This morning we woke up SO sore. My calves felt like they had run a marathon. It was a rainy day, so we lazed around, I ate most of my noodles for breakfast, Han had the rest which he mixed with eggs.We planned on a chill kinda of day, no rushing, limited sightseeing aka walking and packing.
After we both had enough coffee to float us out the door, we grabbed the subway to the train station to purchase our tickets to Vienna, had lunch at an open air cafe (food was great, service was uppity, so not tagging them in blog) then went to Wenceslas Square, took some pics, bought a few souvenirs, had afternoon coffee at an elegant outdoor cafe, walked back to the subway, shopped some groceries, went back to our comfortable room, ate, contemplated our train trip tomorrow, took some Advil and lickety-split it was time for bed which neither of us was bothered about calling it a night. Our muscles needed some rejuvenation time.
I did note to myself that times sure have changed for me as we did not even bother with bagging the groceries, but simply walked out carrying bread, eggs and baked chicken in our hands. It felt so bohemian, but right too.
June 15th
Woke up to another rainy day. Matched my mood, as I was not ready to leave Prague. We are already talking about spending a few months there. I would love that. However super excited about seeing Nikki who lives about 30 minutes outside Vienna in a small country village called “Breitenfurt.”
A little background information about Nikki who I call my “heart adopted” son. Many years ago I became interested in housing exchange students to help my children become more worldly and put a different spin on life. I think Nikki was our second, maybe third, student to visit us. He was traveling from Vienna and was only 15 years old. I still have his original paperwork. It is funny to read back on it, realizing at the time that he was a stranger. It was almost immediate that he belonged, fit in and even enhanced our family quite a bit.
He visited again on his own, not through the program, and we all continued to adore our new kid. LOL
My oldest daughter stayed with his family for a month in the winter and had a marvelous time and even learned how to ski.
His mom and I spoke on the phone, exchanged gifts and we enjoyed our extended family.
I would cry when he had to go back home.
He visited twice more when we moved to Wisconsin. After that new life chapters took over, kids grow up, they move, get jobs and we lost contact. Letters were getting farther and farther in between on both our parts. Sad but true.
Many years later in 2013 I was perusing Facebook and found “our” Nikki. To say I was very excited is to put it mildly. It is like your child coming home after many years being away.
We began messaging back and forth, so did he and my daughter Maranda. He actually still had some of her letters sitting on his nightstand table. None of us missed a beat and seemed like we had never been apart.
The only changes were, I was married to Han, who was also from the EU and spoke German, so all the better and Nikki has a beautiful 5 year old daughter Mia.
We figured out a time when he could come visit in 2014, made signs, Han, Drew, Cody and I met him at the airport and time fell away in seconds. We grabbed some dinner and by the time dinner was over, he and Han acted like they had known each other forever. We had two weeks of fun, laughter, love, long talks and family time.
Niki visited again within a year and this time brought along Mia, his five year old adorably cute daughter who spoke no English, but that did not stop me from getting hugs and kisses. She was beach crazy and every day she had to go there. Good thing we lived right across the street from the beach.
The Train from Prague to Vienna
We safely and enjoyable to my delight arrived at the train station via taxi. I had some time to do a little shopping for gifts. We gifted our extra umbrellas to a couple also going to Vienna who are from Brazil. They could not quite understand why we would just give them umbrellas but we finally got them to accept as a gift, no ties involved.
This time we did not reserve our seats. It was cheaper $40 p/p and we were able to choose even better seats that had a table so we could work on our computers, as the internet worked perfectly. Train ride was four hours. We brought our lunch with us. Relaxed and watched the countryside change once more.
Note: If you are in close quarters with other people, please……..wear some deodorant. Yikes!!!
Niki met us at the train station, big hugs, got a taxi (his vehicle is a two-seater) and started off through the city. Rest assured, I have no desire to drive in this city or any others I have visited so far. Use the public system. Much safer and less confusing, this I can promise.
He kept saying his home was small but Han and I think it is perfect, maybe even too big, since Han and I are into the tiny house living idea. Niki’s home has three floors, tons of space and even a home theatre room that is simply the bomb. Han who watches little TV, has decided he likes the set-up very much and I am all for it. It is just like going to the movies only better because of no interference from other people. After movies, I leave to read and they watch music videos and concerts. They are both major music buffs.
Niki treated us to dinner at a local Chinese restaurant and then we came back to catch up more before figuring out the sleeping arrangements. It has all worked out just great. Niki took the day off tomorrow, so we will get a small tour of downtown Vienna.
Niki and I cannot get over the surreal feeling that I am finally able to see his homeland.
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