Hilza Travels the World: D-Day - Otherwise known as Death and Disembarkation

Man this day was bittersweet. It's tough to say goodbye to one's room/ship/friends. But then we had the "Post Cruise Extension" to look forward to. This was three nights in Prague, a HUGE bucket list item for us.

Tip#1: There is a limited amount of time to turnkey the ship. So, though it seems a bit rude to be evicted from one's room by 9:00am, the passengers coming after you won't be able to check in until whatever-O'clock so I guess it makes sense. I hate to think about those poor souls who had to catch an airport shuttle at 3AM because they did not purchase the extra Viking Air!

Tip#2: Don't be a Cheap Ass, spend the $50pp and get the Viking Air, so that you have a say so in your flight arrangements.

Tip#3: You are getting off that ship, if they have to carry you out with the dirty dishes. It probably would have been much more convenient if I had figured out, one day prior, that I was suffering from the Black Plague and needed medical care. On the morning of departure, however, standing at the counter, sniveling in snot and making this request, "Oh no problem, just tell them that when you get to Prague! Buh Bye, enjoy the rest of your trip!!"

So we embarked on our bus. For BLOODY THREE HOURS. I spent the trip huddled in my seat covered up in all my scarves and wraps, wishing for a quick and merciful death. I perked up only as we entered the City of Prague. Even in my stupor I was able to appreciate the beauty of this "Paris of Eastern Europe".

We arrived around noon and checked in at the reception desk of the Art Nouveau Palace Hotel. "Welcome to Prague! Your room will be available anytime after 3pm today, meanwhile here's a city map", advised the hapless desk agent. Nope, this wasn't going to work for me. Leaning my full weight upon the reception desk, I all but grabbed the poor sweet young lady by her lapels and wheezed into her face "I need your help. Please. I am sick and in need of antibiotics". "Oh!" she exclaimed as her fingers flew over her keyboard, "Then you need a prescription, I'll arrange a visit from a physician shall I? And we are happy to admit you to a room early, will this work?" Yes please.

Tip#4. If ever you feel that you need to expedite the readiness of your hotel room, read the above.

Five minutes later we found ourselves shown to a room, with the promise of a visit from a local physician.

Realizing the unimaginable coolness of being in Prague - Prague! - I couldn't possibly hold Jeff back from exploring so I magnanimously suggested that he go off exploring whilst I just lay there and awaited death. He did a bit of exploration, for a brief time, but came right back, so that he could be on hand when the fatal diagnosis was delivered. And for bonus points, he had scoped out a pharmacy, and got a general orientation of our local environs.

At around 2pm-ish, right on time, the Doctor arrived. A local cutie-pie who appeared to be around mid-adolescence and wearing street clothes. I'm assuming he had the Czech equivalent of an MD, but no way to know for sure. He had his little roller bag and a pile of carbon copy forms, and he completed his exam and made his diagnosis:

Ear Infection, likely spawned from the earlier sinus infection that I spent several posts whingeing about. He pulled out 5 or 6 boxes of medicaments: antibiotic, ear drops, pain meds and throat lozenges. He takes cash, btw.

Here is the dilemma. You gotta take all that stuff with food, so being half dead, how do I get food so that I could take my pills? Not to be deterred, Jeff propped me up, kinda like an over-served sorority pledge after a frat party, and steered me in the direction of food. Food was required. I ate food and took my meds, then asked to go back to being dead.

The drill sergeant would not allow me to die in peace and instead made me walk around and take in the sights of Prague.

This was the view from our room. We were unable to find out the exact nature of this dig, but it was cool to watch Indiana Jones and his ministers skitter about.