June 10, 2016February 3, 2022 by findingbackroads

Prague with kids

I took my two children to Prague last month without any fear. The city of a hundred spires is pretty easy to navigate, safe, with excellent public transport and offers lots of things for adults with children to enjoy. Just for reference our trip to Prague was a short one: arriving Wednesday afternoon and leaving Saturday afternoon. We were there for 4 days and 3 nights so here are the places we managed to squeeze in our schedule.

1. Charles Bridge

An icon of the city, Charles Bridge is a picturesque span featuring 30 statues of saints is regularly packed with street vendors and musicians, and links sections of Prague on either side of the Vltava River. On the east side of the Vltava River is Prague’s historic Old Town district, marked by the Old Town Bridge Tower at the foot of the bridge.

TRAVEL TIP: Head out early to avoid the throngs of tourists! We were there before 8 am.

Above photo is Charles Bridge at around 7:30 am. And below photo is Charles Bridge at 9:30 am.

2. Kampa island

Kampa Island – was announced the second most beautiful city island in the world. (First place went to St Ludwig Island in Paris and third place was assigned to Ada Ciganlija Island in Belgrade.) The above photo was taken on my first visit to Prague in December and Kampa island, seen from above while I was standing on Charles Bridge.

Kampa is an island on the Vltava river in Prague on the side of the Lesser Quarter (Malá Strana) from which it is separated by the Devil’s Stream, a narrow artificial channel in the past used to power water mills.

The way to Kampa island is very easy. You can reach the Kampa Island either from Charles Bridge (the staircase was added there already in 1884)

View of Charles Bridge from Kampa island. Early morning was absolutely bliss – no tourists, even the locals seem to be still sleeping.

JOHN LENNON WALL

Kampa island’s most famous spot is probably the John Lennon wall – a symbol of freedom and rebellion against the communist regime in the 1980’s. It is situated right across the beautiful building of French Embassy in Kampa.
On the death of John Lennon, youths of Prague decided to have a symbolic burial place for a man they admired for his fight for equality and peace and freedom for all.

If we had more time, I would have loved to take the kids around Kampa island to explore that beautiful, quiet little corner of the city.

3. Prague Castle

Roughly the size of seven football fields, Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world. Built and renovated during 13 centuries, the complex includes churches, gardens, alleyways and royal residences. What you see from a distance that you think is the castle is actually St. Vitus cathedral. The entire complex is the “castle”.

There are plenty of open spaces inside the castle for kids to run around.

There’s a long stairway leading up to Prague castle from Mala Strana (Lesser town), 208 steps and we climbed them all! From the Old Castle Steps there is a wonderful view of not only the Lesser Quarter’s rooftops but more or less the whole city of Prague. As we were about to climb the stairs, Benjamin slept so I had to carry him all the way to the top. It nearly broke my back but I could not NOT let Benjamin see this view.

Going down the castle is easier towards the other side of the castle.

Getting There

If you would like to walk, you have several options:

Nerudova Street – walk up the picturesque (and quite steep) Nerudova street from Malostranské námestí and at the top take a sharp right onto Ke Hradu. You will end up in front of the main entrance to the Castle.

Castle Steps (Zámecké schody) – start up Nerudova from Malostranské nám?stí and take a quick right onto Zámecká street. Then turn left to climb the romantic Castle Stairs, which will take you to the Garden on the Ramparts (Zahrada na Valech).

Old Castle Steps (Staré zámecké schody) – the stairs start near the Malostranská metro station and will put you at the beginning of Ji?ská street. You will be rewarded with one of the most beautiful views of Prague.

Getting There by Tram
Taking the tram will save you a walk uphill or up the stairs, and the ride is quite scenic. Take tram 22 (e.g. from Národní trída or the Malostranská metro station) and get off at one of these stops:

Královský letohrádek – if you get off here, you can start with the Royal Garden, Belveder and Ballgame Hall, then cross the Deer Moat bridge to get to the Second Courtyard
Note: The Royal Garden and Deer Moat are closed from November through March

Pražský hrad – as its name suggests, this is considered the main Prague Castle stop. Get off here if you would like to start at the Second Courtyard.

Pohorelec – getting off here will enable you to walk to the Castle through Hrad?any and arrive at the main entrance. This is probably the nicest route (and our favorite).

