Translate

Thursday, November 9, 2017

Sorry for My Absence



Although my sense of humor has not changed or been diminished, I must say that there have been many reasons for my absence from my blog.  Over the years, I have not enlisted people to write on my blog.  It has been a personal journey that I have shared with the places that I have been, places that I want to go, and places that I could only hope to see.  I have been thrilled that so many people have joined my journey and hope that people continue to enjoy my musings.


That being said, I have recently become a victim of the insurance problems that we are experiencing in the United States.  I have been ill this year with breast cancer, kidney stones, potential uterine and ovarian cancer, viruses, breathing problems, and bad wisdom teeth.  I also have seen a number of friends and relatives pass this year and it has been a little rough.  I did publish a book that you can find on Amazon, Smashwords and Inkitt called The Ring of the Queen; an odyssey about a young girl who travels to Russia to find out that she is in fact legally a Tsar.  Good read and in many places free.



But I digress.  Because of my health, I missed a lot of work.  Insurance decided that I didn't deserve my short term disability, so I had no income for weeks during surgery recovery.  I also had to pay most of my paycheck for insurance coverage that didn't even cover prescriptions.  Since that time, I have not gone further than two hours from my home and have only gone away for more than a day one time.  That time it was a single overnight that I had promised my son.  I have started working an extra job to pay the doctors and insurance premiums as well as for my prescriptions.  This takes up roughly 60 hours of my week and can be any hours of the day or night, weekend or holiday.  This is where I have been.  My only solace has been a kayak that I purchased before all of this started.  My only wind down, get away, leisure time has been using the local lakes and paddling for an hour or so; most generally between jobs.



What is my point?  Well, I wanted to explain my absence.  I also want to say that someone needs to fix this situation with the insurance.  I've worked all my life.  I put myself through college.  I've never been on unemployment, food stamps, assistance, or welfare.  If anyone  out there is listening, bug your congressmen.  Why should all of the considerable money that my family makes go to insurance and bills that it doesn't cover?  Why is it a crime in this country to get sick?  I've asked my congressmen.  They didn't answer.  I hope that some of you have better luck.  I don't call blaming the other party a valid reason either.



So, with a heavy heart I must tell you that I don't know how often I will have the opportunity to write this blog.  I will write when I can and I hope that you all continue to read.  I will not give up, because insurance and the government are trying to break me.  I'm tougher than anyone in office or in an office.  To these entities I say bite me, and I will come out on top.  I am the person that anyone with control issues should fear, because I cannot be controlled by my government.  I hope that  my readers continue to travel.  I hope that you all take the time to share some tips with me for my future travels.  In the meantime, I will be here; waiting for my next chance to travel.  I hope that your chance comes sooner than mine.  I hope that you all get a chance to see the world and enjoy!

https://www.facebook.com/adventuresforanyone?fref=ts
https://terri-dixon.pixels.com/
https://www.zazzle.com/imagings
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
https://www.fictionpress.com/u/530752/Nina-Kindred
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1545104298/ref=cm_sw_su_dp
https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B06Y1C2MS7
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y17BJP8
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1520990944
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/721980
https://www.inkitt.com/ninakindred?tab=stories

Remembering Prague and The Area






It seems like a million years ago when I went to Prague.  It was Czechoslovakia at the time.  It was 1991, and they had just had their Velvet Revolution and become a sovereign land.  They were experiencing life without Communism and a whole new world at their fingertips.  It was a magical time.  I reflect on it now, because lately the area has been showcased in television travel programs and I've been feeling nostalgic.  So many things have changed and continue to change.  So many things are just as I remember them.



Prague has always been famous for it's castle and the surrounding area.  The government still works out of the castle area.  I remember touring it in 1991 and that was not the case yet.  The castle was all but vacant when I was there.  We got to see all of it and the views that it affords of the Vltava River below.  The cathedral is amazing and the whole neighborhood is magical and ancient.  The changing of the guards still happens today and the gates remain the same.  The workings inside have changed to accommodate the modern government, but the view is the same.  As a tourist, I appreciate that.




Prague has always been a mix of themes.  In the old days there was an old town and only a slightly newer New Town.  Today you can see the old world of Kafka and his home in Prague and the new look of the buildings that were designed post Communism as they sit right next to classic old buildings of Prague.  There is nothing about Prague that isn't unique.  Everything about this city says Prague.  You never forget where you are.





Prague has more than one impressive open area for people, tourist and local alike.  The old town square is the most noted most of the time.  The astrnomical clock has been around for hundreds of years and crowds still gather in front of it today.  It's still a marvel and it is wonderfully beautiful.  The trip up the tower to see the views of the city is well worth the climb as well.  I've been around, and I can say without a doubt that Prague is one of the most beautiful cities I've ever seen.




Any time you look at St. Wenceslaus Square it is beautiful.  There have been revolutions there.  People have lighted themselves on fire there.  When I was there, the new government was forming in offices there.  There were also a ton of wine, cheese, chocolate and flower shops there.  It was the center of change and romance.  The views from the Charles Bridge are amazing.  The trip to Prague is worth it just to see the castle at night from the bridge.  Not joking.  You will see these views in your dreams.  Prague is a magical city.



We never forget that Prague and Czechoslovakia were part of the Holocaust.  The Jewish Quarter as it is known in Prague goes back many centuries.  During WWII and the Holocaust so many thousands were lost that I don't have that number.  Today, as in many other parts of Europe, they are exercising the motto of "We Forgive but we never Forget".  They have museums, monuments and a research center in the quarter and they should not be missed.  There are also amazing cemeteries, temples and other sights for your education.


