Prague

I am sitting in Salzburg, halfway through that leg of the trip, casting my mind back to Prague for what to share like it was many moons ago, when really it was just 3.

Prague certainly lived up to expectations, set by so many people telling me it is the most beautiful city they've ever seen. It was made extra special by the addition to our household of my niece Oakleigh, who I haven't seen for 8 months except on a dodgy video line, and who has grown so much over that time while enjoying an exchange in Austria.

You've already seen our first day's adventures in 'All the dumplings in Prague'. Coincidentally but not related, I actually was quite unwell the following day and didn't leave the Loft, although Oak and Linda each had adventures of their own and then enjoyed dinner, doing reconnaissance at the local restaurant Neklid, which turned out to be good enough to go to a second time.

With not enough time and so many options, we opted to forego the Taste of Prague food tour on this trip, which I imagine was absolutely awesome and will definitely do next time I am there. Instead  I bought their guide to Prague to get some tips. If you are going to Prague I urge you to purchase it for a mere 6 euros. Their writing style is really fun and their tips, which are largely focused on drinking and dining, touch on other things also, include gems such as:

• 'visit the Main Post Office in Jindrisska St - take a selfie with the guard who's in charge of making sure nobody takes pictures' 
• 'steal a beer mug from a classic Pilsner pub - you didn't hear this from us'
• 'get drunk and then beg for smoked pork cracklings at Naśe Maso' (ok that one is food and drink related) and
• 'go to Prague 7 District Council just to get a ride in the paternoster elevator. To see human misery, go to Tax Authority on 4th floor'

you get the picture...the kind of guide you read every word of in case you miss out on a juicy tip like these. One recommendation was to spend a half day walking around the Letna neighbourhood, 'arguably the best place to live in Prague' apparently. It does have a good number of galleries and museums, so the next morning Oak and I set off on foot to walk through the city and over the bridge to Letna, a good hour plus trek. 

We didn't think to check if there was any particular day all the galleries and museums shut - and you know where this is leading...but we did cover one of the tips which was to ride a paternoster elevator before they become extinct. We just waltzed into the Prague 7 District Council building and rode up and down in the elevator like everybody was doing it. Which everybody is if they're reading the Taste of Prague guide.

Paternoster elevator in District 7 Council building with unknown passenger

arrangement outside the National Gallery (everything inside was shut)

serious photographer in the making

We stopped at a lot of places, many of which were closed, and walked at least half the length of Prague and back, which in itself was an adventure with the stunning architecture and varying neighbourhoods delivering eye candy all the way. We were very weary by the end and Linda kindly agreed to dine at Neklid for a 2nd time so we didn't have to go far. It was delish.

The next day Oak and I were up before the crack of dawn to join Jan Miracky and two mildly irritating Americans for a photography tour. Ok, he wasn't really irritating at all, but she was a definite pain in my cheers. She identified as a tag along at the beginning of the tour, indicating her husband was more interested in the actual taking of photos. She then proceeded to keep standing in the frame of my photos of icons like Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge, putting on this pose, only  she didn't have a cocktail which actually lends some legitimacy to the maniacally joyful approach to modelling for a photo.  

    

re-enactment of stupid arse pose

some building or other which was a nice picture

Now don't get me wrong, I know she had every right to pose for photos by her husband and I wouldn't have minded at all if she'd had the courtesy to occasionally ask if I'd had the chance to take a photo of this icon here without her moronic presence captured, or just ask did I mind if they took this one for the minute. But instead what happened was that when her considerate husband, who no doubt had some empathy having also paid hundreds of dollars to take some nice photos, suggested she get out of my photos, she said plenty audibly 'I'm never going to see these people again so I don't care', or words to that effect. So she firmly established herself as the dickhead of the tour, and as we've covered in other blogs, there is always one...

Anyway, we managed to get lots of photos and were happy to learn some new things so went on to walk around for a bit and take random photos, followed by a stop at the Convent of St Agnes which was very dignified and beautiful.

Charles Bridge before sunrise

The next day Oak and I got up before sunrise again to head off and try to get a nice shot of the sun coming up over the city and get a head start at Prague Castle to beat the crowds. We had a great morning taking in information and pointing our cameras at everything that vaguely resembled a possible photo.

sunrise over Prague

    

St Vitus Cathedral in Prague Castle complex from one of many angles

inside St Vitus Cathedral

Prague from a couple of vantage points in the castle complex - 1st from the top of St Vitus Cathedral

We spent one evening in the Gallery of Art Prague to see an Andy Warhol and a Salvador Dali exhibition, which were both fascinating and entertaining, which we followed with some fabulous food and margaritas in Old Town square. Our last night was spent in the local pizza place where we had our first night's dinner to round off a wonderful stay in a very pretty city. Thank you Prague for treating us to your delights.