We stayed overnight in Frankfurt 2 mins walk from the station, convenient but certainly not a nice area. Then across the road the next morning to catch our train to Prague. Our trip to Prague on the German trains was a nightmare.
Our train had been changed and seats changed. When we got on the train we found there were no official seats on this train and this was after 2 platform changes dragging our cases from one to the other twice.
The train was meant to go to Dresden before we were to change to Prague. But at Leipzig the train already late due to late leaving and stopping as a train ahead had hit something, the train just stopped and terminated. Everyone off and find your own way forward.
All other trains to Dresden were not going or were very late so we shifted to a local commuter train (2 hours) going the long way round. Standing part of the way with people and suitcases jamming the aisles and exits. We finally got to Dresden about three hours late.
Our connection long gone.
So we were put on a Czech train to a different station in Prague than our previous destination.
The scenery on the train was lovely and we followed the River Elbe and saw the Saxon Switzerland national park that we visited in 2023 and our last German station was Bad Schandau a stop we had in 2023 as well. The train continued following the Elbe river.
After arriving at the station further from our accommodation than our scheduled train, we took a taxi to the accommodation now 4 hours late. Luckily the owner was prepared to alter our book in time.
Our apartment is very central up 28 steps and old but lovely except the bed is on a mezzanine with a dangerous and steep one rail staircase and one step to the top rung … scary but the apartments position just 300m from the main old town square was fantastic.
Prague
The first night was shopping for breakfasts in the unit and a needed beer after the stressful day.
Day 1
We walked two mins to the Old town square where the Worlds oldest working astronomical clock displays some of the apostle figures in its windows on the hour. Also in the square were the spires of the church, Our lady before Tyn 14th to 16 c.
In the old town square there was the Jan Hus memorial, a monument to mark the 500th anniversay of the Czech religious reformer burnt at the stake for opposing church corruption.
Other statues a hussite warriors and exiled warriors symbolising centuries of Czech national struggles. Ornate buildings and doorways.
St Nicholas church near the main squae was lovely inside
Next was morning tea and onto the Spanish synagog and the Jweish quarter which cost to go inside so we just walked around the outside.
Then we walked along the River Vitra past Manesuv bridge
down to Charles bridge and see the view to the Prague castle, seeing other buildings mostly museums.
At the bridge we saw St Francis of Assisi church lovely inside with Pragues second oldest organ, we booked a concert here tonight. It was foundded in 1679 consecrated in 1688.
A dome 40:88 high, the organ 1701, as well as the painting near the altar.
Across town to Havleske Trziste market, we bought lunch to take back the apartment and got ripped off on some fruit, thinking we paid $5 and later seeing it was $50 plus the vendor hid strawberries under the raspberries and blackberries to make them look more.
We are finding Prague the town of rip the tourist off !
They add all sort of fees to your meals like charging for water, bread which they bring when not asked for and whether you eat it or not they charge you.
After lunch at the apartment and a short rest we walked to Wenceslas sq currently under reno . The square named after a king from the 15 C, a statue of him of a horse is there, and the national museum is at the end of the square. today we looked and returned to see later.
across to Henrys Bell tower, a gothic tower and the highest free standing bell tower in Prague , its history goes back to 1475.
Then along to Powder tower, 65 m gothic tower built in 1465as a coronation gift and city gate later used to store gunpowder in 17C.
Saw the municipal hall which you need to book a concert to see inside
then along Celetna street saw the Black Madonna cafe with gorgeous cakes but stopped instead for beer at U-Sup a old town brewery est in 1431.
and back to the apartment for a rest before a 7 min walk back to the Church at Charles bridge for the concert. The bridge below and the dome of the church.
A organist , trumpet player and Soprano doing 10 ballands some from Handel and one from Mozart plus other 16 th and 17 th composers.
After a walk trying to find a restaurant recommended by the apartment owner we gave up and ate a expensive meal locally, meat only and when paying found they had a seating charge so I refused to tip the waitress… sick of being ripped off.
A huge day nearly 20,000 steps!
Day 2 the Castle etc.
Today we went to the castle ruled by the Jagiellons in 1471-152 and the Habsburgs 1525-1918. The ticket included the following. The palace which we werent impressed with as you really saw very little of it just a few empty rooms on the bottom level.
the Vita Cathedral/abbey was included in the ticket which had some stunning statues and monuments and stained glass windows, all different. It is the buriel place of the Bohemian king.
Then the Golden Lane which was little coloured houses displaying craft works but it didnt impress.
Then we left the castle took pictures over Prague
and walked along the rampants which were under repair and through the gardens.
Outside the Palace gardens,
The heatwave continues so the fire truck spraying water was a welcome relief.
As we walked away from the palace we saw the soldiers waking down for changing of the guard.
The we walked to the Strahov Abbey previously a monastry/ brewery and had a beer overlooking Prague. The abbey established in 1143 served a community of Premonstratensians strived to follow Jesus Christ and played an important part in the role in history of the Bohemians Lands.
Viewed the church and got back on the hop on bus red line and changed to the green old town line.
We drove past the dancing house also known as the Frank and Gina house.
The driver of the green line a manic driving crazy and too fast to hear the commentary and what we were seeing gone before we heard about it….plus went over a speed bump that caused us to leave our seats ,John hurting his back. A compliant was made to the main office .
It was to the apartment for a beer and shoes off!
Another 12000 plus steps 9 kms. Dinner at tue Deer restaurant nearby , finally some nice food.
Day 3
We walked over the Charles Bridge, is 14C medievil bridge crossing the Vltava River and islined with 30 Baroque statues. The bridge has a gate either side shown below.
We saw the Devils stream (Certovka) and water wheel, just off the end of the bridge
Found the John Lennon wall which is now just graffiti
then The church of Lady Victorious famous for its baby Jesus dressed in colours depending on the season, white for xmas, red for the pentecost and the feasts of the martyrs and others. green for everyday, he was green the day we came.
Next a wander in the lesser town Morning tea and went to see Nicholas church but they wanted 12$ to go in and having seen a million churches we didnt pay.
Then the highlight of the morning was Wallenstein palace and Gardens used for the Senate whose modern history began in 1996. The pond had an island with Hercules fighting a dragon.
and saw the stone dripwall and its owl enclosure, a eerie 17thC artificial grotto featuring dozens of grotesque faces, built in 1623-1630.
Then across the Vultra river to do the Big bus canal cruise , relaxing but not amazing though some lovely architecture viewed along the rivers edge.
Then after a walk past st agnes Convert not paying to go in we found a lovely spot and had a lovely lunch before back to the unit for the heat of the afternoon.
Washing and shoes off for the rest of the day, another 12000 steps .
Day4
The last day in Prague was spent seeing the museum first
The museums entrance was beautiful
and it had extensive displaces but the part I wanted see the most Prague in the 20C was mostly fluff and didnt really learn much.
We walked back to the apartment rested away from the heat and went to dinner at the Deer restaurant close by ,lovely food but expensive. I had to have the dessert as it looked so impressive
white belgium choc moose with a passionfruit centre and choc for shell ,it tasted as good as it looked.
A common site in Prague is shops selling the chimney cake , we didnt indulge.
We left the next day seeing the inside of the train station which was impressive.
Off to Vienna with a early start!
