Prague – Page 2 – SteveWhittythoughts1965

October 30, 2012

Prague & Bratislava – Day 11, 20/09/2012

Time to leave Bratislava and make my way back to Prague. It is then that the realisation I will be going home soon hits me. My mood becomes melancholic.

As I left the Hostel Blues the feeling of saying goodbye to people had begun to tear into me. All I could think about was the thought of being home and back to the grind that is work. At least the sun was shining and I was listening to good music. That had lightened the mood.

I arrived into Prague at around 5pm. I made my way back to the hostel St. Christopher’s at Mosaic House. It felt like an old friend to me. I checked in and found myself sharing a dorm with five Argentinians. Nothing wrong with that except they were a bit loud and frankly I did not feel in the mood to put up with this. I had to go and change my Euro’s into Czech Koruna’s. When I arrived back I bumped into one of the Argentinians who asked if I could swap rooms with one of their friends. I was only too happy to oblige and so I moved. I am used to this by now.

Once settled in I decided to go and have something to eat. The bar-b-q wings and ribs were great if not a bit sticky.

However, the feeling that I was going home would not leave me and I was not enjoying the beer. Also I was feeling tired so it was best to get off to bed early and chill out.

Until the next post, stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Steve

October 27, 2012

Museum of Communism – Prague

No visit to Prague cannot pass without mentioning the history when Czechoslovakia was under communist rule. The Museum of Communism tells the story of this time. Admission for adults 190 CZK, Students with ID 150 CZK. Children under 10 years of age have free admission.

Ironically the museum is located above a McDonald’s on Na Příkopě. Communism right next to an icon of the free market.

The museum is split into six sections and also include a cinema and a mock-up of an interrogation room.

The sections are:

The Origins
The Dream
The Reality
The Nightmare
Cult of Personality
Velvet Revolution

These sections follow in a chronological order to tell of life for the ordinary citizen. It looks at the various areas of everyday life such as politics, sport, daily life, education, propaganda, censorship, the army and police. There is also a display about the show trails that took place.

The Cinema shows a film about the struggle for freedom for the Czechoslovakian people. It particularly highlights the Prague Spring and the Velvet Revolution. It was certainly moving and I could see people having to wipe away tears from their eyes. It makes you grateful about the things you take for granted.

Would I recommend the museum as a place to visit. The answer is yes. One cannot separate communism from the history of Prague and how people suffered and why they took to the streets for their freedom. There are relics all around the city. It is a good way to spend an hour or two especially for the history fan.

Until the next post stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Steve

October 12, 2012

Prague & Bratislava – Day 7, 16/09/2012

More than half way through my trip and I am off to Bratislava. This is the first time that I have travelled between countries on my travels. It all adds to the adventure.

Maybe I spent too long in Prague but now I feel ready to move on. The whole process of boarding the coach was painless enough. No need to check-in, showed my ticket to the driver. Also got a free bottle of water for the trip. I have never been treated like that before.

I arrived in Bratislava at around 5pm. What a culture shock compared to Prague. It was like chalk and cheese. Trolley buses were running past the bus station. It was as though I had been transported back to old communist Czechoslovakia.

It was a short trolleybus ride to the hostel. Again the comparison was chalk to cheese. Hostel Blues is a proper hostel with a kitchen, bar and chill out zone. More importantly it in the middle of the city. So after finding my bed I decided to go out for a walk. To be honest my time in Prague had caught up with me and I did not want to go far. So after a quick bite to eat and a drink I called it an early night.

October 10, 2012

Lennon Wall – Prague

One of the most unusual sites in Prague is the Lennon Wall. It is home to graffiti inspired and dedicated to John Lennon. As yesterday would have been the former Beatle 72nd birthday it seems appropriate to write about the wall.

During the 1980’s the wall was used to protest against the communist regime. Today it is seen to represent peace and love. The ideals that we should all live by. When I visited the wall last month I found the whole experience to be emotional and I found myself overwhelmed with the tears flowing down my face.

