Wow, after successfully making it to Prague, and my hostel within; my biggest challenge directly facing me is this keyboard.  For example, it took me about 2 minutes to figure out how to make the semicolon after within.  And that within would have quotation marks if only I could figure that out too…

So anyway, back to the start – this morning was tense, I wont lie and after stalling at the cafe before even the departure lounge, it became clear that I really shouldn§t stall any longer.  With big hugs from the family I wandered off.  I did the obligatory mooch through all the shops and made my way to the gate, then the plane.  The door slammed shut and that was it.  No turning back.

Fortunately I occupied myself with my etch-a-sketch so the flight was rather fun.

The airport was pleasantly labelled in English.  I snickered at the misspelling of umbrela.  Righto.  I need directions on how to not spend my month stuck in Prague airport.  Printed instructions sent me to the bus.  I had to go back, buy a ridiculously priced bottled water and buy a ticket with the change.  I got off at the end of the route and found the tram (via 5 minutes accidentally meandering around the metro platform).  Excellent detective work told me I was on the wrong side and I managed to make my way onto the correct tram.  At this point I`m convinced that if I make it to the hostel it`ll be a bloody miracle.

Seems miracles are in order because here I am.  Once I`d been given my massive set of keys and a list of instructions that required a crystal maze team to remember it I got into the room, yoinked a bed and thought.  Now what?

I decide to go for a stroll, head up hill and wham!  Beautiful view across the city.  Naturally, I got drawing.  And drawing.  And drawing. And felt better for it. Now I`ve had a good ol` night time wander I know a couple places I want to revisit with my camera and full pencil case (like the astronomical clock).  Although I don`t know how much drawing of buildings I can do with the impending thunderstorm that is due tomorrow…

Little things I`ve noticed – I saw some free dog poo bags with a picture of a really sad dog looking very ashamed.   Poor sad ashamed dog.  A club called `disco duck`. Souvineer shops stay open really late (my meanderings were about 11pm) and try and entice you in with club music.  I was almost enticed with the one playing gypsy music but thought I might get harassed into buying something.  Everywhere is beautiful.  I`ve only just noticed that there are birds in the computer room.  That`s a cute touch.  Everywhere is cobbled, high heels are not welcome.  There are puppet shops with suspended characters mid dance.  I got a  lot of weird looks from people as I tried to draw an obscure view of Tyn Church.  I`m dead chuffed that `hello` in Czech is pronounced `ahoy`.

So next challenge of the moment is to try and quietly pick my way though a pitch black room of sleeping people and try and get to bed.  Wish me luck.