Mr. Rude in Prague...

on the Charles Bridge looking across the Vltava River towards Prague Castle...

Mr. Rude in Vienna...

at the popular Demel Cafe enjoying a traditional viennese cake and tea...
overlooking the gardens of the Schönbrunn Palace...

Mr. Rude in Budapest...

sitting in Buda Castle looking across the Danube river towards Parliament in Pest...

THE Vienna Opera House...

this is where some of the most famous classical musicians made their mark…such as Beethoven and Mozart…but particularly Mozart who basically owns Vienna...we’ve never been to a true opera before…so, it was cool that our virgin performance was at arguably one of the most famous opera halls in the history of the world...

m and I were able to get dirt cheap standing room tickets (3 euros each!!!)…cause they offer about 500 standing room tickets each night about 90 minutes before the performance...well, since operatic performances are rarely in English, it was cool that they had this digital screen in front of each section which translated everything (since this performance was in french)…but this didn’t help because the opera was so over the top with regards to dialogue that I cringed when I read it…everyone was so OA with regards to proclamations of love and despair and every other emotion…and transitions from scene to scene were just non-existent...apparently, we were told by a couple near us that it was “operatic license”...and there was no point to try to rationalize what was going on…operas are apparently meant to be dramatic, irrational, and nonsensical!…luckily, we left in the middle of the second act as we had dinner reservations (gotta have my wiener schnitzel)…if we didn’t leave, I was ready to run down to the stage to lightly slap (back of hand of course) every overacting singer in the mouth…

but it was a cool experience nonetheless…and experiencing new and different things is what life all about…but opera is definitely not for me…opera = snoozevillenationburg…

Wiener Schnitzel extravaganza in Vienna…

So, we just got back from our week long trip to central europe...i've got a bunch of blogs to post on random things...so, this is one of my favorite foods…cause it’s the schnitz...when I went snowboarding in Austria earlier in the year, I basically had it for every meal which I probably talked about earlier in this blog…and this short two day stay in Vienna was no different…German speaking countries know how to eat...and I definitely packed on the pounds from these heavy meals…

I even got M to order it…however, her proclamation that...

“isn’t this just fried, breaded meat (note: traditionally veal…although pork is often used now)?”

was quite insulting in a blasphemous sense…and then she stated...

“its just served dry?…with no sauce?…its just breaded meat on a plate?”

at that point, I fell out of my chair…

thanks lola...

we love you.

just arrived in prague...

well...i'll definitely post more later on budapest and vienna...but now, we just arrived at our last destination...prague...just chillin' in the executive lounge using this free computer...having a czech beer...later gators...

in vienna...

was able to log on to the hotel lobby computer...the keyboard is all weird...that is all...gotta go...

quick hit from budapest...

just a quick post while i'm on the computer before we head out to dinner...today was nice...a hot sunny day...we went to this place called hero's square...and then went to this famous turkish bath...apparently one of the largest baths in europe...anyways, it was a weird experience...first of all, there were a lot of people there...and this is a friday midday as well...and i would say 60% were probably locals and the remaining were tourists...

we got our tickets, then went to the locker rooms...which was weird trying to find your way around cause there are these different sections and areas to go to...finding a locker...finding towels...very interesting when dealing with non-english speakers...

anyways, we walk into the first areas, which were all the hot medicinal baths...all in doors...just these different sized pools in this high ceiling halls...some domes...with these people (mainly people over 50 to 80 years old) just chilling out...sitting there relaxing...then there are these saunas on the side...where each sauna room has a different temperature...going from hot to hotter to very hot rooms...again different...

after winding through these inner rooms of hot pools and saunas, we hit the outside pools (regular swimming pools)...which was a huge area (i'll post a picture later when we get home)...anyways, this area had a better mix of people...from families to young people to definitely a good amount of seniors in bathing suits!!! ahhh...and remember, the europeans wear bikini briefs...even the 70 year olds...yikes!!! this outside area was basically a few hundred year old version of wisconsin dells (sans water slides)...just people having fun in the water...relaxing...getting some rays...so, we did the same...just chilled there in the water...hung along the sides...sat on the steps...getting sun and enjoying people watching...good times.

sleeping in buda and visiting pest...

so, we arrived in budapest today...start of our three city/country tour...hitting budapest followed by vienna then ending with prague...

