Race Recovery -Touring Prague

Race Recovery -Touring Prague

We took a train from Linkoping, Sweden to Malmo, Sweden before catching our night train to Berlin.  We were able to rent a locker for our big backpacks but unfortunately we had to haul our bike bags around town. 

We found a running store in Malmo -- Asics were about $180 a pair! 

Our 'lovely' train and 'roomy' accommodations to Berlin.  I use these 2 terms loosely because the train was probably new in the late 1970's and as you can see in the photos below - there wasn't much room in our sleeping quarters.  Thankfully we booked the entire room (designed for 6 people).  I think the mattress was about 4 inches thick.  But at least our stay included a fresh set of sheets!

I'm pretty sure that our bikes slept better than us that night

complimentary water and a nice little table in our room

we had a short ride to the Swedish coast and then our train was loaded on to a boat where we spent the next four hours being entertained by a group of Swedish men who were singing Irish drinking songs while they drank duty-free beer!  They continued singing the same song over and over again ----- and when our train was back on land in Germany, they continued to sing their Irish drinking song until about 3am.  Then, believe it or not - we actually saw the same guys the next afternoon in Prague --- walking around in the same Swedish football jersey's AND .... you guessed it .... singing the same Irish drinking song and drinking duty-free beer!

sunset on our 'cruise' from Sweden to Germany

2 very tired triathletes

We arrived in Berlin around 6:00am.  Paid a couple Euros to brush our teeth and wash our face.  Then we grabbed some breakfast before boarding our train to Prague.  It was about 4 hours to Prague.  Saw a sign for some races in Prague :)

Vltava River in Prague - people were renting paddle boats and these giant plastic balls to run around inside along the river

We toured the Prague Castle - this photo is from inside the main church

Original entrance for the horses used during a crowning ceremony

castle in a forest preserve at the top of the city

Astronomical clock in the center of Prague

Full moon rising in the area near our apartment

we rented bikes to get around the city - this was the lower part of the forest preserve that overlooks the city

Part of the castle

tram in the forest preserve

Charles Bridge

White water rafting course that we found on our bike ride

church in the palace grounds

Room where kings/queens were crowned

Prague street performer

we took a walking tour and learned a bit about how the buildings were originally named

Botanical gardens

center of town (Prague)

we did a little 'training' in a nearby pool

cool cake in a shop window

Jewish temple

locks on the Charles bridge

if you touch the figure and the cross - supposedly your wish will come true

Charles bridge entrance

biking in the forest preserve

changing of the guard

Petrin tower

Jewish temple

you know me - i love my Hard Rock Cafe!!

cinnamon and sugar treat

made on these rollers

this metronome replaced a Stalin Statue that once stood at the top of the city

We had some time to kill in the airport and we watched this lonely piece of luggage sit on the runway after it fell off a luggage cart.  They finally loaded it onto the plane.  The crazy things that entertain you when you don't have your 4 kids to chase around :)

A bit of touring around Stockholm

Stockholm, Sweden

Hard Rock cafe in Stockholm

A fun tapas dinner in Stockholm

How do you torture a runner?  Tell her to run 30 minutes without her Garmin :)

We came home to this lovely decorated cake (It says Welcome Home) --- kids helped decorate it!

Without the help of my mom, our trip would not have been possible!!  Words cannot describe how appreciative I am that she took care of our 4 kids for 2.5 weeks --- took Jilly to school, kids to early morning and late night swim practice, a 3-day swim meet, two 4th of July parades, not to mention feeding and doing laundry for all 4 of them.  THANK YOU, MOM!!!!!!

A quick winery tour with my mom before she left.  It was unusually cloudy and rainy that day in Napa.

A nice welcome home sign!