July 25th, Wednesday afternoon.  I didn´t risk taking any city tours in Prague.  I had only less than 24 hours in this beautiful and intriguing city and I had gone through all that stress to top it all.  So, I just decided to have some late lunch and have a Thai massage done on my feet and back.  It was the best option.  I was able to relax tremendously. As people passed by and watched my faces, a line started being formed in front of the place.  It was funny.  I attribute to that, but maybe it was just a coincidence!

This was my first meal in Prague, a typical goulash in an amazing place.  In half an hour I found another place to have another dish.  I was still hungry.

I  don´t eat meat very often, but this dish was particularly good.

These were the most relaxing massages I´ve had in my life! Thank you, girls.

July 25th, Wednesday evening.  I finally checked in at the Charles Bridge Hostel in Prague.  It was the warmest check in I´ve done in my life. People were exceptionally friendly and helpful.  Thank you again!
This hostel has an excellent location.  The bridge is just outside the hostel to the left.





To the right and left there are several neat restaurants with affordable prices and really good tasty food.

The check in was funny too because after I told Michael, one of the hostel staff of what had happened to me at the station, he offered me some water, some coffee and asked me if I liked cats. He had a little kitten behind the counter. He said he wanted to make me happy by playing with his kitten.
I thought he was very kind and thoughtful, but I am deadly aftraid of cats and when he asked me the question: "Do you like cats?" I couldn´t help it, but frown and say: "Cats? No, I don´t."  I thought that there might be a cat in the dorm, for all I knew. I apologized for my answer.  Sorry, again.

Just the opposite, the room was beautiful. I particularly liked the seven little beds in it. It reminded me of the French cartoon Madeleine.

July 25th, Wednesday morning. Had breakfast quickly and Fahrid, one of the hostel staff, helped me look for my ticket.  Yes, when I brought my ticket to show Sandra the station I was leaving from, I put it back in a different place from where it had been kept before.  Couldn´t remember at all where I had put it, but finally, after a 10 minute search, I found in one of the pockets of my backpack. One lesson learned!  Never put things away automatically.

We called the cab and I arrived there with only 30 minutes in advance.  The problem was that it took me a while to get to the right platform.  The information lady did not give me the correct information.  She must have missunderstood me.  I´d rather think like that.  I lost 10 minutes, ten precious minutes!! But I made it!!

I left Berlin with plans to come back.  I didn´t go to one tenth of the places I wanted to visit.  So, I´m planning on coming back in December and then take my time to visit all the museums, churches, theaters, clubs.  I know it is going to be bloody cold, but I can take it. I lived in Iowa in the US for seven years.  I would stay without seeing the sun for almost five months at times.  So, two weeks should not be so bad. Specially, that after that I will come back to sunny Brazil. At least that´s what I hope, since it is going to be summer here.

On the train to Prague

There was a Korean family in my compartment and then  this guy arrived.  I asked him where he was from trying to figure out his accent and he said from Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará, Brazil. I happily said BRAZIL!! Great, I said. "Can you help me put my luggage up here?" So, he did and we talked about a variety of things - from travelling to politics. I found him an interesting person as he was very knowledgeable about the Brazilian political and economical situation. Prague was his destination, too.

I, then, fell asleep and was asleep most of the trip.  Did not even see when the Korean family left.  One of the little girls looked much like my niece, Ana Luiza/ Tainá, as she looks a little like a native indian. This made me miss her.

My Prague experience had the best and worst feelings. The worst was in the very beginning, but then I was gifted the warmest hospitality at the hostel.

The worst was at the train station when I went to exchange my money aand this guy whose picture I will share with you, did not exchange the money correctly and did not give me any receipt.  I had to go to the information desk and had the woman add it for me so that I would show it to the guy and he pretended he did not speak any English.  It was a shame.  I went to the police station, but the feeling was the same.  They talked to the guy and he said he had given me the money. I told him he was a liar and a thief.  It was very stressful.  The police asked me if I wanted to write a report, but it had to be written in czech!! Well...I told them I would post it on the internet and this is what I am doing.  So, beware of exchanging money at train stations.

The people from the hostel were sorry for me and told me they are known to do that.  What a shame!

After the Turkish market, Sandra suggested that I took a boat tour through the Spree River as my last night event in Berlin.

I thought it was a good idea, too.  So, she called an agency and she rushed to the meeting point and dropped me off there.  It was near Hauptbanhof station, but in a park, by the river.  