4. Petrin Hill & Observation Tower

At Petrin hill you can find an elegant lookout tower inspired by the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris. Built as a mini version of Paris’s Eiffel Tower, the Petrin Observation Tower was built in 1891 for the Jubilee Exhibition. The tower is 60m tall, which doesn’t seem particularly high until you add in the fact that it sits at the summit of Petrin Hill, which is 318m (1043 feet) high.

We took the tram #22 from Malostranske namesti and got down at Ujezd stop. Once we crossed the street after getting down the tram, we saw a mini park with cherry blossoms still remaining, though leaves have started to appear in the branches. The tulips were beautiful.

These (desert) kids – how happy they were with the green spaces.

We took the funicular up to Petrin hill and enjoyed time at the gardens.

Petrin hill has beautiful gardens, kids play area, an observatory, their local so called Eiffel Tower and some nice cafes. If there are food trucks in America (or lately, in Dubai too), they have this at Petrin hill in Prague.

We bought sausages and drinks and decided to eat our lunch on the grounds. What a lovely picnic day in May!

Petrín Hill is definitely recommended as a hike, the grounds are huge and you could walk around for what seems like forever. It is within walking distance to the Prague Castle district among other places. If we lived close to this, I swear I’d be taking the kids here as often as I could!

To reach the Observation Tower and other attractions at the top of Petrin Hill, take the Funicular Railway. This departs from Ujezd street in the Lesser Town (Malá Strana), near Ujezd tram stop. The funicular railway forms part of the Prague public transport network, so a single ticket for travel on trams, buses and the metro is also valid on the funicular.

5. Trams

Czech Republic’s beautiful capital city, Prague, is crisscrossed by trams that complement the subway and bus system, providing transportation to virtually all corners of the city. Everyone is welcome on the tram, including furry friends.

Most children especially boys, love to ride on the trams. Prague has an extensive network of trams and if you like you can go round the city on public transport all day. All you need is a day pass. You get your ticket at the vending machine which you will find at most tram stops or at the metro stations. The price of a 24-hour ticket is 110 CZK (US$4.5). Children under 6 are free. Be sure to validate your ticket at the beginning of the 24-hour period. You can expect random checks, and there’s no clemency for foreigners.

So that’s what we managed to squeeze in our schedule. We definitely missed to go to Prague zoo, ranked 4th best in the world. It’s interesting to note too that all of the above places we went and activities we did, everything was free, except for the tram which obviously you need tickets to use. There are so many other things to do in Prague for the kids to enjoy however, we did not have the luxury of time to do all…which is ok as it only means one thing: We need to go back!

May 16, 2016February 3, 2022 by findingbackroads

Prague in May

Europe, Travels
Czech Republic, Europe, Family, Prague, Travels, vacation
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Prague is…a very charming and beautiful city. It’s so easy to fall in love with it, I know because I am in love with it. One of the best things to do while in the city is to simply wander around. The city is very easy to navigate and most of the interesting spots are just walking distance from each other (or a short subway/tram ride away). This is what I love most about this city.

I already planned the walking trips and routes and I planned it well. After all, I am with the younger kid this time. The one problem with my plan? The weather, even in early spring month of May.

A friend who lives there already warned me: it could still rain in May but well, I was stubborn. And I really wanted to be so positive I could manipulate the weather with my thoughts and ask it to favor us.

The day we arrived? It was raining.

We didn’t have any umbrella, I left my waterproof jacket I bought from my previous visit here last December, I packed Pristine’s waterproof jacket too inside our luggage (actually, it is not Pristine’s Columbia waterproof jacket – we borrowed it from my friend during our first visit and brought to return it). Thankfully, Benjamin’s waterproof windbreaker was in my back pack. I put it over his thick fleece jacket. My sister had a light leather jacket which was useless with the one digit temperature, no bonnet or gloves or socks because like me, she was expecting the weather to be ‘warmer’.

Look at her. She could totally write a blog post, “how to smile beautifully even when you’re freezing cold ~~and cursing under your breath~~”

It was already cold and wet and we were dragging our luggages in the cobblestone streets and looking for our accommodation. I bought a local SIM at the airport but somehow the data has not been activated yet till get got to the city center. What does that mean?

No Google maps.

In the cold.

With shivering children (+ 1 adult) in tow.

