Spring Break has Sprung

Almost as soon as we got back from our winter break, I started talking about, and planning , Spring Break.  Not because I don't love my everyday life in Prague, I do, but I also love to plan and dream and travel.  So, I daydreamed of historical treks through Turkey; I fantasized about exploring the coast of Croatia;  I even imagined a biblical expedition to Israel. Because sometimes the dreaming and the searching are as much fun for as the trip itself. But I was brought back to reality when B told me that he wouldn't be able to join us on this trip as he had a work commitment he couldn't get out of.  Boo.  Now all I wanted was a place that the girls and I could go and have fun - and that B wouldn't be super disappointed that he didn't get to join us.  Instantly I knew where we would go - Dubai.  

Dubai has been on my bucket list since we moved to Prague.  Not so much on B's.  Which made it the perfect location.  By early February, I had it all booked and just had to bide my time.  Until this past Monday!  Finally, we were on our way...(did I mention Dubai was on my bucket list)...

We landed just before midnight.  Because even though we live closer here in Europe, we are still a bit over 6 hours, and 2 time zones away.  And it was late.  But I still stopped to take a picture of the girls. (um, of course I did)

and it looks like MadHatter is already in a mood.  She did ask that I do a retake but we still had to get through passport control, get our bags and head to the hotel, so I had to decline.  She is still not happy about it.

We finally made it to bed about 2 am.  And since we had no plans until about 6 pm, I let the girls sleep as long as they needed to.  Which meant we made it to lunch.  Not breakfast - lunch.

We sat down and the first thing they did was hand us COLD towels...Which MadHatter used appropriately...

because it was...

We ordered and we nibbled but it was so hot that we really had no appetites.  And we were so excited to hit the beach that food just wasn't a priority.  So we called it a meal and headed down to our private beach...

Think they were excited?

She was excited, you just can't tell by this look...(that is the face of a photographer's kid if I have ever seen one).

After a few hours at the beach, we headed out for ice cream.  Free ice cream!

The hotel had given the girls tokens upon check in.  They could be used for slushies, ice cream or popcorn at the various bars around the property...(now if they would only give token for the grown ups for the bars...)

They opted for orange slushies this time...

And this one decided to finish hers with the bunny that lives on the property.  Though I'm not sure the bunny knows that she has company...

We didn't stay long as we had to get cleaned up and head over to the Dubai mall and the Burj Khalifa.  We had tickets to ascend at 6 pm and they don't let you in if you are late.

The Burj Khalifa.  

The world's tallest building at 2,722 ft (829.8 m).  Designed by the same firm that built the One World Trade Center (no. 7 on the list of World's tallest buildings) and the Willis Tower (no. 15), the tower is an incredible feat of architecture.  And one that has been awarded many distinctions:  It is the world's tallest freestanding building, has the most stories of any building, has the highest occupied floor, has the longest travel distance of any elevator in the world, and has the highest observation deck in the world...so I guess, it is a must see when in Dubai...even if you are terrified of heights, like I am.  

We got in line.  Then we entered the world's fastest elevator and in less than one minute had ascended 124 floors to the observation deck.  And stepped out to look down (and I mean down) upon Dubai...

Those are skyscrapers ... And they look tiny...

Since we were only on level 124 of 163, there were still a few floors above us...

But we didn't look up.  We were too fascinated with looking down...

We made our way back down.  In time for them to light up the tower...

Those are skyscrapers on the left, if you can't tell...

And head back to the hotel for dinner.  Where we spent a bit of time playing with MSQRD and it's new faces.  Which always bring a smile to our faces...

Or duck lips (how old is she again?)

And we fell into bed.  Happy, exhausted and glad to be spending this time together.

Veselé Velikonoce

A four day weekend!

