Early morning on the rive Vltava..
The famous astronomical clock in the square...the movement is somewhat underwhelming.
The rumbling sound of car tyres on cobblestones, the "clip clop" of the horse's hooves with special wooden shoes to help them negotiate the cobbles, the squeal of metal on metal of the tram wheels as they trundle around corners and along the avenues as well as the distant sound of bells pealing all over the city, especially in the morning. Maybe it's that the city hasn't woken up yet when I'm wandering around taking in the sites.
We had a easy trip on the Autobahns this time as there wasn't nearly as much roadwork, and when we arrived at our digs, well, weren't we pleasantly surprised. Firstly there was a lift...always an advantage and, as we glided up the curved, carpeted staircase we entered a spacious, light, airy and very well appointed apartment that may be bigger than our whole house. Large bedrooms, foyer, well appointed kitchen, two bathrooms....circumstances to which we would like to become accustomed!
A browse around the central market square, a horse drawn carriage ride around the old city and a beautiful dinner in an old 14th Century brewery cavern with curved ceiling and armour etc on the walls complete our first day. Prague looks likes a place to enjoy.
We headed up to the castle on Thursday morning after an in-apartment "continental" breakfast and spent much of the day there exploring the Royal precinct which was the the home of "Good King Wenceslas". It has a number of large plazas and buildings with fountains, a royal garden and a huge cathedral with beautiful stained glass windows that refract the afternoon light like a giant prism on to the statues and frescos inside. Quite breathtaking actually.
We also met up with young Lucas and his friends at the castle. Lucas is part of the Pieper clan we visited in Tangermunde, the medieval, walled city and the home of Wendy's ancestors near Berlin in 2014 on our Genealogy Tour. He was backpacking around Australia in that year and spent some time with us then, so we really enjoyed catching up with him. He and his friends came a long way to meet up with us and we enjoyed lunch together in one of the castle cafes.
Some local delicacies ( a sugary pastry cooked over an open fire not unlike Churros) for afternoon tea and a stroll back to the apartment in the city spelt the end of our castle visit and as I write this I am enjoying a Czech lager at a local cafe waiting for the two Wendy's to return from the markets before we head out for dinner and a show at the Mozart Cafe. I'm finding Prague to be quite a liveable city.
The string quartet in period costume in the background playing Mozart and other stuff.
After a lazy get-up and breakfast, our last day has been catching up with museums, old churches, and art shows not to mention the drooling over Bohemian Crystal and antiques and things in old, musty shops. We can't see it all......but we can learn to ride a Segway.
Maybe next time we can have a more in depth explore of this marvellous city.
All in all, our stay in Prague has been a really enjoyable experience with a number of highlights. The three course, very fancy dinner at the Cafe Mozart being entertained by a very professional string quartet dressed in period costume .....to the markets and castle and cathedral.....and strolling over the famous and very ornate King Charles IV bridge, we've filled our days but have been left wanting more....which is the way it should be.
On now to Salzburg via Cesky Krumlov.
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