Day 1
It's time to start another trip, this one to Eastern Europe to bring an experimental theatre I helped create to a small tour through the Czech Republic!
Today is a Saturday. Last Sunday I threw my back out and wasn't sure that I'd be able to make the trip. As recently as Tuesday I was using a walker to get around the house. I've seen three different doctors who have helped me try to get ready to make this trip. I'm still not feeling 100%, but I feel well enough to give it a shot. So, I packed my bags, a back brace, a lumbar support bracket, and headed to LA to begin my flight.
My flight from LAX to Amsterdam was uneventful. Bringing a bunch of wireless microphone equipment through checked security definitely triggered the additional screening, but it wasn't a hardship and by the time I got on the plane, everything was fine. The lumbar support bracket worked like a dream, and because I had booked an aisle seat, I was able to stand up on occasion to move around.
Day 2
We landed in Amsterdam on time, and I had a few hours to kill before my flight to Prague. I used the KLM lounge, which let me sit down, stretch out, and not have to worry so much about my bags. The flight to Prague was easy, and once I got to Prague, I met up with B, G, and K for the 3 hour drive to Olomouc. L was supposed to have met us, but he got caught in some travel snafus and wasn't able to come in until much later.
The drive through the Czech countryside was lovely. Rolling hills, bits of creativity along the way (a sculpture of cars and shipping containers, a trio of silos painted to resemble wooden soldiers). The most exciting moment was when we saw that an ambulance helicopter had landed on the other side of the road to transport someone who was in a traffic accident.
We got to Olomouc in the early evening, and met E (who had taken a bus from Vienna). B, G, and K turned in for the night while E and I grabbed Czech food at a traditional restaurant.
Day 3
I woke at 4.30, jet-lagged. I rolled over to check my phone and learned that H had broken her wrist while I was sleeping. I quickly facetimed them and got to chat before H turned out the light.
I was up, so I read, got cleaned up, build the RF rack (which I had to disassemble for transport), and got some work done. At 11, everyone but B (who was recovering from injury and also had to prepare a talk) met to walk into town. We spent the afternoon wandering through the city center, poking our heads in churches, looking at public art, and grabbing refreshments. In the shade it was cool, but the sun was pretty intense.
Late in the afternoon, we met B for his talk. K, E, & G listened to the talk, while L and I snoozed in the hallway. After the talk, we went to check out the venue, and I passed a poster for our show!
Then, D (our faculty host at the U) took us for another Czech dinner, where we ordered WAY too much delicious food. I had duck with purple sauerkraut, potato dumpling, and a fresh tomato and cucumber salad (and a homebrew beer). No one ate all their food, but it was delicious!
Fed and tired, we took cars back to the hotel and settled in for a quiet night before we head to the theatre tomorrow morning!
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