Even though I have some really great stories from Prague, I only have one that was caught on digital film. I am also hoping the humor of the situation will be enhanced by the language barrier.
GP is actually pretty good at Czech in everyday situations. He knows how to order almost anything on the menu, he understands the mass transit system and he can drink a lot of beer (very important when in the Czech Republic and is its own language of sorts). Before this day, his only inspiration for learning anymore Czech was to talk/flirt with the women (and let’s just say, they are beautiful and that is an understatement. W.O.W.) After this day, he might also want to learn some estuarine words as well.
The day started like any other in Prague: waking up with just enough time to go to lunch with friends. (Oh yes, the food is amazing, too. Though I would do it no justice trying to describe it. I can show pictures later). I only had a few more hours before my flight and GP was enjoying doing more ‘touristy’ things than normal. There were a few things he hadn’t even done in years. We went to observation deck on the TV tower and then went paddle-boating in the Vltava River near the St. Charles Bridge, National Theatre and Dancing Building. We had just about an hour before we had to leave so I could pack for my flight.
Aren’t the views from the water incredible?
GP is actually pretty good at Czech in everyday situations. He knows how to order almost anything on the menu, he understands the mass transit system and he can drink a lot of beer (very important when in the Czech Republic and is its own language of sorts). Before this day, his only inspiration for learning anymore Czech was to talk/flirt with the women (and let’s just say, they are beautiful and that is an understatement. W.O.W.) After this day, he might also want to learn some estuarine words as well.
The day started like any other in Prague: waking up with just enough time to go to lunch with friends. (Oh yes, the food is amazing, too. Though I would do it no justice trying to describe it. I can show pictures later). I only had a few more hours before my flight and GP was enjoying doing more ‘touristy’ things than normal. There were a few things he hadn’t even done in years. We went to observation deck on the TV tower and then went paddle-boating in the Vltava River near the St. Charles Bridge, National Theatre and Dancing Building. We had just about an hour before we had to leave so I could pack for my flight.
Aren’t the views from the water incredible?
We decided to turn around with 30 minutes left on the stop watch and *crack*… GP’s peddles broke. Now I know what some of you are thinking... why couldn’t I just paddle us back with my own brute strength? Mine would still work but would only turn a half of rotation in either direction due to whatever happened on GP’s side. Humph.
What to do?
We decided to ask another two-some that were leisurely paddling if they knew English. “Yes”. Oh good! Our saviors! Could you please go back to the dock and tell them our paddle boat has broken before we go over the little falls that our paddle boat will surely not make it over. “Yes”. Then they continued to leisurely paddle. Humph.
We then saw a man sun bathing (or taking a nap between fishing casts) with a small motor boat. We drifted close enough to say “excuse me’ loudly in Czech. He looked up and walked down the very convilently placed wall to come talk to us. We say we don’t know much Czech but I try to use body language. It must have worked because this is what he said, “ Broke. Paddleboat. Sh!t”. Yay! He understood. He walked back down the wall to his boat and side-tied us. We then were wisked away back to the dock.
Do you notice the cast on his hand? When I pointed to the hand and said ‘broke’ (remember, it’s an English word he knows) he answered “Fight” with LOTS of enthusiasm and an air-punch. I really wish I could have heard the story! I tried to teach him to answer “you should see the other guy” when English-speakers asked him, but it didn’t translate. Humph.
Actually, due to being towed by a motor boat, we made it back faster than if we had paddled the whole way. The people gave us another 30 minutes for free, which we gladly took (I had factored lots of ‘give’ in my schedule to get to the airport). But this time we stayed in yelling distance of the dock!
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