19.05.2013 – 19.05.2013  26 °C

A very early start this morning as I decided to get moving at the crack of dawn to get some shots of Prague without the swams of tourists. Although very chilly, it was super peaceful and very picturesque taking photos of the Charles Bridge and Market Square with the sun just peaking above the horizon. I managed to capture a shot of market square without a person to be seen! Honestly, unless you get up at 5am you can’t get a shot of this part of town without someone interrupting the view!!! My most lively moments came when I high fived a Nordic tourist who was on his way home from a long evening and when I had my photo taken with some other guy (couldn’t tell his nationality) who was also heading home after a long night!

Breakfast was another very tasty affair- bacon and Czech sausages- before we headed back out into the hustle and bustle of Prague’s old town for a good gawk! Our tour started with us heading back down to the river before we looped around back into the old town for a view of the Astronomical Clock in action and a coffee on the main square.

From the main square we headed up towards Wenceslas Square where we stopped en route to do some all important souvenir shopping in the souvenir market. The old souvenir market hasn’t changed one bit.. they still sell the same tacky souvenirs, in particular, the noisy witches. When you clap your hands the cackling witches start to dance on their broom sticks, waving their hands, eyes flashing and cackling loudly. I really feel for the stall sellers who work in the area because they cop the noise permanently! Every tourist who goes near the stalls claps their hands loudly to make the witches move and I would guess that this noise happens 365 days a year and has been going on for years (assuming the witches have been on sale the whole time since I was last here!!)

Wenceslas Square is the new heart of Prague. It is the main square where Czechs congregate to celebrate and to commiserate. It is the location where Czechs protested against Communist rule during the 60s and the place where they celebrated the over throw of the Communist rule in the late 80s. Today, it is a large square that covers three to four city blocks, with the middle blessed with flowers and hedges. We spent a number of hours wandering the shops with us stopping off to discover the deliciousness of home made potato chips, honey mead and gelato (yep not the healthiest lunch today J). Just as we were leaving the main square we saw a full orchestra setting up on the stage. We grabbed ourselves a spot under the shade of a lime tree and settled in to hear some amazing orchestral music. I was stunned after the first song to hear this amazing baritone and soprano ensemble begin to sing. Gosh, opera singers in full flight can really belt it out. I’m going to have to fulfil my NY resolution and go to an opera one of these days—they sounded incredible!!

We spent our afternoon slowly wandering back to the main square and our hotel Liliova. At this time in the narrative I need to stop and laud this hotel. It may not be the most luxurious of hotels and the rooms are a little small, but the service is fabulous, the breakfast is wonderful and the location is second to none for the price. Right between Charles Bridge and the main square and just off Karlova (one of the main streets in the old town).

The reason I’ve stopped to the laud this hotel is because once we had returned to Liliova we had to collect our bags and move to the Hilton to join our group. The Hilton is certainly more luxurious and better appointed but the location is terrible. Almost a km from the action!!! Anyway, tip for those reading this blog—book at Hotel Liliova, you won’t regret your decision!!

We just made it to the Hilton in time for us to join our welcome drink and meet and greet. I had tried to lay bets with T as to whether or not I would be the youngest member of the tour. She wisely wouldn’t accept my bet because I’m easily the youngest by at least 30 yrs.. In fact, my A&U are young for this tour! I couldn’t stop myself from cracking up during the introduction because of the nature of the questions… What time is breakfast? (after our guide had already told us twice) Will there be a comfort break on the tour? (ie do we stop at the toilet?) GIVE ME STRENGTH!! Anyway, I’ll give you a daily update on the type of questions/ comments I hear on this trip… As I said to T, thank god you’re on this trip otherwise I may go stark raving mad!! I have to keep reminding myself that I’m doing this trip for Nanna and that these are the sort of questions that she wants to know the answers to! I’ve also told my A to keep me in line and not let me get too out of hand or I might just get kicked off the tour! 🙂

Our day ended with us going for a wander to one of the local restaurants to finally test out some local Czech food- vege soup (laced with cardamom and dill—yum!) and this Beef dish smothered in a creamy sauce (kind of like a stroganoff but with a different taste) with a side of bread dumplings to soak up the creaminess! Our dinner was interrupted by a sudden thunderstorm which lingered around just enough for us to get slightly wet on our way home!

Cuisine of the Day- Vege and wild mushroom soup from dinner (divine!)