moonsong

And it is the WORST design ever for a theatre, because unless you’re sitting in the middle rows facing the stage, you can’t see anything! But still, it was a fantastic experience, and what I could see of the ballet lived up to all my expectations of the Opera Ballet.

I’ve watched TRF “grow up” over the years. Some things remain unchanged, other things have disappeared forever. But my friends and I have a great time every time we go—that never seems to change. I highly recommend going to see it, even though it’s so “commercial” now (and costs the proverbial arm and let and maybe a few fingers and toes). It’s all about who you go with, and what frame of mind you’re in when you go.

BUT. I would also suggest checking out the other Texas Faires, as well. Scarborough Faire in Waxahachie (oh, spelling) and Excalibur Fantasy Faire in Austin are excellent, for starters.

Dude. It’s ALL about Misty. And Phantom. I used to read Marguerite Henry’s books and DREAM about this place.

Room and board: We stayed in Affinity Flats just outside the city center. Our window overlooked a busy street, but the double-paned windows kept out all of the street noise. At any time of the day or night, you could peep out of the curtains and people-watch. Food is shockingly cheap, and if the flat you stay in has a kitchen, it’s fun to find the grocer’s, green grocer’s and butcher’s shops in the neighborhood and buy your own food. We had breakfasts of eggs and cheese and bounties of winter fruits, but no meat because I couldn’t make the butcher understand what I wanted. My Polish is abysmal.

Out and about: The Czartoryskich Museum had many things of interest-especially fascinating was the room with all of the artifacts from Egypt. The market square and all the shops were wonderful also, and Polish shops have some of the prettiest clothing I’ve ever seen!! I really just enjoyed walking around Krakow and looking. It’s a very personable city-not grand and aloof like Praha; Krakow is awake and alive every minute. I hear they have an excellent nightclub and music scene, which I hope to explore when I go back.

Getting around: Krakow is easy to get around—it’s not a huge city, and the tram lines are simple to figure out, and cheap. You can walk almost anywhere. If it’s rainy, don’t walk by puddles unless you want to get covered in sludge when a car zooms past. Taxis are good, too, although a little more expensive. Unless you’re very brave, don’t think about renting a car. I almost died of a heart attack while my taxi driver drove on a narrow street alongside a huge tram.

I had so much fun in this city that I miss it when I think about it. I wish I’d had a week to spend there, or more.

My husband and I took our moms to eastern Europe during December of last year. We are from Texas and Florida-we hardly ever get cold winters (although it did snow in Houston in Dec. 2004!!). Our first stop was Prague, and we stayed in a lovely place called Hotel Tiepolo-a little ways off from the center, but near a metro, great service, highly recommended.

Prague was gorgeous in the snow. On our second night, we were wandering around looking for a place to eat when this guy came out of an alley and asked us if we wanted to go to a concert. We asked him where, and he pointed to a building that had a little sign set out advertising the concert. We said ok, and he led us to a little ticket booth and gave us half-price tickets for the concert, which had already started. We went up into that shabby old building and found ourselves in a beautiful room with frescos and intricate plaster work on the ceiling, and a concert in full swing.

The musician playing the harpsicord looked-I swear-just like a young Franz Kafka, and the harp and flute and viola players were magnificent, as were the singers. For less than ten dollars, we attended a wonderful, professional performance of traditional seasonal music—an hour of evening entertainment.

Be open to every unexpected experience that comes your way while traveling. I would never have gone into that building, and I certainly didn’t expect to find myself in a beautiful room listening to superb music performed for a group of maybe thirty people. That’s one of my best memories of Praha.

I don’t want to romanticize New Orleans’ survival of Hurricane Katrina, but walking around the city, seeing the generators running to dry buildings out that have not yet been restored, and driving through the streets (I got lost) of areas where rebuilding hasn’t even begun was an eye-opening experience. And yet, the city is as charming and aesthetic as I have always heard, and the people are lovely. I especially enjoyed the French market and the lovely Indian shop on Royal Street (I think that’s the right street!).

Going to New Orleans in April, if all goes well.

An Article Here About Xilitla

I heard about this place from a friend of mine who runs a B&B in Ingleside, Tx. She was amazed at the beauty of the Xilitla gardens once owned by Edward James, an eccentric man who was rumored to be an illegitimate son of British King Edward. Edward James was a patron of surrealism, and his legacy lives on in the heart of Mexico. I was so fascinated by Jane’s stories of this place that I want to see it myself someday.