(written march 1)

some things i probably should have reported earlier but hadn't gotten around to:

1. the coolest bathroom EVER! -located in vienna- underground, feels like you've stepped into a 1920's art deco train car....the facade is wooden with stained glass.....the toilet tank is wooden........the toilet seat is wooden......the cubicle walls are wooden....it's spacious (for a public toilet)....each stall has its own sink.....each door sliiiiides open.....the floor is tiled in brown and cream patterns.....all in all, well worth the cover charge.
2. prague is both breathtaking and overwhelming....it's this crazy combo of midievil and baroque architecture....every time you turn around it's like you're smacked with more amazing........have you ever climbed inside a fairy tale? i have.....honestly, now i have......(and i even saw a unicorn)
3. the jewish quarter--'hood of franz kafka, among others......we went to many synagogues.....more than one made me cry....they had displays recounting the history of their community in prague and the surrounding area.....hundreds of years of discrimination/acceptance/discimination/acceptance......documents from the 1500's, 700's, 1900's........the most potetn for me tho' is the most recent history......one synagogue was essentially a memorial to the holocaust victims of the area......their names cribed on the walls........all the walls covered........upstairs, children's drawings depicting their friends being taken away as well as life within Terezin (a jewish ghetto, transition station and prison)..........tomorrow i go to Terezin......i tell you this, there will be no mascara wearing.

fact of interest: nazis stole jewish treasures during the war and preserved them in order to create a museum for an extinct race. gross! ironically, due to their preservation, they ARE now in a museum. but one run and organized by the jewish community............

p.s. good news.......i just met this nice brazilian girl who happens to be going to terezin tomorow as well....consequently, we are going together.