Praha - made my way to the Czech Republic from Scotland to London all in one day. Only in Europe will something like this be possible. Left Edinburgh at the crazy hour of 6am to make it to King's Cross St Pancras just before 10am so I could make it to Heathrow the required 2 hours before an international flight!
The flight was a short 1hr 40min - a flight this long will get you to Cape Town from Jo'burg! I had a window seat and a short way into the flight realised that - hang on - this is probably countries! I'm flying over! So so weird.
On take off - the best part of the flight - gathering the momentum and then taking to the skies and climibing - looked out the window and saw a river winding through a city and noticed the London Eye along it. It took a moment to come to the realisation that I was actually looking out over London. It looks so different from the sky. Oh, and add that it was a relatively clear day as well - certainly looked different! :p
Noted some poppies in the waiting lounge who I figured were on the tour I booked onto - I was right. And I think they were the only ones of the group I didn't speak to. Don't really know what the appropriate word for poppie would be in English. You know - those blonde, the-minute-she-opened-her-mouth-you-wished-she-hadn't kind of girls. Yeah. 4 of those. Thankfully I didn't have to share with them - our group was in 2 dorms - one all female, one mixed. I was in a mixed dorm, but it saved me from the poppies so that was alright.
Land in Prague to chaos at immigration! This mass of people who appeared to be going nowhere in a hurry, with no clear queues at all. Made it through customs and 2 other girls and I were the last of the group to be picked up from the airport. Others had already arrived by other means and were already at the hostel.
So - when in Prague - you may give the Plus Prague hostel a miss. The food was unimpressive, the rest of the hostel was decent (ensuite showers and toilet - but only one each to share between 8 people - not ideal! and no shower blocks outside of the individual rooms) but out of the way - although it was close the tram line - it wasn't really near any decent places to buy food or go out to. Best was to mission into the city centre. And in the icy icy cold of Prague - most people opted to stay at the hostel - with the minority of the tour group opting to brave the cold - so as not to be in the hostel. I was part of the minority.
Enough moaning about hostels - but a place to sleep and food - these are important things and the impact on your travels cannot be discounted.
Land in Prague and make our way to the hostel for a briefing of what will happen and then had a meet and greet of everyone doing the new year's tour. Only spent 3.5 days in Prague - a little to short really. And going over New Year not the best time to appreciate the city - too many tourists, too cold, and the goal is party more than appreciate the culture (yes yes, that does include lots of food and plenty of drink in smoky pubs and bars - but that's not all there is to it). I really do wish I had more time in Prague - and Czech Republic in general - so I could appreciate it's musical offerings as well as the countryside. Another time it will have to be - and at a warmer time of year!
The 31st was our first full day in Prague. Did a walking tour - 3 hours later, partly frozen, and having missed quite a bit of what was said since our guide spoke uber softly - defrosted with a coffee/beer/mulled wine in a smoky pub.
Despite missing out bits and pieces of the walking tour as I couldn't hear anything - it was good. Add, that I was trying to take photos as well - but gave up since it was either listen or miss out.
Found out about most of the city of Prague - Prague is a really old city. It wa built in the 13th/14th century and mostly survived WWII intact - save for the East wing of the hall where the Astronomical clock is now. This was bombed/shot at but the Nazis towards the end of WWII.
Prague has one of the oldest universities in Eastern Europe - Charles University. It is also the city where the first performance of Mozart's Don Giovanni was held (if I'm not mistaken). We walked through part of the old Jewish Quarter, along (a very crowded) Charles Bridge, Kampa Island (and the Lennon wall) and then found out the history of various parts of the city centre, churches and buildings.
There's no point in trying to share all that information here - it really is best hearing these things first hand.
I found Prague to be quite a dark city. And - aside from food - I didn't notice anything that could be considered typically Czech - but I guess this could be contributed to the fact that they were a communist country until the Velvet Revolution.
In the christmas markets they sold what was in all likelihood German sausauges (not that it mattered since they were yum!) and in all the tourist shops you saw tons of Babushka (Russian) dolls. There was one store where they sold football teams, cartoon characters and even politicians as Babushka dolls. Tourist shops abound and they all sell much the same.
After the walking tour we had the rest of the day free. I spent it wandering part of the city centre and the christmas markets - and taking the photos I couldn't whilst doing the walking tour.
It was so cold the water froze!
We had dinner organised that evening - mediocre. I didn't even stay until the end. We were supposed to have a midnight toast - but I really wasn't feeling being the restaurant section of the hostel on New Year's eve. A few people were insane enough to join me in missioning to see the fireworks over the Vltava River - and this is where we headed. Fireworks was going off most of the evening and after making our way to the city centre and attempting - but failing - to track down where the fireworks actually came from. We stopped at cosy pub somewhere on the castle side of the river to defrost, and then wound our way to the Charles Bridge.