I asked around but it was either everyone was in a hurry to seek shelter from the rain, didn’t speak English or didn’t care. I tried to recall and squeezed my brain out with the location map of the hotel. I have familiarized myself with it. I know it’s on Karlova street – I just wasn’t ready to face the realization that Karlova street had some little corners and that the cold and rain dripping your face could make things more confusing that it really is.

We finally found the building after asking a receptionist from another hotel who was so kind to help us even if we were guests of another hotel.

After checking in at our hotel, we took a hot shower and decided, no, we won’t waste our time. We ventured out, never mind the rain!

It was already almost 4pm when we got out of the hotel but the wonderful thing about this season towards summer is that the days are longer. The sun is still bright even at 8:30 pm! We went to the Dancing House which was a short tram ride from the nearest train station where we bought tickets (Staromestska), wandered at the Old Town, heard the Astronomical Clock bell, ate at a local restaurant, visited the Chocolate Museum and walked around the Old Jewish quarter before calling it a night. We were cold but it’s not every day we’re in Prague.

What I’m really trying to say in this post is, when it rains in Prague when you are there, do what you were going to do anyway, but wearing a waterproof!

I won’t make this post long. To finish, a little tip:

What to Pack for Prague in May

Though temperatures are warming up (and it did for the rest of our stay there! More in another post), showers can put a damper on your sightseeing. Keep this in mind when packing for May travel to Prague.

Don’t forget:

A water-resistant jacket
Waterproof shoes
Umbrella

More about our trip next, this time, sunny pics!

April 17, 2016February 3, 2022 by findingbackroads

7 Reasons Why I Love Traveling with my daughter

I’ve written about it before, having children did not stop me from wanting to travel. The time I told my husband I’m going to visit my parents in the Philippines (we were living in Japan that time) bringing a barely year old baby, he thought I was crazy and was only asking for unnecessary extra challenge in my life since he will not be there to support me (because of yeah, work commitments). My friends thought it was not time to travel yet, the baby won’t remember it anyway so could be a waste but I still believe that traveling with small kids is still worth it.

My daughter Pristine first traveled with me while she was still on the boob. It could sound horrifying to other moms but really, traveling with a baby is easier than traveling with a toddler. The toddler could run and you need to do some chasing or invest in a safety harness ~~leash~~ (gasp) but a baby is safely tucked with you. When a toddler is hungry, you need to find an available cafe/eatery. A (breastfed) baby has access to food 24/7 – mommy mobile cafeteria for the win!

The moment my baby was ready to fly and we were able to do so financially and physically, I brought her along and years after that hoping that by exposing her to these amazing experiences she’d love traveling as much as I do, and by her early teens we could go off and have some real adventures.

I did not have to wait till she is in her teens. Last year before she turned 12, we were off to Prague together, alone for the first time.

Traveling – we know it could make or break relationships. I didn’t know what to expect traveling with her and I lowered my expectations because after all, she is just a child. What if we she/we both hated it and it would be the first and last? Thankfully, long story short, we did ok!

And here are 7 reasons why I loved traveling with her and look forward to more.

1. She is already self-sufficient and I don’t need to wipe her butt.

She was a few weeks shy of turning 12 when we first traveled alone together a few months ago. She can pack her own things, take care of herself, and because she’s past the toddler stage, I don’t have to worry about diapers (no more butt wiping, yay!), milk bottles, breastfeeding in public, look for baby friendly restaurants and most importantly, I don’t have to carry her around when she’s tired or sleepy.

2. She is eager to learn and learns fast.

I encourage her to read subway and metro maps and show her how to buy tickets using foreign currency. She quickly picks it up and immediately wants to try to do it by herself. She even lets me sleep on the train while she looks out if it’s already our stop.

And with that confidence, I feel that travel also makes her a little (street) smarter.

I don’t want a child who is too much into books (there’s nothing wrong with that) alone and don’t know how to survive in the streets when the situation calls for. I want my child/children to be street smart. To be able to stroll in a new city and not become a victim of pickpocket,etc. To be able to navigate a new city using maps, common sense and most especially, guts.

3. She sees things with fresh eyes.

In the eyes of a child, everything is new. They look at things knowing they will find something new and different every time they look. Looking at her reminds me to become more like a child at times, no matter how old I become.

4. She’s always curious.

Pristine had been my little inquisitor way back then.She can ask a million questions. You think she’s through and then she’s got another million. I admit, I sometimes get tired listening to her seemingly endless banter when my brains turn into mental mush at the end of a long day but I know I should be thankful, she opens up with me, is honest and don’t keep things to herself only.

