Patt with Two T's

Today we met with a small group--6 Aussies and us--for our food tour of Prague. Two couples were traveling together on a tour and the other had been here a night or two and heading for a river cruise for 3 weeks.  We passed the door in this shot on our way to the meeting spot...it had 3-D effects and carvings. I find doors most interesting in other countries. We need to work on that in the US.  Martin started our tour with some history of the country and how it changed after the Communists took over (every restaurant was given a specific menu to follow and expected the decor and prices to  match each other), and how it's changed since the Communist were forced out. The country is relatively new to the food revolution, so they promote the best in their city because many try and fail to produce good food.  The first two places we hit we stood outside in the hall and Martin explained about the history and why we were there.  Sisters is an example of the Czech'...

  Traveling is no picnic and we're hoping to do as much international trips while we can still enjoy ourselves and not feel 100 years old when we get there. After arriving yesterday, I only felt about 80.  I booked us on business class Air France to Prague, which stopped in Paris. Business allowed us to use their lounge, which was so different from Hawaiian...night and day. The rooms were filled with comfortable seats everywhere and food and drinks of all kinds. Having to get to the airport 2 hours early for a flight is rough, but it helps when you don't have to squish yourself into a seat at the gate near 5 people loudly talking on their phones. Our plane was the new airbus 380-800 and we were in the upper deck, which was cool. The seats are great with places for feet, slots for purses and other items, etc.  Matthew immediately demonstrated how easily one could recline and hopefully fall asleep. First course for dinner... a little portobello amuse bouche, then ...

 Put some miles on the car yesterday going to Lahaina--more touristy shops and very hot walking around, then headed up to Kula to the surfers goat farm. Had a "flight" of 6 goat cheeses all well-flavored. Saw the goats, but with it being about 100 degrees, didn't opt for going into the fields to see them up close.  We splurged on dinner or lunch, well, both actually, at Mama's Fish House, considered one of the best and certainly one of the oldest restaurant on the island. I had been here about 25 years ago or maybe 30 with a friend. Beautiful setting, very pricey.  I couldn't eat a huge meal again (most were about $45-$85 the latter being a whole fish), so shared crab cakes with Matthew: It came on this pretty plate, so I added it after we removed them to our own plates. Salmon roe on top. Quite good.  Then I had the ahi sashimi salad, which was perfect. Matthew had a huge meal, so I got a taste of his salmon, mahi mahi, poke, and wild boar. I passed...

 Our little plane on Mokolele Airlines...very tiny and so much fun! We had to bend over to get to our seats--yeah, even short me had to do that. I wondered how Jeff and Garret would have managed. It holds about 8-10 people. I sat behind the pilots and watched one of them playing on his phone.  We stopped for sushi on our way from the airport to our condo and it was SO good! I haven't had sushi for at least 6 months, and this was worth the wait.  Then got to the condo, which is very nice. I've never been in a VRBO place with so many rules and warnings to follow, but we're good tenants, so no worries.  We'd heard about Lapperts ice cream, so had to stop there after dinner and try it. Glad I saved room. This was espresso ice cream with coconut, fudge sauce, and macadamia nuts. OMG!! Many beautiful art galleries in this high-end mall. We were in two where we could have bought many things. This cat or one like it might be coming home with us.   And ...