Thanksgiving

Since we weren't able to spend Thanksgiving the usual way with family our team decided to travel for it.  We went to Prague in the Czech Republic.  It was quite an experience getting there.  We took a train for eight hours through the night, "sleeping" in one of the sleeper cars.  Aaron was the only one who really slept the whole night, but we made it.  

Prague is a beautiful city with a rich history and several beautiful cathedrals, which is ironic considering that they are one of the most atheistic countries in the world.  It was a great place to be able to relax, sight see and enjoy Thanksgiving.  Plus there were several American restaurants in town.  We had KFC, which made Aaron very happy, Subway, which made Cindy happy, and then for Thanksgiving we ate at TGIFriday's-not your traditional Thanksgiving food, but it was still great!  There was also another restaurant,  Bohemia Bagel that we ate breakfast at that had cheddar cheese on their bagel sandwiches, something that you can't get over here, so Cindy and I were very excited.  we love cheddar and have missed it.  

In Prague there was the Christmas market as well, so it was fun to peruse the shops with goodies and souvenirs.  The main Christmas market in Old Town Square opened the day we left so we didn't get to experience it, but we saw the lights and the decorations going up.  All-in-all it was a great trip.

Sunday, after we returned to Kosice, we had our real Thanksgiving dinner.  Cindy made turkey breast and everyone chipped in to complete the meal.  We ate turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, cornbread, green bean casserole, fruit and regular salads, followed by pumpkin pie and ouie-gouie butter cake.  It all was delicious!  We set up tables and ate like a big family, it was a great night.  Then we followed that up by decorating the Christmas tree at the girls' apartment, luckily some of the former STINTers had already bought a tree and ornaments.  So it ended up being a great Thanksgiving week with great time with our STINT team family!

Here's one of the Christmas markets and then the Charles Bridge, probably the best known spot in Prague.  It was under some reconstruction while we were there so I (Mikey) couldn't get a full picture of the beauty of the bridge.  

On the left is the Astronomical Clock, It tells month, day year, time and many other things as well, I can't remember what all our tour guide told us.  And on the hour it plays music and the twelve apostles pass by the windows above the clock while a skeleton rings a bell and then the rooster crows before the bells ring the time.  It's a very intricate clock.  On the right is Old Town Square with the Jan Hus Monument and the Church of Our Lady before Ty'n.  

Here's the girls getting ready to decorate the Christmas tree!