Prague

DAY 26

Monday 19 May 2014       

Today we left the ship and headed to Prague. Sad goodbyes to the crew who absolutely bend over backwards to help the passengers and also some lovely people we met on board. Our coach departed at 8.30am, they forgot to mention that the trip took 8 1/2 hours. We had a brief stop at a motorway service station in Gyor, Hungary for a "smiling stop". Bargain at only 50p.  There were a number of Japanese tourists ahead of us and the man feeding the money into the machine for them kept bouncing the coins on the floor first and then there was a lady on the other side of the turnstile taking a photo of each as they were going through!!!!!!!

We then stopped in Bratislava for lunch and once more for another "smiling stop" at a McDonalds before arriving in Prague.

We just had time to put our bags in our room, and what a room, before going downstairs to meet Robyn's cousin Elizabeth and her husband Ian who live here in Prague.  We caught a train and tram to their place and finally did some proper washing.  The transport system is very good in Prague and very well priced. This is all thanks to communism.

We took a short stroll before having dinner with Elizabeth and Ian then back to their place for another load of washing and then a taxi back to the hotel and bed.

Robyn and her cousin Elizabeth on a bridge near their place.

Dinner with the cuz

Entree and main courses

The old and the new in Prague

DAY 27

Tuesday 20 May 2014

Guess what another 8.00am start.  Headed for Prague castle which is the seat of the Czech Republic President. Within the castle walls is the St Vitus cathedral which took 6 centuries to be completed, ending in 1929. Here we saw the changing of the guard which is done every hour.

Morning tea was in a little cafe which served us apple strudel, very nice. We walked to a park where we stopped for a rest and our guide brought out a bottle of some liqueur for a taste. It tasted like cough syrup (yuk). This was done because people here usually start drinking beer at around 11.00am, they drink beer like water here. Because he couldn't carry 40 bottles of beer we had this liqueur. Kay is thinking if immigrating here!

On our walk again we passed the John Lennon wall and pub. John Lennon was an idol here because of his views on world peace. Prague was still under communist rule until 1989. Then on to the famous Charles Bridge which was completed in the 15th century. It was so crowded and we were warned again of pick pockets. We also saw the Astronomical Clock and were lucky enough to see it working, which it does every hour.

After the tour we headed to a shopping centre for lunch and back to the hotel for a couple of hours rest before our next tour in the afternoon. At 3.00 pm we again headed out for a tour on communism or so we thought. We took the underground and headed for Wenceslas Square where we stood in the sun and listened to him lecture us on communism. Wenceslas square was originally a horse market in medieval times but later in 1945 was better known as being used by the nazis for mass demonstrations. Again in1989 it was used for mass demonstrations during the Velvet Revolution. Hot and thirsty we headed off on our pub crawl going to a little brewery. We had ONE beer then off to another hotel for ONE more beer. This was the pub crawl. Aussies would be ashamed to call this a pub crawl!! They also have some very strange statues here.

Back to the hotel for a light dinner then in bed absolutely exhausted.

Blueprint of Prague Castle

DAY 28

Wednesday 21st May

Today was a free day for us and as the sun was shining and it was quite warm we decided to walk to Jewish Town.  This area has the most expensive shopping street in Prague with security at many of the entrance doors.  We purchased a ticket that we thought would give us entry into all the synagogues and the cemetery but only gave us entry into the Old-New Synagogue.  This synagogue is the oldest surviving synagogue in Europe. It has been the main synagogue of the Prague Jewish community for more than 700 years. We found the cemetery but could not gain entry. We could not find the museum which we discovered later was some distance away.

From here we wandered back to have another look at the Charles Bridge. Not as many people today.  There are lots of musicians, artists and people selling hand made local gifts lining the sides of the bridge, all of these people have to pay a fee to be able to perform or sell anything on the bridge.  

We stopped at a small cafe, and there are so many of them here, and had a beer.

Walking back to the hotel we once again looked in so many beautiful shops.  There are many wooden puppets, Bohemia crystal, Swarovski and souvenirs of every kind to see and/or buy. Our suitcases are bulging.  Lunch was once again a sandwich at the local mall and then back to the hotel to have a rest before our last dinner with the tour group.

We were picked up from the hotel at 7pm, there would have been a major revolt if we had to walk, and were driven to Prague Castle.  There we had dinner at Salm Palace. Duck for entree, pork (unbelievably tender) for main and chocolate pudding with pistachio coated ice cream for dessert.  It was a fun filled night with some delightful people.  Back to the hotel at 10pm and sleep before preparing for another day.

 Beautiful building in Jewish Town

 Museum of Torture

Sightseeing in style

Jewish Town

Street performers, we don't know how they did this!

