http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Czech-Republic/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , Czech Republic en-us Tue, 24 Nov 09 07:10:46 +0000 Tue, 24 Nov 09 07:10:46 +0000 im gonna start this post by saying dont exchange money in prague. we exchanged three times and we lost 25 of the money each time and we didnt realize that. so if you need cash it's better if you withdrawso we got to czech republic at night with no cash and no map. there was no place still open at the train station to exchange money. we asked this boy for information and he couldnt speak engli http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Czech-Republic/Prague/blog-453259.html Up bright and early once more it was off to find the bus stop to head south to the beautiful Cesky Krumlov. We managed to score a seat on the student bus and our tickets cost us only 4 euro...what a score. When we arrived to our amazement it was snowing. It only took us a quick 20 mins to walk to where we were staying the Pension Adalbert....which was only 100 metres from old town square and w http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Czech-Republic/South-Bohemian-Region/Cesky-Krumlov/blog-449971.html Arriving in Prague or as the locals call it Praha made me realise two very important things. Firstly I havenrsquot really seen a real winter now for about 18 months for which I am very grateful for.. and secondly purchasing my new black jacket in Berlin a couple of weeks ago was possibly the cleverest thing Irsquove done in a very long whilehellip because it was wet cold and windy grr http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Czech-Republic/Prague/blog-449967.html This past week during my October break at ISB myself and three other teachers Mona Rana and Lucia decided to go to Prague We started our first day in Prague with a free tour of the Old Town. Our tour guide was quite eccentric and opinionated but she managed to bring us to quite a few places and point out some great places to eat. She first brought us to Wenceslas Square where there was a s http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Czech-Republic/Prague/blog-449902.html It was off to Prague bright and early on the bus with Dax. We stopped off on the way at Terrizen Concentration camp for a tour and a look at what really went down in these Nazi run playgrounds. Its hard to believe that humans could actually treat other human beings this way...The cells were tiny and dark and the conditions were undescribable. We even got to see the execution grounds were their w http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Czech-Republic/Prague/Old-Town/blog-449692.html Hello EveryoneThings here have been pretty exciting I've just returned from a week in Dresden Eastern Germany and Prague Czech Republic and a week ago from Malm Sweden. I have a new appreciation for the size of europe pretty much wherever I want to go on the continent or in the UK the plane ride takes approximately an hour. Seriously. To Prague it was an hour. To Dublin its an hour. To http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Czech-Republic/Prague/Old-Town/blog-448413.html My motherinlaw told me all she knew about 'Va va ray' and subsequently went through great lengths to make sure I visit the place. I was left to decipher what 'Va va ray' actually meant the only hint being a place frequented by film stars the wealthy and the sophisticated. This place as it turns out is known as Karlovy Vary to the Czechs a spa town with colourful buildings expensive desig http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Czech-Republic/Karlovy-Vary-Region/Karlovy-Vary/blog-448181.html My second time in Prague I got to see much much more than 1 year ago. It's absolutely necessary to spend at least a couple of days in Prague. We stayed in Zhizhkov and walked around the town by foot all the time using the tram only once. Also we of couse went to my favorite place on earth Kutna Hora which is definitely worth a visit of a couple of days too to see the sights and feel the atmosph http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Czech-Republic/Prague/blog-448118.html If you have been to Prague you probably have seen the plaques below the statue og St John og Nepomuk on the Charles Bridge. see picture on httpupload.wikimedia.orgwikipediacommonsee2JohnofNepomuk.jpg People touch both the plaques and there are different beliefs as to what magic powers they possess. Some say the one on the right can be touched for good luck or you can make a wish oth http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Czech-Republic/Prague/blog-447441.html Since i wrote last i have done the whole northern loop. From Paris we went to Bruges. which is a little medievil type town that doesn really have much to do. There is a quote from the movie In Bruges that goes a little soething like this.... Ken I grew up in Dublin. I love Dublin. If I grew up on a farm and was retarded Bruges might impress me but I didn so it doesn .but one thing it does http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Czech-Republic/Prague/Old-Town/blog-446063.html All right.. so the first month while we were here... we going on trips to other Czech towns exploring the city of Prague and of course Czech intensive class.. Now the real classes have begun. I just finished my third week of classes. Well for me it was the second because I skipped the first week to go to Poland I am very lucky to like all my classes because most of my friends have at leas http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Czech-Republic/Prague/Old-Town/blog-444984.html MONDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2009 PRAGUEAfter a late arrival I took my time getting up this morning. After a quick shower and realising I have no voice at all I headed out to change some money before coming back and paying for the hostel and having breakfast. They were good enough to let me stay in the room they put me in the previous night which is great because it is only an eight bed dorm with a s http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Czech-Republic/Prague/blog-444730.html more to come soon... http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Czech-Republic/South-Bohemian-Region/Lipno-Dam/blog-444428.html 108 Arrive in Prague in the afternoon hung around hostel saw prague next day. Its a beauty of a city with a rich history. We mostly enjoyed it via a free walking tour that my friend Megan suggested. Megan is a friend from HS who now works in Prague and it was very interesting catching up over drinks later that night. I came down with the swine flu unconfirmed but pretty sure and so we e http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Czech-Republic/Prague/blog-444278.html Had a nice relaxing morning with coffee in the breakfast room. I had packed before going down so was able to store my luggage and head off exploring some more. Went down to the Old Town Square to see a few things I had missed. One thing that I did want to do was a Tower Climb behind the Astronomical Clock. I popped for the 70 KC so I could take the elevator. So far I have done more walking http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Czech-Republic/Prague/blog-443844.html I had planned on taking a bus to Terezin and touring it by myself but thankfully I decided to find a guided tour. The hotel was able to book me on a Grey Line Tour at 1 which gave me a few hours to see a few things I had not yet seen. What I really wanted to see was the Museum of Communism. I took the Metro thinking that I would be able to just run into the things I wanted to see. Although http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Czech-Republic/Prague/blog-443564.html Today was a day trip to Kutna Hora a small town featured on Rick Steves' show. I know I really planned this whole trip around his guidebooks and videos. I took the Metro changing trains once and was at the Main Train Station without a problem. Through some trial and error I was able to find where tickets were sold and easily bought a round trip to Kutna Hora. I have to say that it is so di http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Czech-Republic/Prague/blog-443296.html Yikes a quick flight 750km north to Prague and I've gone straight from summer to autumn. It was unusual to be in Prague without constant sunshine and hot weather but the three days here have been cold and dull. Beer in the square just isn't the same when it's chilly. On top of this most of the bridge is undergoing renovation ruining any photographic opportunities. Nevertheless it was great to http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Czech-Republic/Prague/Old-Town/blog-443215.html After yesterdayrsquos ambitious day of touring I toned it down a bit today. This morning I started over the Charles Bridge towards the New Town area where I would do most of my touring. My first stop was at the Old Town Square. This area has a few different tourist sights as well as the customary food jewelry and souvenir stands restaurants cafes and tourist shops.When I arrived it was ab http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Czech-Republic/Prague/Mala-Strana/blog-443087.html Ok so what I meant by the title is that I did just about everything today in Prague. I was in it metro on it jazz boat on the river over it oh so many stairs to climb and well you get the picture. I slept a good 11 hours last night so feel pretty good today. Went over to the other side of the river on the tram thinking that I would take the funicular up to the top of a hill. Unfor http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Czech-Republic/Prague/blog-443082.html