8/5/2012

Explored Prague again today. Had an early stroll to the Jewish quarter
after breakfast. Then were called for our tour .People in the group were from all over; Argentina, England,Ssouth Africa, Austalia (not just us) There was a lot of information given as the bus speeded to the Prague Castle, the Oldest and Biggest one in Europe!

We were greeted by a squad of guards marching and pealing off in formation up the main drive.

As today happened to be the Celebration Day for the Liberation of Prague after world war II. It was a huge place first started in the 8th Century, gradually extended by various dynasties. That's it for the history lesson. We could easily have spend the day there and then some. The views were magical, the cathedral and all the buildings were amazing.

Our energetic guide Martin raced us through at great speed (and skilfully) through the throngs of other tour groups. The bus next took us to the docks for a boat cruise, which was really nice. We had an hour admiring it all from the river.

The apple strudel was delicious. The last part of the tour was at the city square and seeing the clock tower in action again.

Before lunch we popped briefly into the local market which was hilarious. They had a stall with laughing witches that started up when you made a noise near them. We tried a Czech restaurant for lunch which was huge and full of locals. They give you a docket when you walk in, you then collect a tray and pick what you want to eat from a menu on the wall and the staff behind the counter give it to you, they then write on the docket what you ordered. I had fried mushrooms, fried cheese and mashed potato, which was delicious. The woman at the checkout informed us that it was cash only and Guy had to leave me as a hostage whilst he braved the beggars.

Tour over and onto the start of the our own wanderings, we were interested in the streets from where the tour started which brought us back to the river and bridge Legil. Back to explore the castle side againbut closer to the river. This is also a very old area of little sprawling streets, very beautiful particularly near the Charles bridge. We discovered a few working water mills and many little alley ways, canals and houses and back to the St Charles bridge, which is the one we started yesterday. This is a big walking bridge with many huge statues of saints and has guard towers at both ends. We decided not to explore the area behind the bridge too much as we may have spent the next 3 days trying to discover everything, Leave it to next time.

How can one keep finding so many streets that you have never found before even though you thought you saw them yesterday. We got back to hotel at 7pm, totally weary, crashed on the bed and woke around 10:30. Unfortunately too late to find somewhere for a snack by the time we got into gear again. A short stroll to sort out the senses and then back to get ready for tomorrows flight to Amsterdam.

We have really loved this city. It has charm and frienliness and a peace that cannot be forgotten. So many people gave their lives to save it and free themeselves from rotten Communism and before that the occupaying forces during WWII. Those people will never be forgotten in history and the monuments that occupy the streets in honour of their efforts.