When we got there, people were just about to get on the boat.  It was amazing the perfect timing. It seemed like an thriller.

I noticed immediately that people were all dressed up for it and there I was with very casual clothes on,  Then, I soon realized it was a closed group as this man, who looked important, was thanking everyone for having taken part in their annual Psychoanalyst meeting. I looked around and felt watched by all the the "psychos"! Just kidding.  It was funny, though.

These two men on this photo came and asked me if they could join me at my table. I teased one of them and said that the seat he was taking was occupied by a ghost.  He stared at me.  He was a psychoterapist and told me he hadn´t expected an answer like that.  His friend then, introduced himself as Brad Pitt. Well...we had broken the ice as we all started laughing. At least we knew we all had a sense of humour.

Then they told me later on, after having ordered a beer, of course, that they had decided I looked ok before having asked me to sit at my table.  I sighed! That´s why they had approached me. I was pleased with that comment, and even more after Ray, the artist who lived in Thailand, started calling me princess.  I knew that he had forgotten my name and that was a nice way out. But it was funny at the same time. 

Ray and I started carrying a long conversation after he asked me if I could hear what the tour guide was saying. Unfortunately, the sound was low and people were talking very loud.  So, we decided we would enjoy the champagne we had been offered and forget about what was being said about the beautiful buildings and sites.

   












It was definetely a memorable boat ride with some nice company.  They told me they were both from Perth, Australia and that they had been good friends for a long, long time. Thank you Ray and Andrew for the nice company.

I hopped on the bus with them and all the psychonalists, part of their group, and was able to get off in a place where I was able to catch a cab easily.  I had to go to the bathroon really bad, so couldn´t take the risk of looking for a restroon athe subway station.  Besides, I was really tired and needed to be fresh for my trip the next day.

I decided to take a cab and that made things a lot easier.  I got to the hostel, took a shower, chatted a bit with my niece Aline, on the net and then, went to bed.  I was so worried I wouldn´t wake up early the next day, that I didn´t sleep all night. That was a shame.  I was dead the next day.

Sandra did show up that night and we just said goodbye. She told me she could take me to the station the next day, but I thought it would be too much for her, since my train left really early in the morning.

   

Sunday, July 31st.  I finally got back to the hostel from Check Point Charlie, at 11:30 p.m. and met Camila, the girl from Rio, on my way to the entrance of the hostel complex. She told me she was leaving the next day for Brazil.  Too bad I didn´t get to talk to her more.  She had some nice insights I wanted to hear. Well...maybe if we meet again in Rio.

I was hungry, so I looked for a place to eat near the hostel and was lucky to find it at that late time.  I had this fish with vegetables with Indian spices.  It was delicious.  I was so hungry for rice that even if it were just plain, it would have tasted great.



When got back to the hostel, I did try another beer, but went to bed right after that, as Sandra had arranged to pick me up at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, the next day to go to the Sachsenhousen concentration camp. That was very nice of Sandra.  I ´m glad that she also had the same interest in history as I do.

I had breakfast the next morning and was waiting for her.  She ended up coming at 10:30, which was nice because I had some time to relax.

There is a Buddhist saying, I believe, that says for everything that happens one must say: "Good, very good". I said that as we arrived at the camp.  There was a tour just starting and so we were able to join them.  If we had arrived earlier, we would have missed it.  So, I also believe that nothing is by chance.

Needless to say, it was a sad tour, but necessary for the generations to come.  I was also happy to see so many young people and even kids there.

This complex was the home of the SS soldiers.  Today it is used by the local police institution.

O

 The paradox of the saying on the gate: "Arbeit macht frei" (Work makes free/ frees). No one was freed.

 A remaining barrak where over a hundred prisoners lived.

 Inside the barraks, the tub where eight people at a time had to bathe from sprinkles that came out of the center.

 Humiliating conditions...no words.

It took me two days to erase this sadness from my heart. Can´t explain why, but it was like a call to say some prayers there, like a candle light to lighten deep darkness.

Hello again!  I´m sorry for not having posted anything anymore.  It was quite a trip and when I got back home I needed to focus on my classes and at the same time get a little rest.

It´s been a month now, since I´ve left.  Time sure flies by.

I will try to post my diary as I wrote it.

I will first write about the pictures I have uploaded on my last posting though. Will have to start my writing tomorrow as it is getting late.