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Traveling with the Pranskys - Page Text Content

FC: Hungary Italy Greece Slovenia Croatia

1: Rebecca flew SJC to LAX. Dad and Mom escorted her away for a local scrumptious meal & a battery charge. | During dinner, Dad began photography lessons with his fancy new camera - fun for the trip. Mom passed on the lovely white sailor jacket, hoping it'd get worn in Greece.... Then Dad & Rebecca were off to Europe! London & Budapest, here we come! | Day 1: CA to Europe

2: Los Angeles to London - tattered LAX to pristine Heathrow. London to Budapest - everything familar becomes foreign . Both flights - aisle and window, with a great view.

4: The Radio Inn Our 1st night in Budapest, Hungary | Only a 5 minute walk from Tiffany's apartment, this cute hotel lent us lots of space, minimal towels, extra echo, and no shower curtain. Quaint, indeed.

5: Dad's Bed. Rebecca's Bed.

6: Shortly after check in, Tiffany came, gave hugs all around, then began the local walking tour. | Day 2: Arrive in Budapest, Hungary.

7: The tour stopped at Paprika for a classic Hungarian-styled meal.: Goulash (meat, potato, & bread!)

8: Day 3: Full day tour of Tiffy's recent hometown: Budapest, Hungary.

9: museum of terror - the opera - andrassy | octagon - fancy mcdonalds - forint

11: While Tiffany was at class, Dad and Rebecca went to the world's 2nd largest Jewish Synagogue. Stores, entrance fees, and no photos kept us outdoors...where we found this magnificent metalic tree, a Memorial in honor of Hungarian Holocaust Victims. | in respectful memory

12: The Chain Bridge. Old Architecture. | Cobble-stone Streets. The Elizabeth Bridge.

13: Dad and Rebecca walked through town, along the Danube, across the Chain Bridge, up up up to Fisherman's Bastion, and over to the Royal Palace. | One benefit of walking so many steps and hills is the great view! Notice the detailed work on the Parliament!

15: Around the palace grounds.

18: It rained. And shined. | Coffee/Tea break! ..why a pot of hot water? | Why did they build the Elizabeth Bridge within inches of the oldest building in Hungary??

19: Saint Gellert was carefully photographed during the pourdown, while shielded with both umbrellas.

20: Tiffany left us to enjoy an incredible meal. Where else in the world is wine cheaper than water, and is rain common on a sunny day?

21: Father | Daughter

22: just too cool a shot to leave out. i love my daddy.

23: Per Tiffany's request, we scouted out the fourth floor of the local library. At first, it appeared normal...but then we found the palatial style rooms! Rebecca wrote a bit in her travel journal: like where's waldo to find her...

24: To finish off the day, Dad and Rebecca walked down Andrassy to Heroes Square. Tiff's apt viewed the tall skinny statue of Archangel Michael. | Tiffany said they took years to finish this project due to debate over who was truly a hero. Apparently, in recent times there has been excessive tumultuous political transitions. Well, whoever they were, their statues were pretty, whether or not they were heroes. And the other buildings are modern art museums. Now off to bed, back at the good ol' Radio Inn. Phew! Long day!

25: After some rest we were raring to go! Breakfast at Tiffy's apt and lunch at a fancy restaraunt (with funny lemonade and expeeeeensive prawns with eyes) preceded our taxi ride to the Keleti Train Station. We got our tickets, $20 of fruit, and boarded the sleeper car with plenty of time to spare. | Day 4: Overnight train... Budapest - Venice

27: In total, our trip would take 14 hours. Minimal spent sleeping. | Our sleeper car was so comfy compared to the 2nd class cabins. | 3 snacks, 1 sink, 3 beds, 0 room provided | Policia! Pasport Control!

28: Photo opps along the way. Tiff and I got practice with Daddy's new camera. | Hungary Slovenia Croatia Italy | Lake Balaton is the largest lake in Central Europe. | And now to find the dining car for a little somethjing to eat....

