Around The World w/Scott 2011: These are the Days of my Life

Wow, what a day of Embassies and Consulates. headed to the US Embassy in Prague to inquire about the process of getting my Russian visa. they were clueless. What good is a local embassy if they are clueless on the process for an American citizen to get a visa to a foreign county. I guess my dumb question that was met with we do American questions not international visa's?!?! DUH...did i feel stupid, silly me for asking a question on international travel from my own countries embassy. Guess I learned my lesson on who to turn to when i have a problem abroad. But...it beats the Californian dude that i met outside the embassy while we waited for it to open after lunch that got tanked on the previous evenings pub crawl and lost his wallet. At least he still had his passport, but no money, credit cards, debt card, DL. He had a credit card from a credit union so not even an international bank to help. Note to self and others, get a real big name international bank credit card and debit card prior to travel. The Cali guy was told that they had a program to give him a voucher to get home but that he then couldn't leave the country (USA) until the debt (voucher) had been repaid. Sounded reasonable to me. Note to self/others: keep you wallet locked up on the evening of the pub crawl...DUH! I have an appointment to go back to the US Embassy early next week to get additional pages added to my passport as this trip around the world adventure has really filled up the 21 pages of my passport with visa stamps quick.

The reason I need additional pages is that countries like China, India and Russia requires an entire blank page for their rather detailed visa stickers. So my next destination for the day of which the US Embassy, my first stop was easy to find is the Russian Embassy...not so much. Funny thing is that this is the first time I have actually had to visit an Embassy the whole first 8 months of traveling the world. Guess I need to count my blessings that everything has gone so well/easy. I did have to find the India processing center in Japan but that went so well that it was only pins and needles while you wait the 5-7 days for processing hoping that when you go back on the designated date that they don't throw your passport at you laughing and say...Good luck making that flight in the morning....but so far no worries...Be Happy! :-)

The Russian Embassy is on the far side of the river North of the city of Prague in Praha 6, Most of the other embassies are in Praha 1 near the Prague Castle. Oh No, the Russians are up on a hill in a more residential area of mini castles (rich) themselves. The fun of getting there was only having an address from the website and the city map from the hostel. Note to self and all nations of the world: Please utilize one set of maps and then add all the bad advertising for all the places no one will never visit (touristy/overpriced/marginal quality/who cares) so that you can find your destination in one simple map with the same street names for all the things that you are trying to find in a foreign city where you have no idea where you are. Do you know how hard it is to use the maps provided by the tourist information kiosk at the airport, the map that was left in the common area that is a throw back to the old city maps that fold out to the size of a huge dining table, the map provided by the hostel, The map provided by the city tour, the map available in the neighborhood gay bar that tells where all the bars/clubs/restaurants and shops are that you really would be interested in only to have your pockets stuffed all day to ensure that you have the right map when you need it to get home without walking the streets of a foreign city for hours on end wishing that you had taken a nap in the afternoon to rest up for the additional walk-a-thon that you didn't originally sign up for. Thanks...I needed to vent as I was drenched, exhausted and a little nervous that I would never find the Russian embassy today. Since I leave on Wednesday the 31st of August, ticket bought, hostel booked and sweat glands dripping, not completing this task today was not a option. But I am proud to say that despite taking the long route, going the wrong way...well past the right way by a long way, circling back and asking at the Indian embassy for directions only to be told to go in the wrong direction prior to the Indian guy coming to the gate to scream at me that he meant the other direction; I finally located the Russian Embassy. I now know the easy way to get there...Woo Hoo!!

The Russian compound is huge, gigantic, walled and not accessible other than thru an open gate into a drab waiting area just like any other DMV/tax office. The waiting area was a little threatening, a little outdated, a little concerned that no one would speak English and I was really, really sweaty; like dripping wet. It was a hot balmy 85F today; which is hot for Prague so I was told upon my return to the hostel looking like a drown homeless person who had given up on life. Warm weather is great if you sit by the pool, have a cocktail in hand along with a good book, shades and a view. Warm weather is not so good when you spend the entire day walking in it only to realize that you aren't exactly sure where you are going. Come on fall I need some cooler weather and plus i have a lot of great cheap knockoff designer clothes that I can't wait to wear to impress the impressionable...lol So back to the Russian Embassy; there is no a/c and only one attendant behind the dark windows and she points to the next window...hopefully not a glimpse of things to come...fingers crossed. There is an older gentleman in the window, head down but the best part is there is a blast of a/c coming under the glass window, kind of like the old teller windows. Not sure if the security is to protect him from me or vice versa? I have all my documents completed, a cover letter requesting admittance, an invitation letter from my hostel, as an invitation to Russia is required, the completed application, a somber color 3x4 photo and my passport. I hand it all over to my somber Russian friend and he said well he doesn't say anything as he does not speak English but points to his wall calendar to next Monday and a kind (good Samaritan) lady who had an armload of passports said he wants me to come back to pick up my passport on Monday. So out I go, through the squeaky front door into the heat of the day at least satisfied that I had found and submitted my documentation for my Russian Visa. The rest is up to them....my fingers will be crossed all week.

I just love Prague as it is a walking kind of city. The people watching is fantastic as there are so many Beautiful people just out strolling. So many cozy little streets with interesting shops...they seem to like their antique shops as they along with bars are on every street corner. Almost every dive bar has chairs and tables with umbrellas outside so it is easy to stop to have a cold one...and they do like their beer....alot! Actually, Prague is the first place that I have actually included the draft been with my dining experience, also because the beer is as cheap as a soda. When in Rome...

Dinner by candlelight....so romantic except that I am eating alone...it's the mood that count, the company was extraordinary...lol

This pizza was the size of the plate and was delicious!

Told you...YUM!

On my way back from the Russian Embassy, I ran across these older buildings that needed a good remodeling. Fantastic bones, but a little decayed in the roof and window department.

So romantic a view from the far bank on my way back from the Russian Embassy.

Yeah, there are cathedrals on every corner and the insides are exquisitely decorated. I haven't seen this much decoration since my last visit to Bryan's house (shout out). There is the most intricate carvings and gold leaf everywhere. Oh yeah there was a service going on when I arrived so I stayed for some of the most beautiful, acoustically perfect organ music I have heard in a long time.

Big Brother is watching...over head...lol

Beautiful hall overlooking a park where a lot of families and friends were enjoying a lazy beautiful day in Prague. Picnic baskets, blankets, good food and wine...charming.

Coat of Arms hanging over the Czech Police department entryway. No I did not go in to say Hi.

Old Town Square Astronomical clock and cathedral. This area is a huge square of restaurants, museums, tours meeting, people watching and just hanging out to enjoy the day. The clock chimes on the hour from 9am-9pm and it is a huge crowd draw of both tourists and locals...cameras and camcorders ready.