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 While we wandered the maze of Old Town Prague - Praha to the locals - we accidentally stumbled onto a Banksy Exhibit! Of the four countries and cities on our Thanksgiving tour we found Prague to be the most underwhelming. I suspect this is partly due to travel fatigue, but none the less, it was exciting to find this exhibit and we didn’t hesitate to step inside.  While the falling snow was lovely and the curling club welcomed normality, the Banksy Exhibit was the Czechia's highlight!  Some context: the artist’s identity is unknown and their works pop up all around the world. Their work is usually categorized as “graffiti” but has themes rooted in social and political commentary. One quote sums up their worldview, “if you don’t own a train company you go and paint on one instead.” Much of their work is interpreted as narratives on consumerism, war, imperialism, poverty, and the environment. 

  Apparently some people dream about coming to European Christmas markets. They seek out the soft glow of the white tree lights, illuminated church backdrops, vast public squares, oversized trees and decorations, and wooden stalls hawking their local wares, sugary and savory snacks, and unique stylized mugs full of liquid warmth.  I, however, never did.  Yet, here in Vienna I see why this is the atmosphere that dreams are made of. Dreams and Hallmark Christmas movies.  Vienna had 13 Christmas markets, one we wouldn’t count as a market and one we couldn’t find. But otherwise we walked, trained, tram’d, metro’d, and bussed all over Vienna. Chasing the next hit of Christmas aroma, holiday gnomes, earrings, mitts full of snacks, mugs full of hot wine, and anything else we could cram into our super limited luggage space.  If you find yourself in Vienna be sure to look both ways before crossing the street and for good measure, look again! Their public transit system i...