Prague

Hey everyone. Before you say it, yes it has been ages since anything appeared on here. Well life has been very busy. I moved into the new house at the end of february, and so March was preoccupied with trying to get some things organised there - who knew so much had to be done in a new house. Then at beginning of April, Brian arrived and he was only here a day or two before we were off on our first Europe trip - 5 days in Prague.

We left on Maundy Thursday on BMI baby - our first experience on a budget airline and it wasn't bad, particularly as we managed to score two seats by the emergency exit. Of course there was a whole under 19s rugby team on board as well (all wearing bright green, all very loud and all drinking!). It was about a 2 hour flight so not bad. We arrived late in the evening but managed to get to our hotel from the airport relatively easy (and since we were in Prague, cheaply too!). We were meeting Aeron and Anthony the next day, and Aeron had sorted out the accommodation - Ibis just near old town square - a great location. Thursday night saw Brian and I finding a local place to eat - an italian restaurant! but it did some great food and cheap beer.

now before I go any further, I must get the weather out of the way (see I am British after all - consumed by the weather!!). It was cold. Hat, gloves, scarf kinda cold. Brian was freezing - he hadn't really acclimatised and didn't really have enough warm clothes! At least it didn't rain.

Friday saw us just wandering around old town, collecting brochures on things to do (there are like a million different walking tours you can do, all with their own coloured umbrella for english speaking ones, or coloured other things that you can stick in the air so that the crowds can follow you) and waiting for Aeron and Anthony to join us. It was all going well, until Brian found a pothole in the cobble stones and twisted his ankle. We managed to work out that to get a pain killer (like Paracetmol) we had to go to a chemist, use our best sign language to get across that Brian had hurt his ankle (as you can't actually buy anything - it is all behind hte counter and you have to have a consultation), and got some stuff. We then hobbled back to the hotel, got some ice and waited for Aeron and Anthony. When they arrived, we went off to another restaurant - this time, one that did local food, and had some great food. Pretty much I ate pork, dumpling and cabbage (red and green) every time. It was very yummy - I loved hte cabbage - it was sweet and great. of course there was local beer. Pretty much we had worked out that you had either light or dark beer. referring to the colour of course (which foxed a few other aussies when asked if they wanted light beer!).

Saturday saw us go on a mammoth walking tour. We met outside the clock in the square along with about a thousand other people! We went with the yellow umbrella tour. It was very informative. It talked about the architecture of hte buildings, which sounds a bit ho hum, but was actually very fascinating, particularly as the buildings around the square represented about 600 years of history and different designs and fads. And this info has helped in other cities that we have visited! There was a lot to take in and really I am not sure I remember much! There was a bit of a boat cruise where it seemed like we went around in circles and we went over the bridge to the castle. On the bridge there was a saint that was supposed to the confessor a queen. Jealous king wanted to know what the queen confessed (as she went there every day), but the priest wouldn't say, and ended up drowning in the river. He is now a saint because of this!

The castle was good, but we didn't have much time to visit it. But as we had another couple of days, we were going to back later anyway. 6 hours or so after the tour started it finished. We had just enough time to wander around the Easter Markets (and I haven't even mentioned them yet and they were the main reason we were there) before we went on our next tour 0 a pub tour! It wasn't the best, as there were too many of us, but we had some good beer and go out a bit more. After drinking, we had some gelati - a common theme on holidays! Italy has really taken over Europe.

Sunday saw us go back to the Castle, and also saw us very under dressed for the weather. We had a good walk around the castle, which housed a fantastic cathedral that took quite a while to stand in queue (which we did on Monday). We bypassed this and went to a lane where some famous writer lived. Upstairs in teh cottages, it was all joined together and at the very end, there was an opportunity to shoot a cross-bow. Which Anthony and Brian did. It was quite hard, and some people before our turn, had bolts bouncing off the target. Anyway, Anthony went first and managed to hit the target. Brian went next and did well. They had 5 shots each, but I had Brian's last shot. I picked up the bow, didn't have my finger near the trigger, as it was heavier than expected and I wanted to line it up. then once lined up I moved my finger near the trigger and off it went! just as well I had it lined up, otherwise it could have gone anywhere. Anyway, I had the best shot of the three of us! and I didn't gloat THAT much.

Sunday also saw us find the local Aussie bar, to check out Aus v Eng in world cup cricket. During hte first innings, Aeron and I went shopping at the Easter Markets (where we saw a bird of prey display), whilst Brian and Anthony drank beer and watched cricket. We then had dinner back at the italian we visited on thursday, went on a ghost tour and made it back in time to watch Australia triumph over England!! all in all, a long day but a good day.

Monday saw us back at the castle to queue up for the cathedral (and I thought the stained glass really was worth it) and to finish off bits of the castle we hadn't managed to see before. There was a lot of history there, and mainly undisturbed, suprising for a country that hasn't really been a country until now. then it was off home. Forget to mention that first thing in the morning we went to Wencelas square. Wasn't as good as old town, and felt very seedy - almost like a nightclub in hte morning not good.

Prague is as beautiful as what everyone says it is. Old Town is fantastic (but avoid Wenscales square), and it is still relatively cheap to do things. I definitely would go back again.