Praha - Better known (for some reason) as Prague

---

After my misadventure on the train, and the subsequent drawn=out experience with the Police, I finally managed to check-in at the apartment I had rented, only to find out that, despite paying more here than for anywhere else I stayed on this trip, it was really below average in terms of the standard (I think I was just unlucky.....things are generally cheap here).

So needless to say, my stay here did not start off on a positive note. But I REALLY wanted to see this city, so I was prepared to give it a go.

My next concern was that the city may not live up to the hype - as I had heard so much about Prague, and built an expectation prior to arriving.......but this fear was soon dispelled. Put simply.......I had a great time. The city is amazing. So beautiful, and so much to do. Unfortunately though, I'm not the only one with this opinion...........as the city seems over-run with tourists. many streets and main tourist destinations are packed with people (just like me) with a map and camera in hand (Yes......obviously I purchased another camera, which I´m yet to master).

Its very difficult to picture what things would have been like here prior to 1989 - but I imagine that English speaking tourists would not have had it as easy as I did. There were no language difficulties to speak of.

At least my apartment was centrally located, and while I made use of the local transport system (Metro and trams), the place is easy enough to walk around.

I also took a guided day-trip tour to Kutna Hora which, as well as being quite a lovely place in itself, contains Sedlec Kostnice = the ´Bone Church´- that contains the bones of some 40,000 people......decoratively arranged of course. I felt a little ill at ease taking pictures here (it didn´t exactly seem dignified for the deceased)........ but I did it anyway.

I also managed to go to the opera one night. I saw Mozartś Don Giovani in a beautiful old theatre (it actually had its world premiere here all those years ago).

So, on my enjoyment scale from 1 to 10, where 1 equates to cesnekova (I´m sure itś lovely......but just not my thing), and 10 equates to knedlo-zelo-vepro (a local dish much more in my taste)......I would rate my experience with a 9.

Next stop Krakow (an early morning start ahead........as I will not take another night train).

---

Photos

Charles Bridge
Locally known as Karluv Most

Astonomical Clock
Popular attraction in the Old Town Square

View of Vltava River
Taken from Letna Park

View from Vysehrad Castle
Looking back toward the city centre

Bone Church
Pyramid of bones

Bone Church II
Made using every bone in the human body

Tourists aplenty
On the way to Prague Castle