Prague: JUly 20, 2019: Arrival
Of course, AlteCocker arrived totally exhausted in the early morning after the usual horrific flight over the Atlantic. Actually, because the plane was only 3/4 full, the meal service went smoothly and we did not have to sit with our dirty dishes for an hour. Having said that, coach on an airplane is not a good place to sleep.
AlteCocker's room was predictably not ready. She stashed her suitcase and tote at the hotel and headed out--having no choice in the matter. She did a two hour tour with Martin Tours (shortest one offered). By the time the tour was over, AlteCocker was even more exhausted. She plopped herself down in a chair in the Old Town Square and had a totally unmemorable lunch of Spanish chorizo sausages and watched the astronomical clock do its thing on the hour. The clock is an iconic symbol of Prague. However, once you've seen it, you've seen it. AlteCocker did not find it to be one of Prague's sites despite all the hype. Msybe it was just a reaction to first day exhaustion.
Finally, in the afternoon the hotel room at the City Inn was ready and AlteCocker could chill out. She was set for her 10 days in Prague. While the hotel was in many ways very nice, the lack of air conditioning prevents AlteCocker from recommending the hotel should you arrive in a heat wave. AlteCocker arrived in a heat wave.
AlteCocker's room was predictably not ready. She stashed her suitcase and tote at the hotel and headed out--having no choice in the matter. She did a two hour tour with Martin Tours (shortest one offered). By the time the tour was over, AlteCocker was even more exhausted. She plopped herself down in a chair in the Old Town Square and had a totally unmemorable lunch of Spanish chorizo sausages and watched the astronomical clock do its thing on the hour. The clock is an iconic symbol of Prague. However, once you've seen it, you've seen it. AlteCocker did not find it to be one of Prague's sites despite all the hype. Msybe it was just a reaction to first day exhaustion.
Finally, in the afternoon the hotel room at the City Inn was ready and AlteCocker could chill out. She was set for her 10 days in Prague. While the hotel was in many ways very nice, the lack of air conditioning prevents AlteCocker from recommending the hotel should you arrive in a heat wave. AlteCocker arrived in a heat wave.
July 21, 2019: Old Jewish Quarter
This day was given over to AlteCocker's visit to the old Jewish Quarter in Prague. She got there through a combination of taxis and walking. Learning how to use the convenient public transport came later. You get a combination ticket for all the old synagogues in the Jewish Quarter, but Alte Cocker visited only the Alte Neue Synagogue and, she thinks, one other. Unfortunately, she took her sweet time doing the blog and her memory is getting a bit lousy due to the time that has passed since her visit in July 2019.
July 22, 2019: Cesky Krumlov Bust Up
AlteCocker took a regular train to the famous cutsy town of Cesky Krumlov. Unfortunately, she had not done her research well. It was Monday and on Mondays all state museums are closed. Since her back was aching, AlteCocker went to the museum and just ate a gourmet lunch. You can kvetch or you can make lemonade out of lemons.
July 23, 2019: Boat Cruise
Well, it was hot. In fact, it was hot throughout AlteCocker's stay in Prague--which did make touring difficult. One alternative is to sit down, take a cruise on a boat on the Vlatava and eat luch. When traveling, giving in to a bit of pampering is not a bad idea--even if you get lost on your way to the boat dock. As you can see, AlteCocker eventually found the boat dock and took the cruise. Photos are from the cruise.
July 24, 2019: Glass Factory & Karlsbad
Today was the day for another Martin Tour to Karlovy Vary and the Moser Glass factory.
The day began, as many of my days in Prague were to begin, with a visit to Costa Coffee around the corner from the hotel. Costa is a European chain--and much better than Starbucks. The patries were outstanding and it was always hard to choose.
The tour to the Moser Glass Factory was not very interesting. Instead of walking around very hot Karlovy Vary (the highlight was shopping), AlteCocker hung out at the air conditioned hotel where we had lunch and, noting a good wifi connection, she watched some of the Mueller Report related hearings. All and all, this tour was not that interesting.
The day began, as many of my days in Prague were to begin, with a visit to Costa Coffee around the corner from the hotel. Costa is a European chain--and much better than Starbucks. The patries were outstanding and it was always hard to choose.
The tour to the Moser Glass Factory was not very interesting. Instead of walking around very hot Karlovy Vary (the highlight was shopping), AlteCocker hung out at the air conditioned hotel where we had lunch and, noting a good wifi connection, she watched some of the Mueller Report related hearings. All and all, this tour was not that interesting.
July 25, 2019: Back to the central square
The heat was really a downer on AlteCocker's trip. So, she chose to hang out in Prague, just walking aournd in the main square with the clock. The cafe just opposite the clock gets a lot of business on the hour as the clock is about to do its thing again!
July, 26, 2019: Prague Castle + Folk Music Show
AlteCocker had hoped for a break in the weather but, alas, she did not get one. So she tackled the Prague Castle complex and St. Vitus Cathedral in the heat. She took a taxi to the top of Castle Hill and walked through the monuments going downhill before taking a taxi back to the hotel and physical collapse due to the heat. In the evening it was out again for another Martin Tour. This one involved a evening of folk entertainment and a meal. It would be hard to do on your own as it is a good distance out of the central town area where most of the sites are.
July 27, 2019: Charles' Bridge
OK, it was time for AlteCocker to tackle Charles Bridge. She took public transport and walked a lot. She walked a little over halfway across the bridge and then walked back. The heat, again, was a downer.
July 27, 2019: Eiffel Tower hill, Dinner at Le Grill
OK, Prague has an Eiffel Tower. You don't believe me, look at these photos. Many were taken from the top of the Eiffel Tower aka Petrin Tower. No, it isn't as tall as the one in Paris, but the view is spectacular, and there is an elevator. Also, since it is high up, there was a nice breeze on another torid hot summer day. AlteCocker took a taxi to the tower and then figured out public transport to get down (took the bus in the wrong direction before turning around and going the other way!). There is an elevator so you do not have to walk up--and AlteCocker took the elevator. There are snacks and souvenirs offered at the tower. AlteCocker saw a lot of Czechs there with their kids. It seems to be a family outing for the locals.
July 28, 2019: Mucha, New Jerusalem Synagogue
As AlteCocker's time in Prague was ending, she decided to do a couple of smaller sites. She went to the Mucha Musum, New Jersusalem Synagogue and the huge art nouveau Municipal Hall. She especially liked the municipal hall; you can take a tour. Unfortunately, hers was in Czech, but they have an English language hand out. There is a restaurant in the basement where she had a snack. There was a huge Viking Cruise group there and they seemed amazed thar AlteCocker was all on her own. All the sites were a walk from the hotel. AlteCocker is a fan of Mucha and very much enjoyed the Mucha Museum--so much that she bought a t-shirt. The New Jerusalem Synagogue had a lot of construction but was open. These are the kind of sites AlteCocker sees when she has a lot of time.
July 29, 2019: A Grand Restaurant
The last day was givien over to loading photos and just relaxing. The heat had really done AlteCocker in and she was Prague schlepped out. So it was time for a nice dinner and packing--and one last laundry in the sink. There are NO laundromats in central Prague. She would be glad to get to her friend's apartment in Paris for a thorough laundry wash in a machine.
July 30, 2019: Good Bye Prague. Allo PARis
July 30 was a travel day. AlteCocker hung out in the room until just before the check out time at 10:00am. Then, with time to kill, she hung out in the Costa Coffee shop and had one last iced coffee drink. The heat ended as a front came in as AlteCocker was on the way to the airport. It was another case of "AlteCocker goes on vacation." It was time to move the show to Paris. You can continue to follow the trip here.