30: Arriving in Venice by 7am, we promptly took our luggage to the cruise terminal, and toured the area till 3pm boarding! | Day 5: Venice & Board Ship

31: The Grand Canal Venezia by Vaporetto

32: We accidentally took the "fast" Vaporetto, so made it from the train station over to San Marcos square rather quickly. Still got some great photos during our half decent self-guided tour. | Mmmm...classic Italian lunch by the Grand Canal. btw - It's so nice not to lug 5 heavy bags up and down these bridges. Why the funny look when we order tap water? We're American...

34: San Marcos Square | Feeding the pigeons chocolate Fiber-One bars...

35: Princess Cruises 7 day Mediterranean & Greek Isles Cruise We found our estate room (2594) with some difficulty, had our muster drill, unpacked, then toured our home for the next week! Our next task: learn where we are going and what we should do while we're there!

36: After sleeping in, we went to a lame seminar on "Things to do while shopping in Port." Jennifer, our port director kindly informed us that we could stop by the Ancient Athenian Acropolis between leather shop and jewelry shop....oh geez. Then relaxed till Captain's party and formal dining at our table in the furthest back corner table of the room. | Day 6 At Sea & 1st Formal Night | 3

38: Day 7: Port = Piraeus City = Athens | Today was the only day the 3 of us took a guided tour with the cruise line. Primarily, because Athens is at least a 30 minutes drive from port.

39: The bus passed Hadrian's Arch and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. We took a photo stop at the Panthenian Stadium, where the first modern Olympics were held in 1870. It's so bizarre having a metropolitan area filled with such historical sites. Though it was a rather warm day, we enjoyed lots of water, tons of walking, and a nice tour guided by a local lady. At the end of our tour, we even had 15 min to shop for souvenirs.

41: Acropolis includes: Propylaia (entrance, Nike a part), Herodeion Theater (by entrance), Parthenon, Erechteio (ladies), & Dionysos Theatre.

42: Erechteon

43: Athenian Poppy

44: Thanks to our little electronic ear pieces, we were able to hear our tour guide while keeping the excavation site rather quiet. Many a good photo opportunity arose, and we toured the area with our new friends from LA. Tiff was yelled at for trying to pick up a rock to bring home to Mom. Random factoid - the stray dogs are actually citizens of Athens, with a vet, groomer, and all.

47: Areopagus, aka "Mars" Hill after Mars, the Roman God of War, just north of the Acropolis, was historically the chief homicide court of Athens. The Apostle Paul preached about the unknown god... | ...his famous message, "Now what you worship as something unkown I am going to proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands!" (Acts 17)

48: Day 8: Mykonos & Delos

52: The Ancient Ruins of Delos: Well preserved thanks to the island's protective geography!

56: Lunch time! Little Venice on Mykonos

57: Daddy | Tiffany | Rebecca

58: Downtown Mykonos is filled with windy dead-ending streets! It helped keep the pirates out...or so they say.

61: Day 9: Katakolon (near Olympia)

62: Moonlit Mediterranean

63: Day 10: Corfu | yellow | white | green

68: The old fort and new, hidden Synagogue and puffy white clouds, chain saw stores and bead shops, pouring rain and muggy sunshine...what a cool city! | We sailed aay from Corfu with a stunning view, pictured to the right. It was early enough yet for us to get gussied up for the second and final formal night.

70: What is more precious than a handsome and loving Father spending an evening with his lovely daughters? Truly the Lord's perfect handiwork!

71: Our table: Dad, Rebecca, Tamara, Joy, Merrill, Tiffany, Nancy, and Mike.

72: Day 11: Split, Croatia | Split is a port city in which we were required to tender to port. We toured Diocletian's Palace, climbed the bell tower (minutes after the clock struck noon so everyone came down and had plenty of space to ourselves)) A city within ancient palace. walls. Neat indeed! Thanks Rick Steve's for the guided tour!

78: At the top of the bell tower...then off to meet some "Roman soldiers."

84: Rock Climbing aboard ship...until sunset. Great view.

