At Last, A Holiday!

My hubby and I decided last weekend that we needed a break. It was also about time since I was also on the verge of losing my sanity... but this, of course, is just an exaggeration! :D

Saturday morning. Hubby woke me early with the words: "It's Prague!" I wanted to doze off some more since it was the weekend when it dawned on me that he wanted us to go on a short vacation. It may not be a long holiday, but it was better than nothing. And he chose Prague. We haven't been there before and it's not a very long drive... just about four hours from Stuttgart. I thought to myself, how on earth am I going to prepare for such a trip? I had tons of laundry to do, I needed to pack, we needed to book a hotel, I needed to read about Prague!

Then hubby showed me this great deal for a five-star hotel in Prague for two nights and when our booking was confirmed by the hotel, there was no turning back and everything was blitzschnell. I managed to finish packing and prepare everything for our trip the next day at "lightning speed".

Sunday. We arrived in Prague at around three in the afternoon. The drive took longer than expected since we had to stop for food, stretching and toilet breaks. I took photos on the way and I can say that just looking out my window and watching the countryside in its autumn glory helped to relieve the tension and stress that I was feeling for the past few months.

Our hotel was located at the heart of the city and I can say that we had a great stay. The buffet breakfast was superb, the room was large, it was quiet even though the hotel was in the middle of Wenceslas Square. More of our stay and our misadvantures in the coming entries...

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Driving Without License

Yesterday was my first time to really drive a manual car, and I was without a driver's license! I was a total wreck! You know how it is when you get behind the wheel for the very first time and you are responsible for everything while you drive. But wait, did I really say driving without license? Yup, you heard me right. I was driving without a license. How is that possible?

The Solitude Ring Starthouse

Here in Germany, aspiring new drivers aged 16 years old and above can learn how to drive with the guidance of a family member or friend who has a valid driver's license at the ADAC Verkehrübungsplatz, a traffic training area in Leonberg, near Stuttgart. Here, traffic beginners and driving license applicants can practice driving at low speeds (maximum 30 kph), attack curves and hills, and park without fear of motorists blowing their horns because you are causing traffic.

Entrance to the ADAC Verkehrsübungsplatz in Solitude Ring in Leonberg.
Photos: Larry Cooper

Hubby has been encouraging me to learn how to drive and I mustered enough courage to go for it yesterday. The training area opens at 4:00pm and because we arrived early, we were the third in line. While waiting, he taught me some basics and how the car works. At 4:00 PM, the gate opened and we drove our way inside. It was a slow drive because the entire area has a speed limit of 30kph. It was slower when I went behind the wheel. I was driving the entire hour between 10 kph-20 kph! Hehe!

It was cold out and was even starting to snow but I was all sweat and cold hands. And because I am small, it took all my might just to reach the clutch, the brake and the gas. I cannot control my feet yet so that I released the clutch too early or too abrupt that the engine would die out on me. Or I steered too much to the right or to the left each time I tackle a curve. It was THAT difficult! I "begged" husband that we stay only for an hour because my legs were beginning to ache and my shoulder muscles were already stiff. And he obliged. And for my first day, it wasn't all that bad. And the €10.00 that it cost us was certainly worth it. I am glad I have a patient teacher.

Thanks Hanhan for the lesson! I can't wait for the next one. It may be difficult but I am learning!

P.S.
If you are living in the area and want to have some knowledge in driving before enrolling for a Driving School, this might be helpful:

ADAC Verkehrsübungsplatz

Leonberger Straße 63

71229 Leonberg, Germany

07152 48192
Fees: €7.00 for the first hour, €3.00 for the next succeeding hours.
Please see their website at www.adac.de/wuerttemberg for schedules (only in German)

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