Day 8: Ostrava to Prague, Czech Republic
We had planned to arise early and take the first train into Prague, but it was a nice bed and quiet and we were exhausted, so we slept a little longer and then rushed to the train station to make the 9 am train. At the train station, we picked up a sandwich to share and an excellent yogurt. I always enjoy the views of the countryside as I sit on the train!
We had planned to arise early and take the first train into Prague, but it was a nice bed and quiet and we were exhausted, so we slept a little longer and then rushed to the train station to make the 9 am train. At the train station, we picked up a sandwich to share and an excellent yogurt. I always enjoy the views of the countryside as I sit on the train!
In Prague, we walked to our Airbnb flat and got settled,
then set out to explore Prague. We retraced our steps back to the Wenceslas Square and then walked down Vaclavske Street where we found a bakery that looked good and got lunch.
After lunch, we continued down the street and wandered through the cobblestone roads to Old Town. We came to the square where the oldest Astronomical Clock stands and found a pack of tourists waiting for the clock to toll. It is a beautiful square, but it was just very crowded.
We did not stay long and continued through the cobblestone streets until we came to Cech bridge. We walked across the bridge to the other side and took the stairs to the Prague Metronome.
At the top of the hill, we had great views of Prague.
We continued across the top of the hill to the west coming into The Royal Gardens which leads right to the Palace entrance.
We wondered through the castle ground and enjoyed the artitechure of the cathedrals.
As we were leaving the Castle Grounds, we had another great view of the city.
We continued along Letenska street staying close to the buildings to try to not get pounded, as the rains came down faster and harder – we finally ducked into a café on Mostecka and bought hot chocolate so we could stay in the café for coverage. As we sat there the rain turned to hail stones.
We slowly enjoyed our hot chocolates until the rain slowed down to a drizzle. Then we headed out back across the Charles Bridge.
On the other side, we found a Valvaldi concert that was just beginning in St. Clements Cathedral, so we bought tickets for the front row and walked right in. It was a beautiful concert and well done.
After lunch, we continued down the street and wandered through the cobblestone roads to Old Town. We came to the square where the oldest Astronomical Clock stands and found a pack of tourists waiting for the clock to toll. It is a beautiful square, but it was just very crowded.
We did not stay long and continued through the cobblestone streets until we came to Cech bridge. We walked across the bridge to the other side and took the stairs to the Prague Metronome.
At the top of the hill, we had great views of Prague.
We continued across the top of the hill to the west coming into The Royal Gardens which leads right to the Palace entrance.
We wondered through the castle ground and enjoyed the artitechure of the cathedrals.
As we were leaving the Castle Grounds, we had another great view of the city.
But it was about this time that it began to drizzle, so we quickly made our way down the Old Castle stairs. We were not sure where we were going, and just happened into Wallenstein Gardens. It is a beautiful area with a pond and many statutes. The rain was not letting up, so we ducked in to a
building of Senate and stayed there for about 30 minutes until they kicked us
out due to the garden area closing.
We continued along Letenska street staying close to the buildings to try to not get pounded, as the rains came down faster and harder – we finally ducked into a café on Mostecka and bought hot chocolate so we could stay in the café for coverage. As we sat there the rain turned to hail stones.
We slowly enjoyed our hot chocolates until the rain slowed down to a drizzle. Then we headed out back across the Charles Bridge.
On the other side, we found a Valvaldi concert that was just beginning in St. Clements Cathedral, so we bought tickets for the front row and walked right in. It was a beautiful concert and well done.
At the completion of the concert, we wondered through the
tourist filled streets and found a restaurant that had soup in a bread bowl
which Chris was craving. I selected a
grilled salmon and it was excellent!
After dinner, we bought a strawberry dream roll that we had been eyeing
all day. It is a cinnamon sugar “donut”
baked over coals. Then they filled it with strawberries, Nutella and whip
cream. It was amazing!
It drizzled all the way back to the flat. We decided we would be prepared the next day with rain gear.
It drizzled all the way back to the flat. We decided we would be prepared the next day with rain gear.
Day 9: 2nd Day in Prague:
Upon leaving our airbnb flat, we went left heading southwest to Vsyegard. Along the way, we walked through a university campus and found this large snail crossing our path.
Upon leaving our airbnb flat, we went left heading southwest to Vsyegard. Along the way, we walked through a university campus and found this large snail crossing our path.
As we left campus, we spotted a bakery. I made the mistake of buying a “pizza” bread
which I found out the sauce was ketchup on my first bite. Chris made the better choice this time and selected a museuli bar dipped in chocolate.
It was amazing. We should have
gone back and bought at least a few more!
We hiked up the hill to Vsyegard grounds. We made our way to the cathedral and we were able to look in.