Made it to the bridge around half eleven - and it was surprisingly not too full -that didn't last very long. Closer and closer to midnight the bridge got more and more crowded.
The fireworks was pretty amazing - it was going off from points all along the river, and I had a particularly good view of the display from one boat. It was a good vibe - and I didn't feel the cold too much with all the people around. That evening it was -4C. And I had on layers a-plenty.
After the countdown, made our way off the bridge. Another experience. Everyone pressing to get off - it was crazy. Most were quite patient and just went with the crowds but of course there were those who had to shove and push, or go in the opposite in direction! Silly people. It was easy to imagine how the crowd could become a dangerous stampeding mass.
Back to the hostel - and in time to make use of our free drinks vouchers (valid until 2am). Uh - let's just say mojitos poured with a free hand...
The next morning was a late start for everyone. Feeling a tad fragile, but not hung over - well, I wasn't hung over...everyone else was. Some people didn't leave the hostel. The rest of us headed out into the cold. The cold did help...but it was so cold, that even with a beanie with ear covers - I have no idea what the proper name is - i bought ear muffs. Those helped. Loads.
Wandered the city, and searched for a place to have lunch. Eventually found one - smoky of course - and had the yummiest goulash! I didn't try half as much local food as I wanted to, but ok.Goulash I did have and Pilsner Urquelle I tried - on recommendation from the czech guy on my Scotland tour!
I made my way to the top of the astronomical clock - no one else wanted to include dealing with heights whilst feeling fragile. Had great views of the city. I was on top when it was a few minutes before the hour. On the hour the astronomical clock does it's chiming thing and you have everyone gathering round to watch it, and one minute after everyone scatters.
The flight was a short 1hr 40min - a flight this long will get you to Cape Town from Jo'burg! I had a window seat and a short way into the flight realised that - hang on - this is probably countries! I'm flying over! So so weird.
On take off - the best part of the flight - gathering the momentum and then taking to the skies and climibing - looked out the window and saw a river winding through a city and noticed the London Eye along it. It took a moment to come to the realisation that I was actually looking out over London. It looks so different from the sky. Oh, and add that it was a relatively clear day as well - certainly looked different! :p
Noted some poppies in the waiting lounge who I figured were on the tour I booked onto - I was right. And I think they were the only ones of the group I didn't speak to. Don't really know what the appropriate word for poppie would be in English. You know - those blonde, the-minute-she-opened-her-mouth-you-wished-she-hadn't kind of girls. Yeah. 4 of those. Thankfully I didn't have to share with them - our group was in 2 dorms - one all female, one mixed. I was in a mixed dorm, but it saved me from the poppies so that was alright.
Land in Prague to chaos at immigration! This mass of people who appeared to be going nowhere in a hurry, with no clear queues at all. Made it through customs and 2 other girls and I were the last of the group to be picked up from the airport. Others had already arrived by other means and were already at the hostel.
So - when in Prague - you may give the Plus Prague hostel a miss. The food was unimpressive, the rest of the hostel was decent (ensuite showers and toilet - but only one each to share between 8 people - not ideal! and no shower blocks outside of the individual rooms) but out of the way - although it was close the tram line - it wasn't really near any decent places to buy food or go out to. Best was to mission into the city centre. And in the icy icy cold of Prague - most people opted to stay at the hostel - with the minority of the tour group opting to brave the cold - so as not to be in the hostel. I was part of the minority.
Enough moaning about hostels - but a place to sleep and food - these are important things and the impact on your travels cannot be discounted.
Land in Prague and make our way to the hostel for a briefing of what will happen and then had a meet and greet of everyone doing the new year's tour. Only spent 3.5 days in Prague - a little to short really. And going over New Year not the best time to appreciate the city - too many tourists, too cold, and the goal is party more than appreciate the culture (yes yes, that does include lots of food and plenty of drink in smoky pubs and bars - but that's not all there is to it). I really do wish I had more time in Prague - and Czech Republic in general - so I could appreciate it's musical offerings as well as the countryside. Another time it will have to be - and at a warmer time of year!
The 31st was our first full day in Prague. Did a walking tour - 3 hours later, partly frozen, and having missed quite a bit of what was said since our guide spoke uber softly - defrosted with a coffee/beer/mulled wine in a smoky pub.
Despite missing out bits and pieces of the walking tour as I couldn't hear anything - it was good. Add, that I was trying to take photos as well - but gave up since it was either listen or miss out.
Found out about most of the city of Prague - Prague is a really old city. It wa built in the 13th/14th century and mostly survived WWII intact - save for the East wing of the hall where the Astronomical clock is now. This was bombed/shot at but the Nazis towards the end of WWII.
Prague has one of the oldest universities in Eastern Europe - Charles University. It is also the city where the first performance of Mozart's Don Giovanni was held (if I'm not mistaken). We walked through part of the old Jewish Quarter, along (a very crowded) Charles Bridge, Kampa Island (and the Lennon wall) and then found out the history of various parts of the city centre, churches and buildings.