Here are a few of the wall’s images:

As the great man sang “All you need is love.” Until the next post, stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Steve

October 9, 2012

Prague & Bratislava – Day 6, 15/09/2012

Today certainly felt like after the Lord Mayor’s show. Everybody had left so I felt a little melancholic. I also felt dirty so it was time to a spot of laundry. That was the morning sorted.

I had not made any plans for the day so I decided that it would be best if I just wandered around the city. It took me to areas of Prague that were off the beaten track. This is something I enjoy doing a lot. You get to see how the city really breathes away from the tourist hub.

After lunch at the Pause Cafe I ventured back towards the centre of Prague. The Old Town Square is a good place to sit and observe the world passing by. Prague is not just about the tourists but also the street entertainers trying to attract the crowds too. Being a Saturday everything seemed so lively.

I made my way back to the hostel as I was meeting a couple of Australians to watch the Sunderland v Liverpool game on the TV. Upon my arrival I was greeted with a request to move dorms. The hostel had a party of four who would be split up unless I agreed to move to another room. I said that it would not be a problem and as a gesture of goodwill I was given a voucher for free breakfast for tomorrow.

That last night in Prague was good. So chilled out, though I may have drunk too much but it is a lesson to learn for the future as I may have gone over budget. Tomorrow, next stop Bratislava.

Until the next post, stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Steve

October 8, 2012October 8, 2012

Prague & Bratislava – Day 5, 14/09/2012

For a lot of people in the hostel today was their final day in Prague. The plan was to explore the area around Prague Castle. This seemed a good idea at the time. So a couple of us decided to head to the Old Town Square. The weather was good so we checked out what was going on. There were plenty of wedding parties. Of course the brides looked beautiful. There was a dixieland jazz band playing in the background. Plenty of people were soaking in the atmosphere. Some even brought the CD. I am not sure it would sound the same back home.

Dixieland Jazz Band in The Old Town Square

Eventually, we climbed the Astronomical Clock Tower. Once at the top space was tight due to the amount of people there. However, it did offer excellent views of the Prague skyline.

We decided that we need to head up to the castle. So after crossing Charles Bridge and having something to eat we caught a tram up to the top of the castle hill. We did not plan to go inside but just potter around. We saw the absinthe shop and it was selling ice cream flavoured with the drink. One of us could not resist. I tried some, it tasted foul but then again I do not like the taste of aniseed. So I started to drink beer instead. Drinking in the castle grounds did not seem right with the tourists milling around but I felt relaxed about it.

Slowly we made our way back to the city centre and I eat the sloppiest burger that I had ever tasted. At the hostel it was decided as it was the last night for the majority of us we should go out and celebrate. Always keen to follow I went to my dorm, got showered and changed. We made our way to the nearest club. I am surprised how relaxed clubs are in mainland Europe are about letting people in. I was wearing a shirt, jeans and trainers and the doormen were happy to let me in.

While relaxing with a beer you could see panic behind the bar. The Czech government had during the day banned the sale of alcohol over 20% proof due to recent cases of people dying from drinking contaminated booze. So it was beer all night, no hardship.

The atmosphere turned ugly when a group of locals decided to move around us. I had my arse slapped then another person started dancing in front of one of the girls. Her boyfriend naturally to exception to this and made his feelings known. He was ignored and a fight broke out which was a shame. Still it did not stop our fun and we continued to drink and dance. I am better at drinking than dancing. At the end of the night we said our goodbyes and wished one another safe travels.

Until the next post, stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Steve

October 3, 2012

Prague & Bratislava – Day 4, 13/09/2012

I should have not got out of bed so early this morning to make breakfast. Should have stayed in bed instead. I would have recovered from the previous evening’s excesses. Instead, I attempted to go for a walk Had to turn back as I was not in a fit state. After a further couple of hours sleep I was ready to take on the world again.

