Home Travel Diving Running		23 October 2002 To celebrate Tom's birthday at the end of October Tom, Di, Sasha, Vicky, Ross and Louise all head off to Prague for a long weekend. This is only Tom's second visit to Prague after leaving in 1939 and his first for about 25 years so there is a lot of catching up to do. The highlight of our trip was the great hospitality from Tom's old friends from Turkey, the Junas. This started with a splendid greeting at the airport where Hannah plied us with bread and cake from a tray perched on a luggage trolley. It was followed by a great lunch at their home where we were joined by daughter Marketta (sp?), son in law Michael and grandchildren. Tom especially impressed by Hannah's dumplings. Tom and Di have known Mirek and Hannah since working together for the UN in Turkey in 1969. Keeping in touch through 20 years of communism was tough but they are clearly the greatest of friends after all this time. Tom impressed us by his ability to walk all over Prague in three days. We explored all of the old town, including a trip to the top of the Old Town Hall tower (left) to view the rooftops and Tyn church. Crossing Charles bridge Tom regaled us with jokes that he had learnt about the statues a great many years ago. Louise and Vicky pause for a photo stop on the walk back from the Juna's flat. The weather was fantastic for mid October with plenty of sun and mild temperatures. The river is back to almost normal levels and, apart from repairs going on to some of the roads, there is no sign of all the flood damage from earlier in the year. The city has done a fantastic clean up job. On Sunday night, prior to a visit to the Opera, we meet up in the Klasjerni Winery with the other czech experts from Turkey in 1969. There is a great deal of catching up to do and the time flies past all to quickly. On the Monday the weather is not so great and after a trip to visit the flat that Tom lived in as a boy (right) we adjourn to the U Flecku brewery for more meat and dumplings washed down by loads of dark beer and Becherovka spirit.