Dobry den, Praha, bohemia

Saying goodbye is something that I don't like doing, but is something that I have to do.

I left for Praha on Thursday, with Chiara and Davide, from Venezia Marco Polo, and it was really looknig forward to seeing a new city. But leaving Italy meant that I had to say goodby to my family. It was so nice being able to see them at least once a week, invece di once in my life. I will really miss them! We arrived in the afternoon, after the plane was delayed a little, and then I had to work out my way to my hostel. I felt 100 percent foreign in this city. I couldn't read any signs, I understood nothing of the language, and I really didn't know anything about the Czech Republic. So with carefully written out instructions in hand, we caught the 119 bus to the city metro Line A, and I got off at Staroměstská and located the Staroměstske náměstí (Old Town Square). There were no dramas finding my way (the street signs have pictures on them), and then I found Týnská, the street for my hostel. I found it and was greated with a map, and settled in within the hour.

My hostel was just behind Kostel Matky Boží před Týnem

I was meeting back up with Chiara and Davide at 6pm at the famous Orloj, Astronomical Clock. I arrived a little early, so while I waited I looked around the square for a little bit. Since I hadn't really eaten that whole day, my prime aim was to locate food. So we found a pub and got our first traditional Czech meal. Now, I was starving, so I don't know if that made my food taste so good, but it really was amazing. With food in our stomachs, we were ready to look around.

Oroloj

First up we went to Karlův most (Charles Bridge). We crossed over the Vltava and over into Malá Strana (Lesser town) and had a little wander around, before crossing over another bridge, and for amazing views of Karlův most. The weather wasn't amazing that day, but the grey sky provided an amazing sight of the bridge at dusk. The light contrasted amazingly. After Karlův most, we walked back to Staroměstske náměstí and had an icecream. There was some live music in the square (Chiara told me that they were Italian has-beens) but it was very nice, and we saw the Orloj and Kostel Matky Boží před Týnem lit up. It was beautiful.

 Walking on to Karlův most

 View of Karlův most

 At Staroměstske náměstí at dusk

Kostel Matky Boží před Týnem at night

Wake up was at 8am the next morning as we had plans to visit the Pražský hrad (Prague Castle). I also had to journey to the train station to validate my EuRail pass and buy my ticket to Wien. It wasn't to difficult to get to, but one wrong not turn made it a bit of a challenge. Luckily, though, I asked a gentleman if he knew where the station was, and he was going there, too. We got there, and I eventually found where to buy my ticket, and then I found the correct road, the one that I should have taken to the station in the first place, (I know for when I go today though).

Pražský hrad was great. We had a bit of a trek up to the castle, but we also had beautiful views of Praha to make it worth it. We wandered the castle, and found Katedrála svatého Víta. After realising that we needed a ticket to get fully in the cathedral, we joined the long queue (I'm used to them by now). The cathedral is beautiful though, There are beautiful glass stained windows that let light of many colours stream thought, and there is a huge organ that covers part of a wall. After the cathedral we went to Starý královský palác, had more beautiful views of Praha, saw beautiful rooms, and royal jewels and a crown. It was Marvelous. After the Royal Palace, we went to Bazilika sv. Jiří. I think that, out of all of Pražský hrad my favourite part was the last part, Zlata Ulicka, Golden Lane. It is really cute and narrow, and I felt as thugh I had walked into a fairy tale.The houses are small and of different colours, and some houses were set up as they would have been originally. Second storey spanned about 10 houses, and was full of glass cases holding sets of medieval armour, helmets, chain mail, jousting sticks, spears and medieval clothng. I found myself, again, in history nerd heaven.

Katedrála svatého Víta

The sun made beautful colours through the stained glass windows of Katedrála svatého Víta

I must note here as well, before we leave Pražský hrad, that some of the guards are mighty fine in thier guard suits. So far they are the finest men in uniforms that I have ever seen. I wouldn't mind one guarding my house.

