Charles bridge.



And here is the Charles bridge from the ground. 



And this is Vltava river from another bridge (Jiraskuv)



Oh, how interesting! There are not only historical buildings in Prague!
Near from Jiraskuv bridge there is so called The Dancing House. It was finished in 1996. It was the first building designed by world famous architects realised after the Velvet Revolution in 1989. The Dancing House is also called Ginger and Fred (after Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire). It is very original, isn't it?





On the hill over the Vltava river there is Lookout Tower Petrin. It's not a good picture but it is similar to Eiffel Tower in Paris and sometimes it's called Little Eiffel Tower.



This is the National Theather.



And this is another famous theather but much smaller. It's called Stavovske.



Then we continued on our way and we met Havelske trziste which is a marketplace. You can buy there souvenirs and so on.



Narrow streets of the Old Town.



Look who I met there! Krtek the Mole! He is the famous Czech fairy tale character!



Finally we were in The Old Town Square. In Misa's opinion the nicest place of Prague!



The Old Town Square is famous mainly because of its old astrological clock called Orloj.
Orloj is mechanical machine also showing calendar and position of some planets, moon and so on. It comes from the 15th century.
There are two small windows above the clock. Every single hour the windows open and show figures of the Apostles. There are also other moving sculptures.



This is Tynsky chram, the most important Old Town church.



It is said that Prague has hundreds of towers. Well, it's true. Here are at least three of them.



At last we went to Venceslas Square which is the main shopping artery of Prague.



There is a cafeteria made from two old trams. What a nice place!



On the top of the square there is a National Museum.



Oh! What a day! I have seen so much from Prague!

Hugs,
Wieka

Hi mom!
Today I have a big surprise for you! I traveled to Rwanda! Who could believe that!
I have seen lots of local wild animals and I want to share the joy with you! 









An elephant parking in front of his owner house. 















You are marveling, huh?! 

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Oh yes, you certainly caught it out. It's a fake. 



I am still in Prague and posing in front of Misa's laptop. A time ago she received these beautiful photos from a penpal in Rwanda she used to have.
That's a pity I can't see all the nature in reality. I promise when I go to Rwanda, I won't forget a camera. 

Your
Wieka

Today is my birthday! Yipee! My first birthday ever! What a great day!

I met a new friend. It's a sheep Lily. She and Papelbon made a modest celebration for me.
Lily baked a pizza and I got some candies.



We talked and talked a lot. Me and Papelbon were telling stories about our adventures as Toy Voyagers. Lily was amazed and she told she wants to become a Toy Voyager too.
Well, let's see. She is a little young sheep girl and who knows if she summon courage and starts out her own adventures!



As in the Prague flat weren't much things for celebrations I was promised the party continues tomorrow.

Hi mom!
Today we didn't have the best day at first. We were traveling from Prague to Misa's parents home but there was a traffic jam in streets so we missed our train from Prague to Usti nad Labem and we had to wait one more hour for next train. Luckily the time slipped away quite quickly and we were soon in North Bohemia.
Because of our delay in Prague we missed connecting train to Rehlovice so we decided to walk. When we reached the terminal bus stop in Trmice we looked around and realized that there is a nature around us! What a difference between last days when we saw mostly city! 



The day is not gonna be so bad as we thought at first!
We walked in a valley along Bilina river. This river flows into Labe (or Elbe) in Usti nad Labem.
The hills are pretty!







I saw a bit of the Bilina river! It's not so big.



Later we saw something really interesting. As we are in borderland (called Sudety, or Sudetenland)  there we saw a bunker! In 30th of the last century, before the WW2, there was built a chain of bunkers for defense purpose. The bunkers stand about one or two kms from each other. In final they weren't allowed to be utilized but they stay here up to now. I was curious how it looks like inside but Misa didn't allow us to watch. 



Next to it is this little rock.



And nearby is a highway.





We were only about 1.5 Kms from home and we need to go straight ahead.



By the way we were still walking on border of Ceske Stredohori (Böhmische Mittelgebirge) which is a protected landscape area.



All our way me and Papelbon settled in Misa's coat pocket which was very comfortable.



And in short we reached home! We were so impatient to unlock the door! At first we argued who unlocks but finally we did it together and then pushed the handle. Great team work!   



Home sweet home! 

The birthday party continues!

I got this great box of chocolates! When I saw how Papelbon greedily looks at it I behaved like I don't see him so he could eat some pieces. The chocolate is so yummy!



Besides, the chocolate bonbons weren't the only candies out there!



Later in the evening - party continues. At first we need to prepare a drink. We helped Misa with preparation of Pina Colada which is her favourite one. Unfortunately, Misa doesn't have the right glass which are being used for drinks like that...



... but never mind!
It was great anyway!



We had one, two, ... it's pretty strong for a bat!



Good night!

Hi mom!
At the weekend I was just hanging out in the house. I was reading a book. Papelbon helped me with holding it because I am too weak to hold it myself.
It was a detective story by Agatha Christie. Thrilling!



Misa also showed me her collection of little coins from countries all over the world. There are currencies of about 20 countries!
I experienced the feeling when somebody is rolling in money! 



Bye now,
Wieka