I thought that I would make my way to Charles Bridge. It was early afternoon and it was packed. Too packed with tourists. I was told that September would be a quiet month. Glad I was not there in the height of summer. I crossed the bridge and then decided to turn straight back and return to the hostel through Prague city centre. I ended up taking the route of yesterday’s walking tour though I was not aware of this at the time. The brain was not functioning properly at the time.

Back at the hostel for a quiet night, except it would not turn out this way. Met up with the gang from the pub crawl. There was a Man vs Food type challenge. Who could eat the hottest chicken wings and spare ribs. I could feel the heat from here. It was a good job that I did not join in.

Until the next post, stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Steve

September 30, 2012

The Prague Astronomical Clock

One of the most popular attractions in Prague is the Astronomical Clock or Prague Orioj. Located in the Old Town Square the crowds flock to see the clock chime at the top of the hour.

Dating back to 1410 the clock consists of three parts: the astronomical dial that represents the positions of the sun and the moon, a calendar dial that shows the months and “The Walk of the Apostles” that moves every hour of moving sculptures showing the Apostles and Death who is represented as a skeleton. It is the oldest working astronomical clock in the world,

There are various legends linked to the clock. The most famous concerning the clockmaster Jan Růže. The councillors of Prague were so impressed by the clock that they were worried that Růže would repeat his work elsewhere. So they ordered that Růže should be blinded. As an act of revenge Růže broke the clock and as a result it was left because nobody knew how to repair it.

As I said the clock is very popular with visitors especially at the top of the hour when the animated figures on the clock start moving. Also a trumpeter will play a quick tune to each side of the clock tower.

Is the clock is worth seeing? I believe it is worth viewing the movement once to say that you have witnessed it.

Until the next post, stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Steve

September 29, 2012September 29, 2012

Prague & Bratislava – Day 3, 12/09/2012

After a good breakfast I ready to undertake the free walking tour the hostel offers. The weather did not look too good and I had not brought a waterproof coat with me. Another item for the Christmas wish list. Still rain is only water. So we set out on the tour. The guide Javier was really knowledgeable. He had come over from Spain because there were no jobs for him back home.

The tour took in the historical centre of Prague including the Jewish Quarter but did not cross over to the castle.

As the tour carried on it was clear that the rain was not going to stop. Only one thing to and that was to purchase an umbrella from the nearest store. For 500kr it will have to do though I suspect that I would be lucky if it lasts until the end of the day. During the tour I got talking to a few people and seemed to be getting on well with them. We saw the Astronomical Clock strike midday. Javier said it was considered to be overrated. Like all great sites there were a lot of people waiting to witness the spectacle.

Rain I can handle but it was the cold wind that I was struggling with. I just wanted to go somewhere that was warm. Javier recommended a traditional restaurant to go and eat. My pork in fruit sauce and dumplings certainly hit the spot and went down very well along with the glass of beer too. I noticed that beer is cheaper than soft drinks. Oh my liver.

Some of the group decided that they were going on the pub crawl in the evening. My initial reaction was not was not to go saying that I would do it tomorrow instead. I made my way back to the hostel with an American lady from the tour. The problem was that neither of us were sure where we were going. I think it was more by luck than judgment that we found our way back to the hostel.

I spent the rest of the afternoon mulling over the question of attending the pub crawl. In the end I thought why not, I might as well enjoy myself while in Prague. Did I enjoy myself? Well I ended up in the tallest nightclub in Europe and did not arrive back to the hostel until 3:30 am. Trying to be clever I thought that I would not wake the dorm only to walk into the bunk bed. Happy days.

Until the next post, stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Steve

September 27, 2012September 27, 2012

Photo of the Week – John Lennon

This week’s photo comes from Prague. It is of John Lennon from the Lennon Wall.

This was one of the most moving sights I witnessed while in Prague and I felt emotional looking at the image. 2012 sees the 50th anniversary of the release of The Beatles first single ‘Love Me Do’. John Lennon’s cultural importance was recently recognized when the British music magazine ‘The New Musical Express’ named Lennon as the ultimate icon of the past 60 years. Need I say anymore.

Until the next post, stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Steve