After a long morning exploring the castle, we went for some lunch. After lunch we went on a hunt for the post office so that we could buy stamps and post our postcards. Then we went to Prašná brána (Poweder Tower). From here we dicided to have a rest for the afternoon, and on my way back to my hostel I decided to stop in at Kostel Matky Boží před Týnem, the church in front of my hostel. It is beautiful, and so peaceful after a day of taking in so much of the city. That night we met back up at 8 for dinner, and then we had a walk up Pařížská before having a sit down in Old Town Square, before say our final goodbyes, for this time.

On Saturday I had the day to myself; I could do anything. I chose to take a leisurely stroll around Malá Strana, and then back over Karlův most, but the other way. On my way back to the bridge I came across a medieval parade. It was really cool. The best thing about walking aimlessly is that when you come across something you don't expect, it makes it more exciting. It was a really cool parade, with boys dressed in knight and hourse costumes, fair ladies and merry men, being carried in horse-drawn carriages, and everybody else either on foot or on horseback, dress in beautiful medieval costumes. I shopped in a Czech supermarket for my lunch, my new favourite, ham and cheese rolls (cheap and delicious), and then spent the afternoon relaxing. I was really quite exhausted. For dinner I tried traditional Czech sausage. It was really nice, but I feared my arteries were clogging as I was looking at it. I had an early night as I had a day trip to Český Krumlov at 8:45am on sunday.

I was really looking forward to having a good breakfast, and being full for the morning; being hungry is getting tiring. But, when I got to the kitchen, eagerly anticipating my museli, I found it to be missing. I was furious. I was also disappointed. In all the years that I had left food in the fridge at Lowanna and RACV, nothing has ever been taken. Now, in my hostel, a whole box of unopened museli. I was sad, and hungry. Thankfully they didn't steal my milk, or my last bread roll, because then I had a glass of milk for breakfast, my apple, a ham and cheese roll, and lollies for during the day.

It was really good to get out of the city, and that was one of the reasons why I wanted to spend a little bit more time in each place I went. I joined a tour, so it was a little pricey, but with the our I had a guided visit to the castle and lunch at a very awesome medieval tavern. The bus took a little while to get to Český Krumlov, but on our way, our tour guide, Tony, told us about the Czech Republic, the difference between Bohemia and Moravia, about Czech garnets, and about Bohemian Crystal. He also told us about the uranium mine, and showed us where the last battle of WW2 was.

Český Krumlov is a nice quite town, even with the gazillion tourists, and it really is as beautiful as Praha. First Tony showed us the best two views of the town, and then we made our way to the castle for our tour. It was really nice inside, a little bit cold, but full of authentic Renaissance decorations and room furnishings. Our tour guide had really poor english, but she tried really hard and was really sweet. After the castel we went for our lunch. It was a very cool medieval tavern, and it felt like walking into a cave. weapons, axes, and animal skins decorated the walls, and we dined on traditional Czech food, three courses, too! It was definietly my best meal in The CR. We had some free time after lunch, so I took a nice walk along the Vltava, and watched people canoing down the river. I walked around the cobbled streets a little, and sat in the square for a little bit, too. Then it was time to leave. I had a bit of a catnap  on the bus, and we arrived back into the city at 6:30. It was a good decision to get out of the city.

Český Krumlov

I raced back to Staroměstske náměstí to see the clock at 7, when it made its hourly show. I saw it the night before, but I wanted to see it again, on my last night in Prague. I had to get back to the hostel and pack, and by the time I got everything organised, I was failry tired. Another early night.

This morning horrible. A very loud snorer. I think that he bacame a public nuisance when the whole dorm was awake becasue of him. So this morning, in order to stop my self thowing something at him, I got up at 5:30! and went with my breakfast (a banana) to Staroměstske náměstí  and sat in the nearly empty square. It was nice, but I was also a little chilly, and tired. So here I am. I leave for Wien mid morning. I hope, very much, to successfully catch my train, and you should hear from me again with sounds of music.

Photos will come up soon I hope.

Love from Praha, Emma XX