Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Prague

Prague in daylight is really quite a beautiful city, and it is relatively cheap, though not as cheap as it apparently once was. Our first day in Prague, we checked out the Old Town Square with its 2 cathedrals and town hall, which has an astrometric clock from the 1400s, which still appears to be accurate. From there we walked over to the Charles Bridge and wandered around there before heading over to the Old Jewish Quarter. In one of the 3 synagogues is the location of the Golem of Prague of legend, and according to the guide books the quarter, complete with its wall to keep everyone in, was preserved on order of Hitler to keep "a museum of an extinct race." We walk back to once end of the Charles bridge to grab some food and Czech beer before returning to the hotel to warm up in the steam room. We then head back out to see a classical music concert at the Municipal Hall (though we are in a side room and not the main hall), then grab a few beers (for about a dollar each) at a local pub and head back at midnight when the bar closes.
We run into a few gypsies on the way back to our hotel, and in the commotion of them bumping into us while proposing some non-PG activities, I am relieved of the money in my pocket (though it is only about $50), and I only notice this as we are walking away. So I am now more alert for this type of shenanigans and glad it was only 50 bucks.
The next day we head out to the Prague Castle complex, the seat of Czech Government for pretty much as long as there has been a Prague and country around it, since about 800 or so according to the museum. There is a cathedral, castle, basilica, a few museums and an armory display, all of which were pretty good.
We walk back to the hotel area after spending the better part of a day up there, grab some pizza from a Czech Italian restaurant and then check out the night life before heading back for the night at a rather late hour. One last full day in Prague before we head back West into Berlin tomorrow.

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