its 11pm here and we are tired...had to wake up at 5am to catch an early morning flight so we could take advantage of the day here...its pretty nice...our hotel is pretty sweet and a very very central location...we got upgraded to the executive floor so its unlimited food and drinks for us (it helps to be a high ranking member...staying at this chain over 200+ nights certainly does it)...plus, free internet access in the executive business lounge here...so, may as well throw a quick post (i don't even know if i've ever posted while on holiday)...anyways, we are right of the danube river and its very pretty...they say budapest is the paris of eastern europe...i don't know about that, but its certainly got its own charm...

first time i've worn shorts this year...hit mid-80s here and sunny...so very nice...tomorrow, we are planning on hitting various sights and this popular turkish bath to take in the "medicinal" hot springs...should be very interesting...apparently, hanging out at these turkish baths is the thing to do here...later gators...

Mr. Rude in Paris...

so, the first time we went to Paris last thanksgiving, we didn't have mr. rude yet...so, this time with the rents, we brought him along...

here's Mr. Rude being displayed on his own pedestal at the Louvre...
and Mr. Rude on top of the Arc de Triomphe overlooking the Eiffel Tower...

and Mr. Rude chilling out on the steps overlooking the gardens of the Palace of Versailles

raise the roof!!!

So, m and i went to one of the coolest sporting events i've ever been to...the event was titled "A Centre Court Celebration" - the first tennis matches played under Wimbledon's new Centre Court roof...i was able to get tickets a few months ago...the tickets sold out within five minutes, and i was able to get sweet sweet tickets within three minutes at a very very "cheap" face value price compared to everything else around here...we were 13 rows from the court perfectly in line with the baseline...getting tickets to any wimbledon centre court event is basically impossible...you either have to know someone or win this lottery to even have a chance to buy them...the chances of winning the lottery is basically nil...so, when this event popped up, i jumped on it to make sure i was ready for the online ticket sales...

and when are you ever able to get a chance to see the greatest married couple to ever step foot onto a tennis court play doubles together...if you don't know, its steffi graf and andre agassi...they apparently rarely play tennis together, let alone in a semi-competitive environment...they said they practiced for a few months just to get ready for this exhibition to not embarrass themselves...graf is without a doubt one of the greatest women's tennis player of all time having won 22 grand slams and retiring at a point where she was still playing at a high level...agassi on the other hand is agassi...winner of all four majors...and definitely one of the hardest hitters to ever play the game...they played against kim clijsters and tim henman, the hometown favorite...so, it was one set of mixed doubles...then the men played one singles set...followed by the women...

anyways, despite these players being retired and past their primes, they were playing at still such a high level of tennis...everyone was still absolutely amazed...especially with agassi...he hits so freakin' hard...an absolute laser...he's added so much meat to his upper body so he probably hits even harder than he ever did...but obviously he is slow slow slow due to age now...but man, i don't have a clue how he hits so hard...his swing is so compact with barely any back swing but the ball comes out angry...
it was so entertaining and an absolute pleasure to watch them all play...especially on centre court at wimbledon!!! besides that, there were three famous british musical acts, and then guest appearances from boris becker and andy murray (and some other tennis greats i've never heard of before)...so, pretty good for a 35 quid ticket...

just shoot me...but not in the face...

so, yesterday, i ventured off to shoot a gun for the very first time in my life...it was a nice shotgun as you can see...i guess i'm a true republican now...we (sans M of course) went to the national clay shooting centre which was about 30 miles outside of london...it was a really cool experience...we each had 25 clay pidgeons to knock down (they are actually pretty small - less than five inches in diameter)...the instructor behind me in the picture obviously taught us how to hold and aim the gun because if you didn't hold it nice and tight against your shoulder and your check, then it would definitely give you a nice slap due to the recoil and obviously how to load and unload it...then we basically shot at the clay pidgeons coming out at a couple of different angles...it was a really windy day actually and some drizzle at times, which made the shooting conditions tough...i would just yell "pull" and the clay pidgeon would fly out...but we each managed to shoot down at least half the 25...and we definitely got better as it went a long...in my last session, i hit 8 of 10 down...if you liked playing duck hunt as a kid, then you have to experience this...

heading back across the pond...

just dropped off the rents a few hours ago at LHR...the rents spent twelve days with us...it was a whirlwind and they saw and experienced a ton in london and paris...funny enough, they've seen more tourist attractions in london than m and i have...anyways, its definitely very quiet now here...we'll absolutely miss them...i'll shoot out more stories of their adventures in the coming days...

memorable quote...

the rents are leaving in a few hours and just wanted to memorialize a quick quote...

