PRAGUE – a relaxing afternoon
Saturday – we have had a good look at the Powder Gate, still have not decided about climbing the stairs to the top and now we are deciding where we will go for lunch. Looking around there seems to be a lot of eaterys in this area but one catches our eye more so than all the others. Plus we don’t want to walk far as we are too hungry and as you can see by the amount of tourists in the photo everyone has the same idea. We decide on the Restaurant which is part of the Municipal House – pictured. The name of the place is the Restaurant Francouzska and apparently it is one of the best in Prague. The Prague Municipal House was built as a as a centre of Czech cultural and social life at the turn of the 20 th century. It is an impressive Art Nouveau house that catches the attention of everyone who visits the Republic Square in Prague New Town. OK enough history – you can read the link above – we are after food. Now all we have to do is find a table as everyone has the same idea as us. The restaurant is inside as well as outside but the inside seems very crowded and stuffy so it looks like it is dining in the fresh air for us.
We are lucky enough to find a table which you may think would be extremely noisy and uncomfortable due to the amount of tourists and also too hot but on the contrary it is refreshing and we do have umbrellas as you can see. Sitting down we are immediately approached by a waiter that offers iced water – yes please and also the beverage menu – now that’s more like it. Next comes the food menu and I choose Pork Schnitzel with Potato Salad. I also get an Iced Coffee with cream and ice cream. I am assured that it is all low calorie – yes of course it is. The meal is large and delicious and the iced coffee is like a double shot of caffeine and comes in a super sized large glass with the cream and ice cream piled high.
We just sit and take our time enjoying the passing parade and by the time we are finished most of the tourists have left the area – they are most probably at the trough like us. We talk about what we will do this afternoon and you will be pleased to know that we definitely rule out climbing any stairs; one of the alternatives is to shop. I am looking for a charm for my bracelet and I find out that the garnet is virtually the gem of Prague. I am lucky enough to find a lovely charm of a little gold basket with garnets so one more to put on when I get home. Kylie gets a nice piece of Bohemian Crystal – a lovely memory of Prague.
This is turning out to be a great day. We are walking our lunch down and looking around to see what to do this afternoon not to mention talking lots and lots and lots of photos.
Arriving back at the Vlatva River we decide on a River Cruise. Even though the afternoon is coming over cloudy the weather seems to be holding so it seems to be a good idea to take a fishes eye view of Prague. There are a few cruise companies along the river bank all advertising their wares.
One of the major operators providing river cruises in Prague is EVD (Europska Vodni Doprava) and we decide that we will let them take us up and down the river. You will be pleased to know that our boat is the bigger one at the back – not the tiny one in front! Cost for the one hour cruise is 220 CZK or about AUD 12.00 per person. Seems like quite a bargain.
K&T strike up a conversation with a lady who – blow me down – is from Portland, near where they live. She is in Prague teaching English at Prague Castle but tells us that things may change and the English classes may be cut back. Our boat is ready for boarding and we head straight for the upstairs level and grab under cover seats, looks like a good spot away from the crowd. Once we get settled a waitress comes around to see if we require any drinks – I have had enough alcohol for the time being so we order soft drinks and soon we are leaving the dock and on our way. Even though it is hot and humid there is an occasional breeze which together with the sound of the lapping water against the boat makes it nice to be alive.
The cameras have gone into action and we are snapping away whilst enjoying the nice calm of cruising. On the River Vtatva are many bridges and we are lucky enough to cruise under a couple of them. The Manesov Bridge is on the left. On the right is St Vitus Cathedral and Prague Castle. Certainly get an idea of the area these two attractions occupy. St Vitus Cathedral certainly is most imposing on the skyline.
We are also lucky enough to cruise under the Charles Bridge which gives us an altogether different view of it and the statues. Another bridge is the Chekuv – but I like to think of it as the Slytherin Bridge named after Slytherin House in Harry Potter. These seats are becoming really hard on the rear. There are no cushions and to sit for so long on wooden benches is just getting a bit much but what can I do? It’s not as if I can get off. After we go under the Charles Bridge it is time to turn around and go back to the starting point.
On the right side of the river is this building. I have no idea what building it is but it is grand don’t you think? I really should make a note somewhere to write things down when I take photos but then I am too busy taking photos to write things down.
In too short a time we are back at the dock and heading towards our last walk over the Charles Bridge. Tomorrow we head for Venice so we have to make the most of what time is left. A casual stroll over the bridge turns out to be a push along with the many, many tourists that now inhabit the area. Everyone wants to get their photo taken on the bridge or near a statue and some take forever to do so.
There is a special statue on the bridge – The Relief of Saint John Nepomuk. Touching the statue is a Prague ritual, it is supposed to bring good luck and to ensure that you return to Prague soon.
I suppose it is a bit like the myth of the Trevi Fountain in Rome. It doesn’t hurt to have a go so we all line up and in rather long queue but it doesn’t take long before it is our turn to touch the Saint and wish that we will return before too long.
As you can see the dark grey clouds that were over us during the cruise have disappeared making our memories of our last afternoon in Prague wonderful.
Walking back to the tram stop I finally get my turtleneck and I will say that it was delicious.
Getting back to the hotel, K&T have to do some washing – one of the dreaded tourist chores – I stay in the room to rest and catch up writing in my journal. We have had another big day but it was most enjoyable.
Highlight of the day : the river cruise