While the view is amazing, the ambience is one of a kind and the worlds of old and new alongside one another always impresses; let's not forget the food and certainly not the beer.  When I was in Prague we tried out some restaurants and we were made to feel more welcome than I had ever felt in a restaurant in my life.  I felt as though I was dining at someone's home.  They gave us samples of the specials to choose our dishes from.  They were attentive and talked to us.  They told us about their lives and asked us about ours.  I don't know if this is still the same, but it was one of the best parts of my experience in Prague.






I traveled this area with the most amazing group of students I've ever met.  We went to one of the oldest pubs in Europe and had a great night with great food, great polka music, and fabulous Czech Beer.  This country is famous for the beer and we had a wonderful time, followed by a walk across the Charles Bridge with the view of the castle at night.  We didn't care that it was January.  We didn't care that the United States was going to attack Iraq in a couple of days with the first Gulf War and leave us stranded in Europe because all the airports closed.  We enjoyed our time and lived in the moment.  It all worked out and we made it home okay.  I miss those people that I traveled with.  We lost touch as happens many times.  But, I will always have the memories of getting lost in Prague and having the opportunity to experience one of the most extraordinary cities in all of Europe.  So, if you get the chance to visit this amazing city; don't pass.  If you do, you will be missing something positively memorable.  So, to the lost in Prague group; I remember all the time.  I will never forget.  I will always reminisce and I hope that you all have continued to travel as I have.  I hope that you see the world and enjoy.

http://praguebeermuseum.cz/en/
http://forgetsomeday.com/prague-beer/
https://www.praguebeergarden.com/
http://beerbikeprague.cz/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3JzvxPix1wIVDqxpCh0ywwFBEAAYAiAAEgKZ7PD_BwE
http://praguecastle.com/
https://www.hrad.cz/en/prague-castle-for-visitors
https://www.eatingpraguetours.com/prague-evening-food-tour/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Prague%20Supper%20Stroll_USA&utm_term=prague%20castle&utm_content=Castle%20Tour
https://www.prague.com/
https://www.pragueexperience.com/information/tourism.asp
http://www.prague.eu/en
https://www.pragueexperience.com/sightseeing/sightseeing.asp
http://www.praguetours.org/
https://www.toursbylocals.com/Prague-Tours?s=BA_03A_030B_%2Bprague%20%2Btours&utm_source=MSAC&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=03A_030B
http://www.europetravel.com/czech_republic.cfm
https://www.trafalgar.com/aus/destinations/europe/czech-republic#tT3sj0MdIuLOPHTu.97
https://www.countrywalkers.com/tours/czech-republic-vienna-to-prague/?st-t=ppc&vt-k=tours%20czech%20republic&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=BCM_CW_Destination%20Czech%20Republic_Unbr&utm_term=tours%20czech%20republic&utm_content=Czech%20Republic_Exact&gclid=CMCg-vD3sdcCFQKwswodGhcKJA&gclsrc=ds
https://www.globusjourneys.com/czech-republic-travel-stories/
https://www.intrepidtravel.com/us/czech-republic
https://www.kensingtontours.com/tours/europe/czech-republic
https://www.affordabletours.com/Destinations/Czech_Republic/
https://www.vbt.com/destinations/europe/czech-republic/?st-t=ppc&vt-k=czech%20republic%20tours&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=BCM_VBT_Destination%20Czech%20Republic_Unbr&utm_term=czech%20republic%20tours&utm_content=Czech%20Republic_Travel%20General_Exact&gclid=CMDVvOP3sdcCFS2zswodq4cNvg&gclsrc=ds
https://www.expedia.com/things-to-do/search?location=Prague&regionId=2872&kword=ZzZz.4990000247058.1c2762f7-e1f1-45cf-8fcd-378fffb0ef05&semcid=us.multilob.bing.dl-c-en.tshop&semdtl=a1142000589.b16639383378.d179989472179280.e1c.f1.g1kwd-142183666606:loc-190.h1b.i1.j1.k1.l1o.m1bb.n1&msclkid=55163e43b4fb1645d59f644731a52f3c&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=USA%3AENG%3A%5D%3ADL%3AEMEA%3AX%3AB%3AX%3A%3A&utm_term=things%20to%20do%20in%20prague&utm_content=USA%3AENG%3A%5D%3ADT%3AEMEA%3ACZE%3AXX%3ACzech_Republic%3A46%3APrague%3A2872%3AB%3AX%3Athings_to_do%3A
https://www.tucantravel.com/destinations/europe/czech-republic
https://www.fodors.com/world/europe/czech-republic
https://www.eurail.com/en/europe-by-train/czech-republic
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/cz.htm
http://www.myczechrepublic.com/
https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/czech-republic-visa/
http://www.everyculture.com/Cr-Ga/Czech-Republic.html
https://www.booking.com/country/cz.html
https://www.adventuresbydisney.com/europe/prague-austria-vacation/?CMP=KNC-FY17_ABD_ACT_DOM_Czech-Republic-Exact|NB|YG|4176700.AD.AM.01.01|&keyword_id=kwd-302619465679:aud-50351536|dc|czech+republic|33348771170|e|5046:105|&s_kwcid=AL!5046!105!33348771170!s!302619465679&ef_id=VZGaZgAABO8txtkY:20171109164009:s
https://www.vlada.cz/en/
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/czech-republic.html
http://www.czechtourism.com/a/prague/
http://www.czech.cz/en/Home-en
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/czech-republic
https://www.swiss.com/us/EN?utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_source=yahoogemini&utm_campaign=lx_us_en_nonbrand_SEA&utm_term=bluesummit
https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005688
http://www.czechtourism.com/home/
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
https://www.zazzle.com/imagings
https://terri-dixon.pixels.com/
https://www.facebook.com/adventuresforanyone?fref=ts
https://www.fictionpress.com/u/530752/Nina-Kindred
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1520990944
https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B06Y1C2MS7