Last dinner at Salm Palace in Prague Castle

DAY 29

We got up early this morning to have breakfast and farewell Barbara Raynor from our tour.  As we didn't have to leave the hotel until midday we decided to go to the shopping mall as Robyn wanted to get her nails done. Misunderstanding with the girl doing the nails or a rip-off we haven't quite decided. Raced back to the hotel and did our transfer to the new hotel about ten minutes away. Not as nice as the first but the staff are more friendly.  We walked up to a Chinese restaurant and had some lunch and then headed to a pharmacy to pick up a few items.  We went to turn into the street to the pharmacy and almost had an altercation with a man who wouldn't let us walk down one side of the street. They were filming something but we weren't sure what.  We were too exhausted to do much in the afternoon so had a quiet one.  Ian brought our washing back in the evening and then we went out and had dinner at an Italian restaurant.  The food was delicious.  Back to the hotel and an early night.

DAY 30

Well what a day we have had today.  We booked a trip to Cesky Krumlov, a medieval town in South Bohemia.  We were picked up from the hotel at 8.15am and driven to the departure point for the tour.  It was only a small bus with the driver, tour guide and sixteen passengers.  The tour guide started by berating the passengers for not bringing umbrellas with them as there was a storm predicted for the afternoon.  An hour or so into the trip we made a "technical" stop, which as usual cost us 50 pence. We again headed off but about fifteen minutes later were pulled over by the police and asked to produce identification.  Their idea of identification is either a passport or identity card. Only 6 of the 16 passengers had their passports with them. The majority of them had been advised by their hotel to lock theirs in the safe.  Our hotel didn't advise anything.  After much discussion between the driver, tour guide and police our tour guide informed us that the police would not turn us around if the 10 people without identification were prepared to pay a fine of 500 CZK ($A25).  How lucky were they!!!  The fine is normally 3000 CZK our guide informed us.  For the next half hour there was major mayhem on the bus with threats, refusals to pay and on and on. One Greek girl we thought would get arrested. Fun, fun, fun. Meanwhile it was now 28 degrees and getting hotter (not just under the collar).  Finally brave Kay had had enough and informed everyone she was just going to pay.  They all traipsed out of the bus and the police officer was obviously still learning to write as he took forever to write everyone up and issue them with receipts.  After 1 1/2 hours they finally let us go. We were going to flip the bird as we passed the police but decided discretion was the better part of valour.  

We then found out that they were doing roadworks and the driver didn't know another way there.  But never fear, not only was he speeding to make up time, he decided to get out his trusty phone and get directions from that, whilst still driving like the devil.  Three times the phone came out for directions.  Eventually the Greek girl asked if he could slow down and Robyn, who was sitting in the front seat with one of the only seat belts in the bus, was ready to kiss her.

We eventually arrived at 1.15pm instead of 11.30am as planned.  Of course our lunch reservation was for 12.15pm but they very kindly fit us in.  Guess what - pork again and we had to pay for our own drinks.  Do you know that beer is cheaper than soft drink here.

Cesky Krumlov has retained it's almost fairytale-like atmosphere to the present days and is on the UNESCO list of cultural heritage sites.  The historical centre comprises narrow, winding streets and lanes full of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings from the times of Rozmberk, Eggenberg and Schwarzenberg (not Arnie) noble families.

After lunch we had our tour of the castle, the second biggest Czech castle, which is full of historical furniture, artwork, tapestries and exquisitely adorned weapons.  Cesky Krumlov boasts the world's oldest preserved baroque theatre.  It also has lots of brown bear rugs on the floors.

The tour took almost an hour and was fascinating.  We were then given "free" time to explore the town which was not nearly enough to really look at all of the amazing houses and shops.  Our time was cut short because of our love-in with the police.

We then had quite a walk to the bus as there is nowhere close that buses can park.  Our drive home was uneventful apart from the rain although Robyn saw the tour guide grab the door handle three times. Maybe even she was a nervous passenger. She was going to let us rest on the way back which would have been nice except her and the bus driver talked for the whole journey.  We were lucky that they dropped us back at our hotel.  The tour company were so generous they even were prepared to give us a voucher for a free boat trip, which we were entitled to anyway.  Glad they are on Facebook and Trip Advisor as I think they may be getting some nasty feedback.

We walked across the road to an Italian restaurant and Robyn had goulash (yum) and Kay had pizza.  Back to the hotel to repack and weigh our bags.  Let's hope we get through.

 Countryside on our way to Cesky Krumlov

Kay contributing to the economy

Nice policeman who raised 3000 CZK for the Government

lost in the countryside

Cesky Krumlov

Views of the castle at Cesky Krumlov

 Beautiful buildings in the town of Cesky Krumlov

the Two Widows Cafe

More photos of the castle

View from the castle

O! Dear does this brown bear know his future?

Two beauties posing