85: We "won" backpacks for making it up 3 times! Strong ladies indeed! ;)

86: Day 12: Boat to Venice, Italy. Train to Triste, Italy. Bus to Piran, Slovenia.

87: Dad sat at the Ventian train station and watvched the luggage while Tiffy and Rebecca made a quick trip to the first Jewish Ghetto just blocks (?) away. | On the Sabbath, the Synagogue was having services, and the area was quiet. We got gelato and saw a real regatta, too!

88: Arriving in Piran: Where are we? What are we doing? Who speaks English? When is the next bus? Is there an open hotel for tonight? Why did we bring rolling luggage on these cobble stone roads? It all worked out! Great attitudes and lots of laughs! | From Venice, we took a train to Triste, boarded the last bus of the day, and headed for Slovenia...A seemingly random set of choices...

89: After our miraculous finding of a renatl apartment, we roamed around our 2 bedroom place. We went up the cobble-stone steps for quite a ways, found a church, a narrow paths, and then headed off to dinner. The whole town was so tiny, we nearly walked the entirety in the short visit we'd h ad so far. Definitely my favorite spot so far. Thank you Lord! Most would call it random or lucky, but I say the Lord foreknew we were to be here, blessed every crazy turn, and voila! we bless Him alone, for the splendid time the threesome had in Piran.

91: There was a washing machine in the room! Too bad there was no drier...we hung the clothes out to "dry" overnight...didn't work that well. | Town Square: the red 14th-15th century Venetian-style building is where we met the lady who led us to our rented rooms... | Well, our clothes didn't that thoroughly, but we'll find somewhere to put our wet clothes tomorrow! The rental car should work! ;) | Dad's camera takes some great night shots. How still you have to hold it though...or else it gets totally blurry.

92: Day 13: Slovenia Piran, Skocjanske Jame, & Ljubljana | Renting a car in a foreign country is fun! After squishing our stuff in the tiny vehicle, we hit the road, leaving the parking lot of a town in a rush so the rental apt lady was happy, drove a ways to the caves, ate, got a spoon, toured the caves, and reached the capital for a whilwind tour. No joke!

94: The cave was beautiful. It was split in two: first, the dry part of the cave, classic cavern; next, the wet part, following the "Riva River" (the river river). Fairly cold...and DARK! | Daddy has an incredible fear of heights. The whole tour is about 2 miles. Probably 1/2 mile is along a cliff near 150 ft high! Check out the narrow bridge we had to cross...

95: Aside Daddy's fear of heights, and Rebecca's minor clastrophobia, we did well...until the lights switched off, and we were in utter darkness... | Thankfully that lasted only about 2 seconds (which felt like an eternity). We exited the cave through the natural vast cavernous hole near the Riva waterfall...magnificent!

98: Once we made it out of the caves, we walked another 200 yards to a great view. There, Tiffany and Rebecca goofed around, practicing old gymnastic moves. Watch Tiffy's back walkover... What a splendid day with the family. We surely will never forget our time in the Slovenian caves!

100: Slovenia's capitol is beautiful in the evening! Ljubljana River. Ljubljana Castle. Preseren Square. Triple Bridge.

101: Arriving in Ljubljana with enough time for a FAST tour of the city, Tiffy and Rebecca ran past the most famous areas in 22 minutes flat. We were out of breath, hearts beating, and laughs endless. Candid shots prove it's true!

102: Day 14: 2am Train Ljubljana - Budapest | Despite the fact that we were exhausted upon boarding the train, and the fact that we had 2nd class arrangements, we were prepared for the sleepless night of passport checks. The people in the next room got in a heated discussion with the police in some foreign language were escorted off the train... Illegal action? Scary!

103: Day 15: Budapest, Hungary Day 16: Fly Home | While Tiffy was in the grocery store, I ran into Timi, who I'd gone to church with back home! So good to see her. We managed to pack Tiffy all up, using all nine suitcases. What a bargain my pink ones were at $15! Both our flights arrived safely, to London then LA, and off Rebecca was to SJ!

BC: May 2008