She asked a lot of questions when we were in Prague. I readied myself for answers.

5. She’s genuinely happy to go to new places.

I’ll let the photos do the talking!

6. Someone is available to take photos of me!

I don’t have to pull out a selfie stick (I don’t have any yet) or ask strangers to take photos of me when I’m with her. She’s more than eager to take photos of me, including those I am clueless about.

7. Someone is there to comfort me.

Pristine’s empathy and concern for me is unbelievable. She is that person who can laugh when I laugh and cry when I cry. When I made several epic fails even before our plane took off from Dubai, she comforted me in ways I couldn’t imagine a 12 year old would do to an adult. Here’s a thing about Pristine, if you’re sad, she will do anything in her power to lift you up. Your problems are her problems.

Also? She calms me when I freak out during turbulence.

Confession: I love to travel but still have fear of flying.

Travelling in a group can be fun and solo travel can be one of the most eye-opening and rewarding experiences to have. But sometimes it’s also good to travel is just with one other person. But finding a travel buddy who’s compatible with you can be difficult. I’m glad I found mine in my daughter.

All the time we were in Prague, I dragged her everywhere and she did not complain except for one thing – her shoes were not keeping up with all the walking on our last day. Not her fault. Her mother was not wise enough to invest in good shoes (boo).

Note to moms: don’t buy cheap kids boots from Carrefour, LOL.

If there’s one thing I am thankful for, for having a baby at 27, it is being able to enjoy having a travel buddy before 40 when my knees are still young and strong enough to explore the world. And my travel buddy doesn’t complain with all the walking we do!

Do you have a favorite travel buddy? Tell me more about him/her in the comments!

December 19, 2015February 3, 2022 by findingbackroads

First Christmas market experience in Prague!

Europe
christmas, Europe, IHG, Intercontinental, Old Town, Prague, Travels
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I love Christmas, who doesn’t? The bright lights, Christmas trees (bonus if they’re REAL!), carols…Growing up in the only Catholic country in Asia – Christmas is a huge thing in the Philippines. It’s probably the biggest and most important and anticipated event of the year.

I spent a good 19 Christmasses before I left to live in a non-Christian country (my first Christmas in Japan wasn’t what I expected it to be) and sure there are lights and Christmas decors there, it’s never the same. After 10 years in Japan, we moved to Dubai. There are Christmas decors here too but then it crossed my mind – what would Christmas look like somewhere else where Christmas is traditionally celebrated? Like in Europe perhaps?

Prague is about 6.5 hours flight from Dubai so I chose it as destination for the plane tickets I won from a contest by Fly Dubai. I can only take one companion so I took my preteen daughter Pristine to embark on a new adventure – a trip to Prague, Czech Republic for the main purpose of hopefully experiencing a bit of Christmas a few days before the actual big day – by visiting the Christmas market for the first time!

This is our first travel alone together and I was excited to see how she’d take it. She has not been to Czech Republic (neither have I) so we explored it together, got lost together and massaged each other’s feet after hours of walking.

Tourists and locals alike flock to the Christmas market to buy presents, eat traditional food or sip hot wine or simply marvel at the sight of the huge tree at the center of the square. The tree is of course, real!

We visited the oldest and biggest Christmas market in the capital city of Prague located at the Old Town Square which was only 5 minutes walk from our hotel.

On our first day in Prague, we joined a walking tour, had lunch and went back to the hotel to rest. When night came, we bundled up to go out and see the Christmas market all lit up. I cringed at the idea of going out in the cold but it would be a shame not to – it’s at night time when everything comes alive!

It was drizzling so I couldn’t take my proper camera out. So tip if you’re traveling during winter and want to take good photos using an SLR camera, either you could check the weather forecast first before you travel or have a waterproof photography gear.

It’s just so much different during the night, isn’t it? I love the photos I took even though these were just from my iPhone.

The dates during which Prague Christmas markets are open are usually different from year to year. In general, you’ll find at least some markets running from the last week of November into the first week of January. The Prague Christmas markets run from 28th November to 3rd January.

What’s so enchanting about Christmas markets are all the little things that never change: children gathered round the crib; grown-ups gathered round the hot mulled wine (svarené víno or svarák) stalls; the nutcrackers, the carols, the candlelight. Foreigners come here to stock up with gifts and delicacies. Locals often just drop in for a few drinks and a bite to eat.

