Prague

We are in Prague!  I started to compose this last night and kept drifting off to sleep.  I'd wake up and see the last word I had typed as walkeďddďd.  Time to go bed.   Of course I could have conquered the world at one am.

We arrived in Prague at 8:00 and the driver was there waiting for us with a placard with our name on it.  I always thought the people who had some one waiting for them with a sign with their name were VIPs.  Now I know they are.   We always had drivers waiting for us in Greece thanks to Mickey getting us on the self guided tour. We liked it!

There was a room ready for us at Hotel Maximilian that early in the morning.  What a blessing for we were exhausted.  Not only had we been traveling for what seemed like days (5 hour flight Vancouver to Toronto, and 8 hours Toronto to Prague plus waiting time) but a our flight was changed and the seats we paid extra for should have been issued at a discount.  We were in the same row as the bathrooms with a wall (for a bathroom   in front of us).  Charming? Not!  The whole flight it was flush, and slam as they closed the door to exit.  Think of all the passengers in economy taking multiple turns using the toilet over 8 hours.  They line up by our seats and chat witheach other . Then a constant  flush and slam.  Then there was the yoga class.  A mom brought her kids to the space by the toilet doors and taught them stretches.  Then the darn kids kept coming back and teaching each other more stretches in a volume only kids can achieve.  I appreciate the need to stretch but had to shush them.  There was a gorgeous sunrise and that did compensate somewhat for the noise but not for the fact that we had no blind on our window.

Roy and I got settled in our room and set out for a short exploration of Prague.  What an amazing city!   It truly is fairy tale.  I could for some jet lagged reason imagine Shrek and Fiona in the castle.   The buildings are amazing.  Some look like fancy cakes with their balconies, turrets and pastel colours.  Some make you think of all they have been through over the years.  Two world wars and 2 occupations just in very recent history.

We walked along the river to the Charles Bridge and over the bridge.  The scenery was beautiful as was the day.  Fishermen on the river, even a boat the was a car made into a boat.  There were lots of vendors selling things on the bridge and adding to the scenery.  We rubbed the statue of St. John to ensure our return to Prague.   Once across the bridge we turned left and visited some of the shops beside the bridge.   There was a marionette shop that was more like an art  gallery . The marionettes were works of art and so interesting to look at.  Of course you want to take them home but they'd be lonesome without all their friends so resisted the urge and saved a bundle of dollars.  They were interesting to  a wood carver and someone who likes to sew though.  We wandered up the street from the bridge before decided we were  done for now.  Saw some beautiful Christmas ornaments and crystal in shops.  We shared a very different but tasty pizza and back to the hotel for a couple of hours sleep.  Then we hit the cobbles again.  Visited the Old town square and saw the Astonomical clock but twice missed being there on the hour.  Stopped for a drink at a pub with an unlikely name for Prague.  The Dubliner!   Now for the eerie bit.  We sat outside at a table between tables occupied on one side by a couple and two men on the other.  What are the odds we'd all be Canadian?  Well we were.  The couple were from Newfoundland and the men from Ontario.  So we sat  and had a beer together.  The wives of the two men came along and one of their names was Linda.  Spooky.

We finished the evening with Czech goulash.  Not that memorable.   But the violins were nice.  Then back to our room just before a huge thunder storm hit.  What good timing.

We awoke to pouring rain this morning.  Not so nice but we have been blessed with great weather on all our vacations so guess we have been fortunate.  Just hope and pray the rain knows enough to stop as my shoes are mesh on top and will be wet in a heart beat.  Today we have booked a tour of Kunta Hora.