9th January - Prague
Trip Start
Dec 26, 2008
1
14
28
Trip End
Jan 26, 2009
Prague,
Bohemia,
Czech Republic
Friday, January 9, 2009
After breakfast we headed into town on the tram and walked across the lovely Charles Bridge to Mala Strana, the "little quarter". We walked around for a bit, looking at the pretty buildings, an interesting "Europe without Barriers" outdoor art exhibition, people feeding the white swans and ducks on the river and the shops, before arriving at the Franz Kafka Museum as the doors were being opened. We probably looked a little too eager, but we were freezing. The museum was great - even Darren enjoyed it, although he was sceptical at first
Courtyard of Kafka Museum
. It was very interesting to read about Kafka's life and the importance of Prague in his writing, and the film about his trip to school, which he hated, gave a whole new significance to the area. We dithered in the museum shop for a while before deciding we didn't really need anything, then spent the money on a very expensive coffee next door.Kafka had inspired us to go and have a look around the Jewish quarter, so we crossed back over the bridge and wandered around the old cobbled streets looking at all the old buildings and eventually we came across the Old-New Synagogue, which is the oldest functioning synagogue in Europe. We bought a ticket for 200Kr and eventually found our way into the synagogue. The building is very old and built in a Gothic style, with no crosses of course. Darren was just starting to feel a bit peeved that we had been well and truly ripped off when a guide gave us a tour of the place. Darren felt a bit better but still thought it was very over-priced.
We wandered back through the quarter to the riverfront and ate our rolls that we had made in the morning by the side of the bridge. Nice weather for a picnic! Darren then saw the sign for the Museum of Medieval Torture equipment and quickly negotiated with Penny as to whether we should go in or not
Dancing House
. Penny reluctantly agreed and we inspected all three floors of various torture equipment ranging from Iron Maidens (called Nuremberg Dolls) to stocks and racks along with very poorly translated but exceedingly gruesome notes on how each was used.After this Penny needed a drink so we went looking for a bar and we soon found one that Darren was a bit dubious about so we wandered further until we reached the Old Town Square with the Astronomical Clock and St Nicholas' Church. This was never going to be the place for a cheap beer but it was cold so we went into the U Prince hotel and Darren had a beer and Penny had a "hot wine". In fact she almost had a second, figuring that the price couldn't be more than twice the price the hotel was selling takeaway hot wine for outside, which didn't seem too unreasonable. However when we decided not to and asked for the bill, it came to 196 Kr or (we think) about $15 (we're not really sure about the exchange rate, to be honest), which Darren considered outrageous and huffed about for some time.
We left the hotel just in time to see the Astronomical Clock in action and then, after a quick look around the square, decided to flee the cold and take a brisk walk home for a nice cup of tea and a read. Oh and a bath in Penny's case
Darren on Charles Bridge
. Darren took some washing off and asked to use the advertised washing machine, but it was confiscated from him and will apparently be returned washed tomorrow.On our way out to dinner we had a talk with Max, the lovely guy who works here when Pasquale is at the Arcadia Old Town apartments, and now we have a plan for tomorrow. He also recommended U Kroke, a restaurant down the road, where we had delicious dinner. Darren had goulash, which turned out to be lighter than expected, which was good, because that meant he could finish Penny's chicken pancake thing, which turned out to be heavier than expected and at least twice the size. The two meals, salad and three beers cost 389 Kr.
We have just borrowed an internet cable from Max and Pasquale so can now upload this! Yay! Penny will also do some photos once Darren has had a turn on the internet.
