December 2: The Amazing Race; Prague Edition

Ever have one of those situations where you just wish you were followed around by a camera crew so you could watch the antics and laugh about it later?

I had arranged for two vans to pick us up at 10:15 am for our 11:30 am train. Breakfast ended at 9 am (the same time our bags had to be put into the hall and we had to be out of our rooms). Then we went to the lounge and I shared the details of the train and our plans for Prague. I said we would have plenty of time to grab something to eat at the train station, because while they would have food onboard, the choices would be limited and probably more expensive.

We took a group photo (missing Cindy S and Garry) and waited in the lounge. Around 10:05, when we were just starting to head out the door, we got a message that the driver would be 15 minutes late. Not great, but okay, we still had extra time.

Here is the fast-forward version of what happened next:

10:35 am: First van arrives and takes six people, including two of our three slower walkers, but only some of their luggage.

10:45 am: I call the second driver. He says he is still 10 minutes away.

10:55 am: The second van arrives. The driver says his notes show a different train station than the one on our actual tickets. We load everyone and all remaining bags and head to the correct station.

Meanwhile: Alyx and Sister Cindy text that their driver actually took them to the wrong train station (which was also farther away across town), so they grab two cabs and head to the right one.

Cindy messages that the train is at Track 10, so our van drops us at that door. We stand there with eight people and about eighteen suitcases and there is no train in sight, with only minutes to go. Then Alyx calls and says she is on the train and asks where we are. The train is at Track 11.

So now picture this: eight of us, many rolling bags, backpacks, coats, and food, all sprinting from Track 10 to Track 11. Alyx is physically standing in the doorway holding the train open because every other door we pass is already closed. Bags are being lifted and thrown on board. Sister Cindy falls on the platform (thankfully her phone did not slide under the train). It's pure chaos, but we all make it on. The doors close and the train pulls away.

Once inside, things don't exactly calm down. Bags are rolling everywhere, people are in our seats, we move to other seats, then those people arrive. It is musical chairs with luggage.

And no, we're still not done.

Our train ran about five minutes late for much of the journey, which is exactly the delay we caused with our last-second boarding. Then later we lost more time and our arrival shifted to 7:10 pm instead of 6:15 pm.

At 5:15 pm, one of the Prague transfer drivers texted that he was already at the station almost an hour early. Then Sue got a message that since our train was delayed, the transfer would cost more. I asked her to have the company contact me directly. They added 15 Euros per car for three cars because our arrival was about an hour behind schedule.

When the train pulled in, Sue and I were positioned at the back of our car. She went down to the platform, and I passed all the luggage down to her. My tea mug fell from my backpack onto the tracks and was lost. We got everyone through the station, found our drivers at the meeting point, and finally headed out to the hotel.

Prague, we have arrived.

Most of us are staying at the Hotel Rott. I stayed here last Easter and loved how close it was to the Old Town Square. Two of our group made their own hotel arrangements at a nearby property, which is why we needed the third transfer. We all checked in and headed to our rooms.

The hotel building has a long and interesting history. Its foundations date back to the 13th century, and the oldest written record mentioning it is from 1401. Over the centuries it has been rebuilt and reconstructed many times before becoming the Hotel Rott in 2003. Because it is a combination of several connected buildings, the hallways shift in different directions, and the levels change by a few steps here and there. Last year my room had dormers overhead. This year we had a large room with three beds, which worked perfectly for the three of us: Alyx, Sister Cindy, and me.

Since we had not eaten dinner yet, Alyx, Sister Cindy, Larry and I walked across the small square to Taverna Toscana for Italian food. I had eaten here last year and remembered being pleasantly surprised by how good it was, and everyone enjoyed their meal again tonight. After sitting for so long during the travel day, Alyx and I decided to go for a walk and wander into the market in the Town Square.

This is the most iconic Christmas market in Prague, set right next to the Astronomical Clock. The lights, music, and crowds gave it that classic storybook feeling. We tried some of the food and drinks, did a little shopping, and then headed back to the hotel for the night.