Then we walked along the wall which overlooked the river. The leaves along the wall were glistening with morning dew and it was so pretty!
As we stood at the wall, we could see the Petrin tower and the Prague Castle across the river.
We made our way off Vysegard hill and walked along the river. Under the first bridge was this pretty decoration and and number of swans swimming underneath.
We continued walking until we came to the Legii bridge and then walked across. We found a grocery store and bought some yogurt, fruit and water. We enjoyed our snack at the base of this memorial to the Victims of Communism.
After our light snack, we made our way to the base of the funicular and bought tickets.
The funicular took us up the hillside to the Petrin Tower (a mini Eiffel).
We bought tickets and took the stairs to the top observation area of the tower. It was enclosed in glass, so while I did take pictures there, I liked the pictures I took at the lower observation area that was not enclosed in glass.
From the tower, we walked across the hill west and then northeast back to the Castle.
Today we bought
tickets to tour the St. Vitus Cathedral (took at least 30-45 minutes waiting in line to
purchase tickets). We really had just
wanted to see the inside of the St. Vitus Cathedral (and we found out we could have
walked in for free, your tickets allow you to walk through the entire
cathedral, but you can walk into the back and see the inide from the back for
free). It really was quite a nice
cathedral and the stained glass windows were amazing.
We hiked up the hill to Vsyegard grounds. We made our way to the cathedral and we were able to look in.
Then we walked along the wall which overlooked the river. The leaves along the wall were glistening with morning dew and it was so pretty!
As we stood at the wall, we could see the Petrin tower and the Prague Castle across the river.
We made our way off Vysegard hill and walked along the river. Under the first bridge was this pretty decoration and and number of swans swimming underneath.
We continued walking until we came to the Legii bridge and then walked across. We found a grocery store and bought some yogurt, fruit and water. We enjoyed our snack at the base of this memorial to the Victims of Communism.
After our light snack, we made our way to the base of the funicular and bought tickets.
The funicular took us up the hillside to the Petrin Tower (a mini Eiffel).
We bought tickets and took the stairs to the top observation area of the tower. It was enclosed in glass, so while I did take pictures there, I liked the pictures I took at the lower observation area that was not enclosed in glass.
From the tower, we walked across the hill west and then northeast back to the Castle.
Our ticket also allowed us to walk through the St. George Basilica that was so plain compared to the first one, but was still interesting to tour through.
The last part of our ticket allowed us to tour through the Golden Lane and Daliborka Tower.
The top floor along the Golden Lane has been turned into a museum of armor, swords, guns, knifes, some torture materials.
The lower areas have been restored and re-created to show the homes that were made into the walls that surrounded the castle. At the end of the row is the Daliborka Tower which was used as a prison. You can see the cells and the torture equipment that were used on the prisoners.
We walked down the front of the castle hill and as we were about to cross the bridge, I saw rotisserie ham. We decided to give it a try. When we got there, we found they had some dumplings that looked like spaztle so we tried that too. The ham was good, but they gave us such a large chunk and a large bowl of dumplings. It was fun to try, but not one of our favorites and would have enjoyed something else.
We crossed back over the bridge and wondered through the old streets again filled with tourists. We found another chocolate shop and selected a half dozen different chocolates to try. We checked out a few shops looking for things to bring home to the family, then made our way towards our flat. We grabbed another strawberry dream but it was not as good as the one we had the day before, they skimped on strawberries and they used a round one instead the the coned shaped and so the filling all leaked down in the the wrapper. We also picked up a pizza and pizza rolls back to take to the flat that ended up being the perfect breakfast for the next morning.
The last part of our ticket allowed us to tour through the Golden Lane and Daliborka Tower.
The top floor along the Golden Lane has been turned into a museum of armor, swords, guns, knifes, some torture materials.
The lower areas have been restored and re-created to show the homes that were made into the walls that surrounded the castle. At the end of the row is the Daliborka Tower which was used as a prison. You can see the cells and the torture equipment that were used on the prisoners.
We walked down the front of the castle hill and as we were about to cross the bridge, I saw rotisserie ham. We decided to give it a try. When we got there, we found they had some dumplings that looked like spaztle so we tried that too. The ham was good, but they gave us such a large chunk and a large bowl of dumplings. It was fun to try, but not one of our favorites and would have enjoyed something else.
We crossed back over the bridge and wondered through the old streets again filled with tourists. We found another chocolate shop and selected a half dozen different chocolates to try. We checked out a few shops looking for things to bring home to the family, then made our way towards our flat. We grabbed another strawberry dream but it was not as good as the one we had the day before, they skimped on strawberries and they used a round one instead the the coned shaped and so the filling all leaked down in the the wrapper. We also picked up a pizza and pizza rolls back to take to the flat that ended up being the perfect breakfast for the next morning.
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