We loved everything about the Christmas Market in Prague, most impressive of all is the Christmas tree, shipped in from Ceská Lípa, which is north of Prague. The tree is erected at the Old Town Square and draped in a blaze of lights. It is switched on every night around 5pm, and makes a spectacular sight, set against Prague’s dark gothic skyline.

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF PRAGUE’S CHRISTMAS MARKETS

1. Book a hotel around Prague 1, that’s the nearest to the Old Town and Wenceslas Square soyou can leave your hotel and be in the midst of the markets in minutes. Grab a drink, browse the stalls, and soak up the atmosphere. And when you’re ready for a warm bath, it’s just a short walk home.

During our visit to Prague, we stayed for two nights at The Intercontinental Prague using the loyalty points I got from the IHG® Rewards Club. The hotel is located on the fashionable Parížská shopping street in the Old Town area of Prague, a fantastic location that allowed us to walk to most important tourist spots including the Old Town Square where the Christmas market was taking place.

2. Take your time. Remember, this is a market. There will likely be more than one vendor selling similar products so there’s no need to impulse buy at all. And the price of the same item will differ from one vendor to another!

3. The market usually gets busier at night, so if you want more time to check things out at a slower pace, a daytime trip would be better. Also, you can take more photos of everything in the market without too many tourists crossing in front of you during daytime.

4. Take it easy on the mulled wine. Hot alcohol hits harder. No, really.

5. Keep warm. It was around 0 degrees celsius at night when we were there early December. No snow yet but it was raining on the our first night in Prague. You might be better off wearing waterproof winter jacket as well.

Prague is a picturesque city throughout the year, although the spirit of the city during Christmas time is extra magical. We could not forget the time we spent in Prague even if it was a short one. We would love to go back again, Christmas or not, next time, bringing the whole family.

December 15, 2015 by findingbackroads

A short trip to Prague, Czech Republic – an overview

This is a simple travel guide for Prague, Czech Republic based on our personal short trip to this European city nicknamed, “City of a hundred spires”. What we did was do the free tour on the first day we were at Prague, had late lunch and went back to the hotel to rest and went out again at night to see the Christmas market at Old Town. The next day, Pristine (my preteen daughter who was with me during this trip), walked around the city on our own, going to Charles Bridge and Prague Castle. More on that in the next posts!

For now, an overview.

CURRENCY

First things, first: money. Czech Republic uses the Czech Koruna or Czech crown as its currency. Check xe.com for the conversions. I tried to buy Czech money from Dubai but the exchange centers did not have them, including the ones at Terminal 2 in Dubai. I exchanged USD to koruna at the money exchange shop at the arrival area of Prague airport as soon as we arrived as I need it to buy bus tickets.

GETTING THERE

There are several airlines that fly direct from Dubai to Prague’s Vaclav Havel airport. Playing on certain dates on Expedia.com shows Czech Airlines having the cheapest flight during off season for US$300 round trip. Yeah, it’s time you change your perception that traveling to Europe is too expensive. With proper planning and budgeting (and saving beforehand) it is totally doable.

However, we got on a morning flight from Dubai to Prague with Fly Dubai, one of the UAE’s budget airlines that has some pretty cool new destinations from and to Europe – Prague, Sofia or Bratislava…just to mention a few. I won 2 business class tickets I used for this trip from an Instagram contest, by the way.

PRAGUE AIRPORT TO CITY CENTER

Unlike the other European airports I have landed before, there is no train service from Prague’s Vaclav Havel airport to the city center. But don’t fret! There are buses that travel frequently from the airport to the city center. The cheapest option is to take a city bus. After arrival just find the kiosk where you can buy bus tickets. You can also buy from the driver but at a slightly higher price.

Bus 119 leaves from outside the Arrivals terminal and runs from around 4.20 in the morning until around 11.45 at night. It will take you to the Nádraží Veleslavín metro station on line A (Green Line) or take #100 that goes to the yellow line Metro station Zlicin. From there, you can take the metro using the same ticket to continue to your destination. The metro will get you to the center in no time (6 – 8 stops, depending on where you’re going). The most popular metro stations on the route are: Malostranská – Lesser Town (Malá Strana), Staromestská – Old Town (Staré Mesto), Mustek – bottom and middle of Wenceslas Square, Muzeum – top of Wenceslas Square.

