Probably our last international trip of the year together, before the Family Season commences in November and December. This year, we are expecting three dogs and four young adults to join us at home! But first, there are a few European cities to explore for these two old adults…

Saw this outside Prague airport. There are some areas – say 12 feet by 6 feet, marked by yellow signs on the floor and the smokers are to stand inside and smoke. I do not see how the smoke can be confined within the yellow boundaries…

Saw this in our Marriott library area

The bridge was built in the 1300s !!

I could not figure out whether this is overflow water or normal flow.

You can see the Prague Castle in the background

Last year when I was in Prague, I remember seeing that and it took me a minute or two to realize what was happening.

The fall colors are setting in.

But we did not understand what it was all about.

One of the inevitable effects of going to bars every evening with Sharmila and my somewhat pesky inquisitiveness to get to know people means we meet a lot of new folks. Especially, the people working behind bars. I probably have over fifty young people who have served us, and I still call them on their birthdays. Some of them are not so young today!

Two summers ago, Jay Jay, Sharmila, and I settled down at the bar seat outside Central City Tavern to watch a game when this young lady came up to take our drinks order. Before she could go back, I had already found out a lot about her and her parents (who live nearby).

The following conversation stood fairly close to the norm:

“So Abby, when you are not working here, what do you do? What passions do you have?”

“I am in college.”

“Oh! Where do you go?”

Now, this is where I was in for a shock! Usually, I get the answer of “University of North Georgia,” “Lanier Tech,” or “Kennesaw”-the usual nearby options. And in some rare cases, Georgia Tech or the University of Georgia.

Instead, she said, “I study in Prague.”

“Prague as in Europe?”

“Yes”

“Wow! You are the first student I know from Prague.”

We talked a lot about Prague and how our elder daughter has been there, but we have not. At the end of the discussion—and before she could forget our orders—we told her, “Well, we will come and visit you there sometime.”

I am not sure she took us seriously.

But here we are, a couple of years later, in Prague, having dinner with her!

I showed her pictures of the staff from the bar back where we had met. In fact, I had run into her best friend, Priscilla, that Saturday at the Farmers’ Market. She is a story for another day.

But for this evening, I was overjoyed to see our young friend from the neck of our woods and how she is building up her career and life!

The room had a balcony. That is not a big deal. It had a private garden in the personal rooftop! Now, that we have never experienced before. It was a beautiful set up!

Here we are, sitting by the street side and sipping some red wine while watching the crowd on the streets. Except, this is in Paris, not Downtown Alpharetta!

This is where my office function was

Sharmila and Nikita missed it last time

In my first Austrian Airlines flight. The 51st airline for me.

I love a well set up library in a hotel. In fact, that has to be my most favorite part of a hotel. This one – Le Meridien in Vienna had books with covers made from old newspapers. Just like we used to do back in India when I was a mere child.

The music he was playing was very nice though!

But we talked to a person there and Sharmila explained how she had studied about Gustav Klimt and would like to see some of his works. The gentleman immediately pointed us to the Belvedere.

The weather was a bit cool but the sun felt great!

are you you likely to see such reflections on the car in front of you.

I understand this is where 24 of Klimt’s works are on display

The Kiss by Gustav Klimt

Note how realistic they have made the picture of the bicyclist waiting to cross. The bike is at an angle, not the usual upright in red!! This is in Vienna.

Owen – one of our favorite bartenders in Chiringa, back in downtown Alpharetta, had asked us to see it. Impressive structure.