Prague, Czech Republic

Our trip to Prague started with a 3:40 am wake-up to catch a cab to get us to our 4:39 am train.  The good news was we got a cabin to ourselves.  The bad news was there was no first class or sleeping car and the train was old and pretty dirty.  There were three seats on each side facing each other but the seats didn't connect so the sleeping was REALLY uncomfortable but we tried.

When we arrived in Prague, we took a taxi to our hotel.  We immediately felt like this was the most foreign feeling place we'd been.  We know not a word of Czech!  No hello, thank you, nothing.  It also definitely felt more Easter European. 

Our hotel was the Alchymist Grand.  It was right next to the US embassy in New Town (which was founded in 1348 - not so new).  Right away we realized people wouldn’t speak as good of English as in other countries because even the people at a nice hotel weren’t as fluent - they were very nice and helpful though.  The hotel was very grand.  Beautiful chandeliers, extravagant art and furnishings.  Lots of gold.  Almost a little too gaudy.  Our room was smaller than the Sacher but really nice. 

Our hotel

On the steps in front of the hotel.

We showered and went to walk around.  Our hotel was just up the street from the Charles Bridge.  The oldest bridge in the city.  The entrance to the bridge is marked on both sides by towers.  Here is a picture from the bridge.  You can see Prague Castle in the distance on the top right.

The bridge has statues along both sides of Catholic Saints.  There are tons of artist and musicians along both sides of the bridge so it's a fun place to walk.  Scott and I bought some pictures and paintings to remember here to remember our visit.

The city has tons of Gothic and Baroque architecture.  Here I am in front of this beautiful Gothic cathedral with a baroque building in front of it.

I found this yummy dessert called Trdelnik.  They were so yummy and fun to watch them made.

It's really fun walking around because there are a ton of pedestrian streets in Old Town and they are windy with tons of touristy shops.  We walked around the corner and straight into this weird parade.  It was all these kids dressed in bloody, scary costumes and shouting.  So weird.  Scott loved it and so we had to follow them around so he could take pictures of them.  We tried to ask people to see what it was all about but never figured it out.

Here we are in front of the National Museum

I was giving Scott a hard time because he hates for me to take pictures of just him.  He usually just barely turns to the camera and looks blankly.  Here is one with his best camera grin.

We walked all over and had dinner and went back to the hotel and changed and went down to the "Relaxation Grotto" or at least that's what we called it.  There was an indoor pool, sauna, workout room, and lounge chairs.  It also had one of those Indian beds that is almost enclosed.  There were lots of comfy pillow so we lounged in our fluffy robes and read our books.  It was great.


Matt and Laurie came in late that night so we met them at breakfast the next morning.  Matt had a crazy story to tell about them missing their train and then not finding a working ticket machine so they almost got arrested for trying to ride the train without paying.  It was hilarious - at least after the fact.


We ate breakfast and went to meet the tour guide.  Some of the things we saw with the guide are the Jewish Quarter, Old Town,  the astronomical clock, lots of Gothic and Romanesque churches, the old royal palace and Powder Tower where they stored gun powder.  We also saw the dancing building –(Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire) by Frank Geddy, and the  national threatre. 


Here we are on one of the streets in Old Town.

With Matt & Laurie in Old Town Square.

Not sure why but Scott wanted a shot of us talking to our guide so here is our staged "candid" in front of the Astronomical clock.

The Astronomical clock was really cool.  It's on the Old Town Hall and every hour the doors on the top of the clock open and the 12 apostles come out and at the end the skeleton at the top rings bell.  (Scott's trying to be more smiley for camera)

Next we drove up to Prague Castle saw the monastery and government buildings and then went into the cathedral, St. Vitus  Cathedral.  It's huge and beautiful.  At the end of the church is the tomb of the Saint who was thrown over bridge for not telling the king his wife’s confession.  There is also a shrine to this Saint on Charles bridge and people stop and touch it for good luck.  

View of Prague from Prague Castle

Inside St. Vitus.  I just love ceilings of churches.

Isn't this a beautiful door.

We walked back down from Prague Castle and Laurie and I went to get another Trdelik.  This time the place I went smoothered the inside with hazelnut. It was SOOOOO good.  I don't know of many things that aren't better with a little hazelnut spread on it.  

That night we went to a really nice "modern" czech restaurant called the Blue Duck (in english).  Everyone got duck except for Scott who got Salmon. It was very good.  We were all dying laughing at the end when the Maitre de was helping helping us all with our coats and Matt with his hoodie - Had to be there. We walked around a little and went back to pack up.  We had to say goodbye to Matt & Laurie that night.  We always have so much fun with them.  We've vacationed with them almost every year we've been married, I hope we can keep up the tradition!