Tag: #europe

Prague walking solo

Today I decided on a day of tourist sightseeing zig zagging the city to all the obscure places. I bought a one day ticket for 120czk ($AUD7) and started with the 11 tram down the road from my hotel to the R2D2 sculpture. It is an air ventilation shaft which has been artified. I didn’t realise I would have to walk this hill.. I can walk for hours but as soon as I hit stairs or a hill like this I slow down . Luckily I can use some of this time to write some blog while catching my breath. Going downhill is no bother, uphill kills me. Tried walking part backwards even. This hill is nowhere near as bad as the streets of San Francisco my son, “gently encouraged” me to walk, but this was still difficult in 30degrees but I made it.

I went to the “Dancing House” and had lunch in the terrace restaurant. Magnificent views. This has made me make this disloyal comment that I honestly believe this is the prettiest city in the world. I like to think Sydney is but I will have to say that Sydney has the most beautiful harbour in the world. Prague is gorgeous.

I then proceeded to Prague Meridian is a brass strip in Prague’s Old Town Square used to tell the time from 1652 to 1918, although no longer a marker for noon. The Velvet Revolution Memorial marking a non-violent student uprising that led to the downfall of Communism in Czechoslovakia. The outstretched hands, and fingers form a “V: for victory. and Sigmund Freud hanging. This statue startles people. Man Hanging Out looks like a suicide happening but is a statue of Sigmund Freud making a statement around uncertainty around intellectualism. National Memorial to the Heroes of the Heydrich Terror. In 1942 7 paratroopers were gunned down and this wall still displays the bullet marks.

Some of the quirky statues around the city.

Not long after the death of John Lennon, this wall was transformed into a memorial for John as well as including messages of peace during the Communist regime. Several artists over the years have contributed to the wall memorial. It currently also exhibits many poems and messages to the people of the Ukraine during this sad time of Putin taking over their homeland.

Some different angles of the Charles Bridge and some of the canals of Prague.

The memorial to the Victims of Communism.

The narrowest street in Prague has pedestrian lights to control the flow of people in this narrow lane.

Prague

I took a train from Berlin to Prague. This is my only cross country train I have taken ever on my travels. Wasn’t sure what to expect on a 5.5 hour trip in a compartment with 5 other strangers. What a wonderful trip it was with people from Germany, East Germany, Israel, USA, England and me from Australia. The scenery was beautiful, there were many people who did not have seats, mostly young backpackers. I was so thankful I had prepurchased my seat. The young people were having a hoot of a time, singing songs like Sweet Home Alabama and Country Road. It was quite contagious and I even joined in. The closest I will ever get to karaoke. Although the young people were quite inebriated and the song list did not stretch much further than those two songs.

My compartment friends all wished each other safe travels, I got a Bolt from the station to my hotel. I was thrilled my German SIM card still worked in Czech Republic. Got to my hotel, and was horrified to find that there was no air conditioning. It was 38 degrees outside and my room is a small box and was hotter than outside. I cannot believe I did not do any research for this hotel. I presumed that as it was 4 star that it would have air conditioning. I had a look at moving to another hotel but nothing was in the area I wanted to be in and I have to say in this case you get what you pay for. I did get a fan when I requested one and I can open my window, although I have set up a bunch of objects as obstacles in case someone tries to climb through my window. The hotel assures me it is safe but the window is in a courtyard, carpark area. Ah well, all part of travel. I was to go to either Budapest or Prague and chose this city because of the cheaper flight I could get to London but also because this city was hardly affected by WWII and so all the buildings are intact and not rebuilt as in other cities.

I went on a walking tour of the Prague Palace and highly recommend the company 1 .2. Tours. The pictures speak for themselves. This city is magnificent. But something which was a surprise for everyone on the tour is the “Echo Circle”. You stand in the middle fo the sculpture circle and you only have to whisper and it echoes straight back at you. It is funny watching how everyone reacts. There is a photo below.

Echo Circle

I did a walking tour of the Jewish Quarter and Old Town.

One thing which has frightened me is the speed of the escalators at the train station. I thought that it was me forgetting what they are like but I heard other people around me speaking about their fear. Tell me what you think. Scary escalator. Although the stations are built quite artistically.

One of my favourite spots is the Wallenstein Palace grounds which is also the home of parliament senate buildings with pretty walking park and fountains. There is a Dripstone Wall of grotesque art which is only open to the public during April to October.