Slept like a dead man. Woke up around 7ish and felt refreshed but a bit overwhelmed on realising where we were. Ash took charge and walked us to a supermarket for some buttermilk, muesli and yoghurt, jam and a couple of cheese and bacon rolls. Found a bench under a tree and had a nice breakfast. Prices seem comparable with those at home - the thing that is cheaper is the beer (roughly $1 for a 500ml can, pub price is about $2.50 for 500ml). Walked around a bit (you seem to do that in Prague as the old city meanders everywhere, but if you keep walking you’ll end up where you want to be) and found a nice cafe for a latte and chatted while watching the city start to wake up.
Decided to go on a free walking tour of Prague (found a brochure at the hostel) and joined a group of 20 people at 10:30 am who were capably led by Libor. He’s part of a group of other entrepreneurs who have just started the free Prague tours (two weeks ago!) and ask that if you enjoyed the tour to show your appreciation by tipping the guide. We ended up walking for about three and a half hours (just about non-stop) and learnt heaps of the history of the city and Czech history and culture. We covered the Old and New Town, Jewish Quarter, Charles Bridge, Prague Castle and must have walked about 8-9 kms! Ash and I climbed the stairs in the Cathedral and had some great views of the city.
We did see some special places that are hidden behind large doors and gates. Rose gardens, amazing churches and quaint little alleys along with great examples of different architectural styles from the gothic through to rococo. In one of the old churches people flaunt the rules about photography and keeping quite. When I heard a mobile go off, I turned around ready to show someone me most scornful look only to see a cassocked priest (long black robe with the white rope knotted around his waist) answer his phone in dulcet ones and sounding like he was giving a liturgy, beautiful!
Lot’s of work going on in the city, renovations happening in the old buildings and cobble stones being repaired, big ones in the roads and small ones on the footpaths. It’s always worth it to look up and see what’s above your eyeline, reflections in windows, statues etc. on buildings, and roof lines are all interesting. It’s difficult to get a sense of the real city, business, university, government as it’s all in an other language and we’re really only focussing on the tourist things. Would be fun to spend a few weeks here and check out the art and music and other culture. Will check the email and post this before finding a place for dinner soon and then a nice long sleep...
Decided to go on a free walking tour of Prague (found a brochure at the hostel) and joined a group of 20 people at 10:30 am who were capably led by Libor. He’s part of a group of other entrepreneurs who have just started the free Prague tours (two weeks ago!) and ask that if you enjoyed the tour to show your appreciation by tipping the guide. We ended up walking for about three and a half hours (just about non-stop) and learnt heaps of the history of the city and Czech history and culture. We covered the Old and New Town, Jewish Quarter, Charles Bridge, Prague Castle and must have walked about 8-9 kms! Ash and I climbed the stairs in the Cathedral and had some great views of the city.
We did see some special places that are hidden behind large doors and gates. Rose gardens, amazing churches and quaint little alleys along with great examples of different architectural styles from the gothic through to rococo. In one of the old churches people flaunt the rules about photography and keeping quite. When I heard a mobile go off, I turned around ready to show someone me most scornful look only to see a cassocked priest (long black robe with the white rope knotted around his waist) answer his phone in dulcet ones and sounding like he was giving a liturgy, beautiful!
Lot’s of work going on in the city, renovations happening in the old buildings and cobble stones being repaired, big ones in the roads and small ones on the footpaths. It’s always worth it to look up and see what’s above your eyeline, reflections in windows, statues etc. on buildings, and roof lines are all interesting. It’s difficult to get a sense of the real city, business, university, government as it’s all in an other language and we’re really only focussing on the tourist things. Would be fun to spend a few weeks here and check out the art and music and other culture. Will check the email and post this before finding a place for dinner soon and then a nice long sleep...
2 comments:
Yo Purrumbetters, sounds like you are up and away. a bit of a painful birth, but that probably means the rest is going to go really well.
Of course its going to be much more fun for us to read your stories than the other way around.A few bits... Juli's sister and family are up here for a week, Im around for a few more weeks and then back to NT, Hugh seriously into Parkour, Ella doing a horseriding clinic this weekend.
Dear Wendy, Colin and Asher,
first and foremost: I have cracked the nuts of the train-ticket-system and I have made a reservation for your sleeping car!
I have already paid 78,- € (26,- per person) by credit card, and you can pick up the reservation ticket until half an hour before the trip.
Please note the reference number: 20070601/119 and your customer number (Kundennummer): 5059539
I will also forward the original registration e-mail to you. You should bring it along as you pick up the ticket.
They say you can also pick up the ticket at the ticket machine under ST60 MZN5 LX9S, but don't ask me about that, I don't know how that works.
Ljubljana before Vienna is a good idea: You will come across the architect Josef Plecnik who was a scholar of Otto Wagner and worked in Vienna and Prague.
If you have time, visit the castle!
Yes, Friday evening is a good time to meet. I will try to find a nice place to have tea together, as you'd say. Maybe my girlfriend Iris will join us.
Note that Thursday is a holiday and remember you will be in a catholic country! All shops will be closed. And on Friday many people will have taken a day off and will be out of town.
Can you tell me the name of your hotel in Vienna; that would make a meeing easier, maybe.
I wish you a good journey and good luck.
Looking formward to seeing you
Günter
Grinzingerstrasse 99/2/6
1190 Vienna
a.h.: +43-(1)-318 95 74
Mobile: 0664-92 00 589
posted by Bruce Friday
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