Don’t forget to validate your ticket when you get on the bus or train!

Reference: Public transport fares in Prague

WHERE TO STAY
There are several hotels in Prague, depending on your budget, purpose and preferred location. We spent our first two nights at my friend’s house, a short 30 minute train ride from Prague’s main station.

The next two nights, we spent it using my IHG Rewards Points at Intercontinental Prague. The hotel is a short walk from Staromestská subway station and very close to the Old Town, the location of Prague’s biggest and oldest Christmas market (one of the reasons I chose this destination).

Booking your Prague accommodation through the above affiliate links will cost you nothing extra and helps support this website. Thank you!

TOURING PRAGUE

Of course you could walk around and tour Prague by yourself but I would suggest booking a walking tour with the Sandeman’s Prague tour – it’s a FREE tour that work on a tips-only basis! We arrived in Prague from Kolin on a Monday, rushed to check in and l our bag at the hotel and walked back to Rudolfinum, the meeting place and start of the tour at 10:45 am. I admit, I did sweat a lot running to catch the start of the tour!

Our guide was very passionate about the history of the city and had a sharp wit that made our walking tour on a cold, wet day in Prague very memorable. There are other free walking tours in Prague. Make a search and book which one you think is best!

The walking tour lasted for a little more than two hours, ending near Wenceslas Square. It was a bit of a challenge to walk in the rain but our guide was flexible to seek shelter and expand his talk to discuss history under one corner with a roof, for example as some of us were wearing non-waterproof jackets. We couldn’t use umbrellas at one point because the wind was strong.

TIP: When traveling to Europe (or any place when it’s winter), it could be a better idea to bring a waterproof winter jacket. After living in the desert for a long time, I’ve completely forgotten about that.

STAYING CONNECTED
I wanted to purchase a local SIM card so I have a number my husband can use to call me if necessary. Most of all, I wanted an internet connection while on the go, because, duh, Google maps…and Twitter and Instagram or Facebook. There’s an option of renting a pocket WiFi device (it was not cheap and needed deposit) so I opted to buy a SIM. There’s a Vodafone kiosk at the end of the arrival area where I bought a SIM with 4GB data for 600 Czech crowns (US$25). The cheaper option is 1.5GB at 500 Czech crowns (US$20).

GOING BACK TO THE AIRPORT

Our time in Prague was up very quickly! We were there for 4 nights, 5 days. It was raining all of the days except for one – I thank God for giving us one full day of sunshine so we were able to see the city, including Prague castle (more on separate post!)…this was after I bought a waterproof jacket though.

Weird things like this always happen to me. Oh, well.

Prague, we really enjoyed our short stay and your charming old world cobblestone roads…except when we’re dragging a heavy bag!

*****

If you’re planning to visit the city soon, I hope this little guide will help you in some way. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment! I can’t wait to write about our first mom-daughter travel experience in Prague!

December 8, 2015February 3, 2022 by findingbackroads

Pack everything, including your morning brain

Funny things happen when you are not used to flying Business Class. Or should I say, when you have not flown business ever in your life. My first ever business class was to Prague last week courtesy of the free tickets from Fly Dubai which I won from an Instagram contest.

Our flight was at 8:50 am and thankfully we live near the airport so we didn’t have to endure panic attacks at 3am.We arrived at the airport fine and ready but we left without breakfast. It’s my first time at Terminal 2. There was a McDonald’s, KFC and Paul Bakeshop. I know there would be meals inside the plane as it’s almost a 7 hour flight but I don’t think I can wait that long till meals are served, nor can my daughter. We opted for McDonalds. I was already disgusted with the thought of having something greasy early in the morning and the ridiculous price of McD’s inside the airport but what to do…urgh, to think I don’t like having a burger for breakfast…lunch or even dinner. I can’t remember the time I ate at McDonalds.

I munched on the burger, accepting defeat then halfway through, I realized…HEY, we’re flying business right?? Don’t business class people have that special access to something called LOUNGES?

I put down my burger and stormed out of the airport food court. My daughter was puzzled. “Where are we going, mama? Why are you dashing mad like that?”

I looked around and there it was – a few steps from the food court, there it was…the FLY DUBAI lounge for business class passengers! And it had buffet breakfast with real food – fruits, salad, scrambled eggs, sausages, sandwiches. For FREE.

