planBE

Our five-week European escapade is now coming to a close and I look forward to the return to normal that is my bed, my kitchen, my routine. As I reflect on all that we experienced on this trip, it is clear that even I, a self-proclaimed expert in change management, struggle with disruption in my life. Each new destination would have me grumpy and fussy for the first 24 hours as I shifted to a new living situation almost every five days. This guard and horse stood immobile at the Royal Horse Guards in London for at least an hour. It stretches my imagination of patience. The grand 4 ton Gold Carriage at the Royal Mews. Requires a brakeman walking alongside and 27 meters to stop. Apparently this might be the most uncomfortable thing to travel in, and was very seldom used. Gorgeous Cottage and English Garden in the middle of Hyde Park. This park really had me question my definition of high-density urban territory. Hyde Park with all of its variations on a garden theme...

The weather has been spectacular in London since we arrived, so as soon as I saw my husband off to work at the nearby tube station I headed two blocks over from our hotel to the Ross Nye Stables and hired a horse to go traipsing through beautiful Hyde Park. Once my lovely Polish guide Dagmara figured out what kind of rider I was, she had a new plan. We would trot over to Rotten Row, intercept the Queens cavalry in their drill formations and gallop towards Buckingham Palace. How was a girl to say no to that? Albus, my trusted grey-dappled cob was super into the plan and I have no idea why they gave me a crop. This horse had more zoom-zoom-zoom than a racing motorbike. As soon as I would say “ok”, we were off in the lead and he kept his steady pace throughout. No nagging this smart cob. Dagmara was also a super guide and we talked politics, Polands role in the EU, Brexit. As a graduate in journalism and political science, she had so much to share and the time literally fl...

When asked what I thought about Prague I always answered the same thing : dark. My last trip here dates to almost twenty years ago, in a cold November week where I spent most of my time drinking hot mulled wine in the old town square avoiding gypsies. Tales of ghosts, hidden passageways and underground tunnels, the stark period of the iron curtain, torture museums, castle dungeons ... it was all dark. Tyn Church in the iconic town square A view down the Vltava River A view up the Vltava River towards Prague Castle (from Vysehrad Castle) A view down the Vltava River from the Vysehrad Castle. Its a windy sailing day. Fast forward in time and there are some differences but Prague is still moody. Tourists are abundant and things that used to be free are now being charged at every opportunity. We are struggling with all the currency we are handling and their respective conversions (Hungarian forint, Euros, Polish Zlotis, Czech Crowns ... and soon British pounds) ...

Of course Budapest is a beautiful city filled with history, culture, good food and great public transit. After my work was done, I headed out on a sunny but brisk day to see some new spots and find new things. Parliament Building First destination was Varosliget Park just a few blocks from our apartment, down the end of Andrassy street (like Embassy Row meets Champs Élysées). Andrassy is a standout street for its unique tree-lined format, its quadruple sidewalks, and the echo of the underground train that tracks underneath. Pulbic transit here has been delightful with an honour system of jump on, jump off. I keep my monthly all-access pass tucked away in my passport and rarely have to show it. Trains come by every 2-3 minutes so you are never waiting very long. Andrassy Street But this morning, with the bright sunshine after so many days of rain, I was walking! Inside the park (which feels somewhat like NYC’s central park) there is a beautiful castle with many curious t...