"its hard for me to understand what she is saying" - mom

so, one day last week the rents met us during our lunch break...m brought along one of her friends here...a true-blooded brit...we had a good ol' time with good ol' conversation...as we were walking out, my mom pulls me to the side and tells me this (and i'm sure my dad wanted to say the same thing, but didn't have the courage to say it outloud like my mom)...and i of course tell everyone else and we have a good ol' laugh...its just funny how m and i have assimilated into this whole london thing...we can understand everyone pretty clearly now and its just normal to us...but at least we still speak with our wonderful chicago accents...with no tinge of british twang at all...

mission accomplished...

we just got back from taking my parents to paris for the weekend...good times...

A La Carte Nation…

I’m sure I’ve b!t@hed about this before on this blog...but i just can't get over it…I’ve found that Europe, but especially the UK, requires you to pay for every little thing…

Here are a few simple and very annoying examples:

1) for most quicker service restaurants (order at the counter type of place) that offers a pick-up/take away or eat-in option, there are separately priced menus...obviously, the eat-in option is a tad more expensive…I’m sure its near 10%, if not more…so, people here gripe about how the U.S. tipping culture is so excessive…but the U.S. DOES NOT CHARGE TO EAT INSIDE A RESTAURANT! restaurants are made to be eaten in…you should NOT have to pay for the privilege to have a seat and use plastic silverware…so, ultimately, you are already forced to pay the tip upfront here…whereas in the U.S., you still have the option to jip the waitstaff for shadiness…and when I say, “quickservice”, this does not include the typical fastfood joints (“mackers”, BK, KFC, etc) that we all know and love…and you know why, because these are AMERICAN institutions!!!

2) When you go to most Italian restaurants here (and really most restaurants that you’d expect to get bread), you DO NOT get complimentary bread…you have to pay extra for it…and if they do give it to you without you asking, be fully prepared to see a charge for it on your bill…so, if you don’t want it…then ask if its free, if they say no, then send it back…don’t touch or breathe on it!...paying the equivalent of $5 for stale cold bread is the biggest scam out there…

3) They never ever ever ever give you glasses of tap water with your meal…you don’t ever get charged for it if you ask though…but when you do ask, you can tell that the waitstaff isn’t pleased...especially when you didn’t order a $5 glass of filtered still water that they bottled themselves from a brita filter…rip off (I cough)…hey brits, the tap water here is fine…try drinking Lake Michigan water…

4) And the asian restaurants are not exempt here!...you always have to order white rice separately…never comes free with a dish that you ordered, unless it specifically states it comes with it…so, unless I’m mistaken, you generally eat an asian main dish with rice (unless its noodles of course)…so, you are basically suckered into ordering a few white rice cups (and I mean a tiny little tea cup of rice that a big rice eater can swallow in three bites)…so, f you calculate it, adds about 10 to 20% to the cost of each dish…big rip off (I cough loudly)

5) And lastly, this has nothing to do with food, but the UK has basically perfected a la carte travet long, long before it ever hit the U.S…so, bringing a bag – cha ching…wanting extra leg room – cha ching…sitting by a window – cha ching…getting a glass of water – cha ching…sitting in a B.O. free cabin – cha ching…having the right to fart openly because you ate a bean burrito before you got into your seat – cha ching…

we visited a pile of rocks today...

whoopty doo-daa!

and the rents arrive...

so...we are just chillin before dinner...actually, my mom and dad are passed out...they arrived at noon...then i rented a car for the weekend from the airport (first driving experience here...will blog about that later!)...they unpacked a little when they got to our place...then we took almost a 4 hour walk through portobello market, kensington gardens, and hyde park with gustardo...great sun...great day...

one of the funny things that happened within the first half hour of them reuniting with gus was the pics below...my dad puts the stuffed animal on his head and waits for gus to jump for it...this time, gus meant business and literally just jumped on his back...and stayed there...like a backpack...what an oaf (oh yeah the illinois jersey was a present they gave gus...pretty cool)...