 A beloved cousin in town!
Easter! 
Does it get any better than this?
Nope.
And that is probably why I have taken so long in getting this posted - I am still recovering from playing tourist in my own city.  We walked, we talked and we ate (oh, did we eat).  We shopped, we snacked and we snapped a few pictures.  We hit up the easter markets, we decorated trees and we hunted eggs.  To sum it up  - we just enjoyed spending time together.
And I am still tired.
But it is the good kind of tired.  The kind of tired that means we had a great time, together.

A quick recap of our long weekend...

B's cousin A arrived in the late afternoon Wednesday.  It was a school night for the girls, and followed directly on the heels of a very late night (post to come about the Snow Queen ballet) so we didn't want to do too much.  But we also didn't want to just stay in, so we all trammed it down to Old Town.  We took a stroll through the gorgeous Easter Markets...

Kraslice - handpainted/decorated eggs.  The eggs are a czech tradition.  The woman blow them out and then dye the eggs and decorate them in a variety of ways.  The eggs are then given to the boys on Easter Monday.  The boys chase the girls around and whip them with braided pussy willow branches tied with colorful ribbons (pomlázka - 3 pictures down, on the left) and the girls are to give them eggs to ensure their health and happiness in the next year.

and then headed to dinner at one of our local favorites.

Thursday was a regular school day for the girls, so B and A were on their own until dinner time.  I guess they toured a bit but I think they spent more time eating and drinking than actually seeing the city.  The girls and I met them at another of our favorite spots for dinner - this one with amazing food and views...

The view from my dinner table!

Finally, it was Friday and we were on vacation for the next 4 days.  We had a lot of ground to cover (literally) but first we had one quick thing we had to do...decorate an easter tree.  Eggs are thought to be a sign of fertility, new life, and rebirth and are given divine powers during this time of year.  Trees and branches are decorated with hand painted and decorated eggs at almost all homes (and restaurants, public spaces, hotels etc.  Let's just say if it has branches, it probably has eggs this time of the year).  And the girls had been begging me to let them decorate one at our house but I didn't want to use my good eggs out in the crazy weather.  But last week I finally found plastic eggs with the hangers attached and on Friday I let them have a go at their own easter tree...

We only hung he eggs this year, but maybe next year I will get it together and get the ribbons too...

Tree finished it was time to head out.

First up - the Strahov Monastery library. Thought to be one of the most spectacular in the world.  Completed in 1679, the Theological hall, which houses the library, contains over 200,000 volumes, including 3000 manuscripts and 1500 first editions.

There are over 18,000 different theological books in this room.

We, or rather I, reluctantly left my happy place and kept on our journey.

We did the must-see sights at the castle complex...

and then had a must taste treat courtesy of Stinkerbell's persistence...

We tried to have lunch at the must taste restaurant, but they were booked so we moseyed to the park...

and climbed the ropes.

We made it to lunch - and had fabulous tapas...and then a much-needed siesta...

before heading to see the crazy crawling babies of Kampa...

and adding our John Hancock's to the Lennon Wall...

again.

And we called it a day.  The girls were exhausted (so was I) and they didn't want to eat out again, so we left that to the boys.  The girls went home and fell into bed, knowing that we would do it all again tomorrow.

And we did.  First stop - the Žižkov TV tower.  Built during the Soviet occupation, the tower stands 216 m tall, making it the tallest building in Prague.  The citizens of Prague did not like what this building added to its skyline when it was built and they protested it.  But then you  add to it the strange crawling baby sculptures, named one of the most unintentionally terrifying statues in the WORLD, and it just becomes a must see for any tourist...

Yep, the same babies from Kampa park are now climbing the TV tower...

We did a bit more touring that day (lunch in Vinohrady, souvenir shopping in Old Town, more Easter markets) but I didn't snap any pictures so you will just have to take my word for the fact that once again we fell into bed exhausted.

Well, the girls did.  I had to wait for the Easter bunny to visit.  Which, we found out bright and early the next morning, he surely did.  We found our baskets, and then conducted our egg hunt...

And then had to say goodbye to A :(  But not before saying Happy Easter.  Even the dog got in on the act...