I felt so so disappointed with myself I can’t even eat…it was pointless to be inside the lounge.

My daughter told me, “Don’t be too sad, mama. Well at least you realized it before you finished your cheeseburger!” I cannot just get over the fact of what just happened.

It seems that you don’t need much time to board when you’re in business class, it says you can even be at the gate 25 minutes before departure time. But knowing me (OCD), I told my daughter we’d be early at the gate just in case. There were so many people near the gate that we weren’t able to find a seat. Oh well, no big deal, we’ll just stand, a punishment for people who eat cheeseburger for breakfast! (Something like that).

My eyes were wandering through the area, looking at different kinds of people and having my weird airport thoughts…I saw it…a sign pointing to a special waiting area for Fly Dubai business class passengers.

What’s wrong with this morning?!

We followed the signs and there it was…the waiting area WITH NOBODY there. All empty seats. Thankfully, we did not stand outside for an hour or else..I would really hate myself.

My daughter just laughed it out. I love the innocence of children. My children. They always see the good in a situation. I wonder who birthed these. Maybe I was like this before…then I grew old.

Our departure time neared and we were whisked in a shuttle bus to the plane. We were finally settled inside the plane, enjoying some good stretch. I was already thinking what to drink, the stronger the better maybe so I could knock myself out (I never drink on the plane).

*I didn’t drink anything with alcohol on our flight to Prague because duh, there’s a new city to explore. I don’t want to sleep in the train and end up in another country!

Boy, this is so different than sitting in economy. You know, thoughts maybe rich people don’t even entertain because it has become so natural for them. It was rather chilly so I took out one of my jackets in my hand luggage (backpack) and saw Pristine’s eyes widen, her mouth open wide.

Uhm, Mama! Where is my winter jacket? THE winter jacket.

You know, this one, the one that I specially asked my husband to buy in Japan during his business trip last October…which he did and packed and brought to Dubai specifically for this Prague trip.

THIS ONE.

Pristine and I totally forgot about the jacket. It’s in our living room at home, resting at one corner. Weather forecast for Prague was single digit temperatures and rain. I can’t believe the travel jinxes even before the plane took off!

I packed our bag one week before our flight. I thought good things happen to people who pack early?!

*****

Pristine had one jacket with us, the fleece one but it is obviously not enough. I have one fleece jacket along with another one, I could give her my fleece jacket to layer, never mind if I feel cold (behind a daughter with an over sized jacket is a shivering mother).

In the end, my friend whom we were staying in Kolin right after we arrived lent us a waterproof jacket. What a life saver!

November 27, 2015 by findingbackroads

Tomorrow, one digit temps!

And just like that, I’m leaving sunny Dubai for a trip to winter wonderland tomorrow morning! Remember when I listed 5 probable destinations (from among the many destinations Fly Dubai flies to) to pick some couple of weeks ago? I’ve decided – PRAGUE.

Why Prague?

I’m going with my 12 year old daughter on this trip and since we moved to Dubai 9 years ago, she has forgotten what real winter feels like. I asked her to choose between warm and cold (Prague and Zanzibar were close contenders) and she chose Prague after looking at Google images of each destination. Also, we’re looking forward to see the Christmas market at the Old Town square. Unfortunately though, due to the terror events that happened in Paris, Prague’s annual main event – the lighting of the Christmas tree at the Old Town square is being cancelled this year.

Still there are more reasons to go. I am sure there will still be Christmas lights around to make us feel the Christmas spirit. One of the big reasons is that this is a great chance to bond with my pre-teen daughter.

I won’t lie, I don’t really look forward to the cold and wearing thick jackets but I look forward to time alone spent with my eldest. Since Benjamin was born, I know I’ve been pretty much partial to the smaller one, giving him more time and Pristine has been putting up a brave front and being really understanding and helpful. Deep inside, I know she longs for the time when it was just the two of us. So we’re making this trip together, an all girl trip, for the first time.

Well, I won’t make this long, I’m still floating from the idea of going away again but at the same time, a little sad I’m leaving Benjamin behind. I’ll be updating frequently from my social media channels, you can take a peek of what we’re up to via my Twitter, Instagram and my blog’s Facebook page.

Top Photo Credit

Finding Backroads

Get out of the tourist trail

Tag / Prague