The night was long for me as I seemed to be unable to get my internal clock set. I finally got up and went down to the lounge (I had to ask them to unlock it for me) and read. Breakfast was being cooked and the aroma was tantalizing. I read for a bit then went back to our room. Roy was showered and dressed so we repacked our belongings. Not much was unpacked so it didn't take long. Breakfast was tasty, they cooked soft boiled eggs for us. There was everything under the sun to choose from but somehow olives, smoked salmon or cheese don't appeal at th
at time of day. The breakfast servers were very anxious to make sure we enjoyed our meal and had everything we needed. As a matter of fact everyone in the hotel went our of their way to be helpful. It was a great place to stay as the staff always greeted us and they may not have known our names but they remembered our faces. Damir got us organized for a tour to Kutna Hora when the outfit we had planned to go with wasn't working out.
After breakfast we checked out and took our bags for a walk to the Intercontinental Hotel. It was maybe a ten minute walk. Both hotels are in excellent locations but areally quite different. The Intercontinental is swankier but not as friendly. Swanky is nice but I really like the Maximillian.
The Avalon fellow, Tony was at his table and already had a line up of people - it was barely 8:30 in the morning! They would meet with everyone at 6:00 pm. so we got ourselves checked in (they had a room ready at 8:30!) and headed out for Prague Castle.
We went to the tobacanist for tickets as she told us to do but he wouldn't sell us return tickets. "Walk back down the hill he said." "It isn't worth buying tickets." He didn't, however, give us very much information on how to find our way back on foot. We walked across the bridge and figured out where to stand for the 22 tram, we hoped, but still didn't know how to validate our tickets. Three young women came along; an Indian, a New Zealanders and a Scot with Indian ancestry. Sounds like the beginning of a joke doesn't it? The girl from India and the gal from New Zealand work for Green Peace and had been here for a conference. The bubbly little gal from Scotland had been working at the hotel where they had stayed. She was returning home to Glasgow in the evening and the other two were also returning home in the evening. An unlikely trio but we had interesting conversation with them all the way to their tram stop at the castle. Roy knew all about the Scottish gals family in that short time. It's so nice to meet people when traveling. You never know what you will learn. We even found out how to validate the tickets so now we are authorities.
We went two stops further than the girls just like Rick Steve book told us to do. Then we had difficulty getting our landmarks. Eventually we figured out that we needed to head down the hill so off we went. It was like a small town on the way to the castle so we decided to have our lunch in one of the restaurants. We had a breakfast as we couldn't find anything appealing on the menu. Just simple, right. It cost $30.00 in the end and was worth about half that. Part of the price was the table tax. Who knew? It was sure not Chez Marcel.
We arrived at the main palace gate in time to see that last bit of the full changing of the guard ceremony. Us and several thousand others. We lined up for tickets, Roy in one line and me in the other because we didn't know which lane would be faster. At first it looked like his line was moving fastest so I joined him, then his line bogged down so we went back to my line and had tickets quickly. Their system is not the most efficient. We skipped St Vitus Cathedral as there was a long line of people waiting to get inside. The Old Royal Palace was next so that's where we went. Vladislav Hall (when you enter) is said to be big enough for horse jousting and markets. Coronations were held there. Next door, the adjoining rooms are called the "Czech Office". In 1618 angry citizens stormed the rooms and threw two governors out the window. The governors weren't badly injured for some reason for it sure looked a long way down.
Next was the Bascilica and Convent of St. George. It is small and you feel that you have stepped way way back in time. It was founded by Wenceslas' dad and dates from 920. Perhaps that why it feels old. Actually the present building dates from the 12th century. Somehow Wenceslas' dad got hold of a piece of St Vitus arm and built the church to house it.
The Golden Lane was next and it is named for the goldsmiths who worked there. Before we got into the lane there was a window with a man on the other side etching glass with a stone wheel. Both of us were fascinated so had to go inside. My gosh he has to concentrate! His designs are original and the pattern is in his head. The price for each item is astronomical and well deserved. We purchased two small vases that we both like but they weren't originals and didn't merit papers saying they are authentic.
The journey down Golden Lane was next. It was very busy and we skipped the shops where you could buy trinkets but saw Kafka's home and went in some houses that had been set up as they had been used. People had been living in them as recently as the second world war. One was the home of a historian and cinematographer. He managed to save a good lot of film from being destroyed by the Nazis.
The prison tower was next stop. Barbaric! I'll say no more.
We finished up with St. Vitus Cathedral. It is a very impressive Cathedral. The stained glass windows are beautiful. The window done by Mucha is lovely. The colours are vivid and so different from the other windows. The centre panels show Wenceslas' grandmother teaching him how to pray and the surrounding panels tell the story of the saints who brought Christianity to the region, brothers Cyrillic and Methodius. Cyrillic designed an alphabet for the Czechs who had no alphabet (Cyrillric), and Methodius meditates.
The carved relief of the city of Prague is also very impressive. There are many altars that are large and ornate. Wenceslas chapel is in the church and also very beautiful. His tomb is here.
After the cathedral we are tuckered out and not sure how to get home. The map can be interpreted in two ways - which way to go? A couple about our age are heading the way Roy feels is correct. It turns out both ways will work but one is easier. I asked the woman if they were going back to the city. She hoped so but they weren't sure they were going the right way. They had walked up and there were many, many steep stairs and .she didn't want to go down them! Roy and her husband did some map consulting and we all set out together, the men in front and their loyal wives behind them. The women talked the whole way down and so did the men. We really didn't see much of Little Quarter but I'm pretty sure it is old. They were nice people, from Philadelphia and we enjoyed their company for a while. Interestingly later that evening as we crossed a street two young men struck up a conversation with us and they were from Philadelphia as well. Nice kids. Philly must be a good place. Met lots of nice people! We parted company and we headed to one bridge and them to another. Roy said, "I could sure use a beer" (it was hot) so we stopped and he had beer, I had iced tea and it was half the price of our lunch beverages. We were so dehydrated that we stopped for a second drink before we got back to the hotel.
Time to shower and clean up after a busy day. Then it was time to meet with Tony the cruise director. There are about 164 on the cruise and the boat isn't quite full. There is a problem with high water between Nuremberg and Passau. The boat may be unable to come from Passau to Nuremberg so we may get bussed. We have the option of going to Nuremberg and then to Passau or skipping Nuremberg and having 2 days in Passau. We will go for the Passau option if we need to.
Dinner. It seemed like a long time since our early and less than wonderful lunch. The Old Town seemed like a good place to shop for dinner. Found a restaurant that looked good but its kitchen was closed. We wound up in one that I don't even remember it's name but I had grilled chicken breast and lots of veggies. Nice. We wandered a bit after dinner and Pappas found the replica of the tee shirt we got Hudson in Amsterdam. He likes that shirt and has asked us to go back to Amsterdam so we could replace his that is too small now. Hope he likes the Prague version. Iwhat to get the other four kids?
Home to bed...
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