Lennon Wall
There's no point in trying to share all that information here - it really is best hearing these things first hand.
I found Prague to be quite a dark city. And - aside from food - I didn't notice anything that could be considered typically Czech - but I guess this could be contributed to the fact that they were a communist country until the Velvet Revolution.
In the christmas markets they sold what was in all likelihood German sausauges (not that it mattered since they were yum!) and in all the tourist shops you saw tons of Babushka (Russian) dolls. There was one store where they sold football teams, cartoon characters and even politicians as Babushka dolls. Tourist shops abound and they all sell much the same.
After the walking tour we had the rest of the day free. I spent it wandering part of the city centre and the christmas markets - and taking the photos I couldn't whilst doing the walking tour.
It was so cold the water froze!
We had dinner organised that evening - mediocre. I didn't even stay until the end. We were supposed to have a midnight toast - but I really wasn't feeling being the restaurant section of the hostel on New Year's eve. A few people were insane enough to join me in missioning to see the fireworks over the Vltava River - and this is where we headed. Fireworks was going off most of the evening and after making our way to the city centre and attempting - but failing - to track down where the fireworks actually came from. We stopped at cosy pub somewhere on the castle side of the river to defrost, and then wound our way to the Charles Bridge.
Made it to the bridge around half eleven - and it was surprisingly not too full -that didn't last very long. Closer and closer to midnight the bridge got more and more crowded.
The fireworks was pretty amazing - it was going off from points all along the river, and I had a particularly good view of the display from one boat. It was a good vibe - and I didn't feel the cold too much with all the people around. That evening it was -4C. And I had on layers a-plenty.
After the countdown, made our way off the bridge. Another experience. Everyone pressing to get off - it was crazy. Most were quite patient and just went with the crowds but of course there were those who had to shove and push, or go in the opposite in direction! Silly people. It was easy to imagine how the crowd could become a dangerous stampeding mass.
Back to the hostel - and in time to make use of our free drinks vouchers (valid until 2am). Uh - let's just say mojitos poured with a free hand...
The next morning was a late start for everyone. Feeling a tad fragile, but not hung over - well, I wasn't hung over...everyone else was. Some people didn't leave the hostel. The rest of us headed out into the cold. The cold did help...but it was so cold, that even with a beanie with ear covers - I have no idea what the proper name is - i bought ear muffs. Those helped. Loads.
Wandered the city, and searched for a place to have lunch. Eventually found one - smoky of course - and had the yummiest goulash! I didn't try half as much local food as I wanted to, but ok.Goulash I did have and Pilsner Urquelle I tried - on recommendation from the czech guy on my Scotland tour!
I made my way to the top of the astronomical clock - no one else wanted to include dealing with heights whilst feeling fragile. Had great views of the city. I was on top when it was a few minutes before the hour. On the hour the astronomical clock does it's chiming thing and you have everyone gathering round to watch it, and one minute after everyone scatters.
That night I did a haunted Prague with one of the others - no one else was insane enough to brave the cold cold night at 9pm. That night it was -6C. More layering - 6 layers on top, including thermals and a windproof jacket, 2 layers on the bottom, 2 pairs of socks, gloves, beanie, ear muffs. On top I was warm but the cold seeped through on the bottom, and my poor toes! Freezing! Found out about some of the haunted areas and buildings in the city centre. I guess this just added to my view about Prague being a dark city. Drinks with some of the others afterwards - and a much needed defrost then back to the hostel.
Last day in Prague - spent part of it at Prague Castle, part of it popping in and out of tourist shops keeping warm and small part at the hostel waiting to be picked up and taken to the airport.
It really was too cold a day to enjoy the castle properly, or any of the architecture in Prague (not that I know anything about architecture, but the buildings really are amazing!) It started snowing and that was awesome - but cold. And slippery. But still awesome :D
When we were ready for take off the plane's wings had to be washed to get rid of the inch of so of snow that was on it!
Left Prague and headed back to London - stop gap and catch up with friends and included Madame Taussad's (need to tick those typically tourist activities one at a time) - and then headed back to Brum and back to work.
It really was too cold a day to enjoy the castle properly, or any of the architecture in Prague (not that I know anything about architecture, but the buildings really are amazing!) It started snowing and that was awesome - but cold. And slippery. But still awesome :D
When we were ready for take off the plane's wings had to be washed to get rid of the inch of so of snow that was on it!
Left Prague and headed back to London - stop gap and catch up with friends and included Madame Taussad's (need to tick those typically tourist activities one at a time) - and then headed back to Brum and back to work.
2 comments:
Enjoy reading your blogs! I'm really jealous of your travels to say the least.
fLyNt (MrSpencer) ;-)
thanks! :)
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