Checking things out! http://www.checkingthingsout.com Steve's blog posterous.com Fri, 24 Jul 2009 04:27:43 -0700 The last Korunas http://www.checkingthingsout.com/the-last-korunas http://www.checkingthingsout.com/the-last-korunas At the airport, ready for ontime departure with Lufthansa. Flying Prague-Frankfurt-Madrid on the trip home.

 We've got a few Czech Crowns left, trying to find something to buy.

 25 KC = 1Euro

 In general, things here are a little cheaper than in Madrid.

 I was very surprised to see that English was spoken everywhere we went - and they sometimes also spoke Spanish. Even when we were off the beaten track, away from the tourist areas downtown.

Steve

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/438764/myphoto.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eIKH96Xyoh Steve Joseph Steve Steve Joseph Fri, 24 Jul 2009 01:15:21 -0700 Czeching out http://www.checkingthingsout.com/czeching-out http://www.checkingthingsout.com/czeching-out Time to head home after a week in Prague. The original plan was to spend 3 days in Prague and the rest of the time taking day trips to nearby towns, but there was so much to see here that we never left the city.

 This is definitely a worthwhile visit and I recommend it highly.

 Sadly, it's time to head back home:

 Passport...check
Sunglasses...check
Explorer hat...check
Red and white wine...Czech

(Sorry, couldn't resist the parting Czech jokes)
 
Steve

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/438764/myphoto.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eIKH96Xyoh Steve Joseph Steve Steve Joseph Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:43:43 -0700 This was for just one person http://www.checkingthingsout.com/this-was-for-just-one-person http://www.checkingthingsout.com/this-was-for-just-one-person Still discovering the joys of Czech cuisine. Here's a half duck, roasted. With red and white cabbage and dumplings.

 I'll probably regret it, but I ate the whole thing. Washed down with a delicious Moravian rosé (well, actually, 2)

 I like Prague.

Steve

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/438764/myphoto.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eIKH96Xyoh Steve Joseph Steve Steve Joseph Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:46:12 -0700 And then came the rain http://www.checkingthingsout.com/and-then-came-the-rain http://www.checkingthingsout.com/and-then-came-the-rain This hot, stuffy day could only end one way.

 Well, OK, two ways. With a cold Czech beer and a summer storm. In the picture you can barely make out the waiters trying to save the awnings on the terraza from the weight of the rainwater. We just made it inside when the worst of the storm hit.

 The deluge only lasted 20 minutes, but it was enough to cool off the city.

Steve

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/438764/myphoto.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eIKH96Xyoh Steve Joseph Steve Steve Joseph Thu, 23 Jul 2009 06:36:47 -0700 Heat, humidity and communism http://www.checkingthingsout.com/heat-humidity-and-communism http://www.checkingthingsout.com/heat-humidity-and-communism Just finished a visit to the Museum of Communism. Interesting description of how the government lied and intimidated people- creating a constant fear of attack from abroad.

 Level Orange, anyone?

Steve

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/438764/myphoto.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eIKH96Xyoh Steve Joseph Steve Steve Joseph Thu, 23 Jul 2009 04:06:00 -0700 Vyšehrad (help! I'm melting) http://www.checkingthingsout.com/vyehrad-help-im-melting http://www.checkingthingsout.com/vyehrad-help-im-melting This morning we headed out to see castle of Vyšehrad, and we walked into a world of sauna. Wow! It is hot and humid today. I haven't felt this hoy and sticky since I left Wisconsin.

 We saw a romanesque chapel (St Martina) and the basilica of St Lawrence. Beautiful parks and views of the Moltava.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/438764/myphoto.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eIKH96Xyoh Steve Joseph Steve Steve Joseph Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:40:00 -0700 A note on transportation http://www.checkingthingsout.com/a-note-on-transportation http://www.checkingthingsout.com/a-note-on-transportation Once you figure out the right sort of ticket to buy, and where to buy it, the trams are a great way to move around Prague.

 You can buy tickets at the tobacconists (which are closed on Saturday afternoons and all day Sunday). Tickets can also be bought from machines at a few Tram stops - very few tram stops, none of which seems to be located downtown.

 But let's suppose you have found one. Now comes the fun of deciding if you need the 18KC ticket that is valid for 30 min or 4 stops. Eh? WTF? Or if you should get a higher fare with a different set of random conditions.

 Hint: buy for the return trip at the same time. You'll never find a machine when you are ready to head back to your hotel.

Steve

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/438764/myphoto.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eIKH96Xyoh Steve Joseph Steve Steve Joseph Wed, 22 Jul 2009 07:43:02 -0700 St. Vitus Cathedral http://www.checkingthingsout.com/st-vitus-cathedral-0 http://www.checkingthingsout.com/st-vitus-cathedral-0 Finishing off our visit to Prague castle, we saw the cathedral , with a beautiful stained glass window by Mucha. He obviously did much more than posters for Sarah Bernhardt.

 We also saw the tomb of St Wenceslas - murdered by his own brother. Czech royalty has a very bloody history. In St George Basilica, we also saw the tomb of a Bohemian queen who was strangled to death while she was praying, by her sister-in-law.

Steve

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/438764/myphoto.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eIKH96Xyoh Steve Joseph Steve Steve Joseph Wed, 22 Jul 2009 05:16:53 -0700 A break and trying something new http://www.checkingthingsout.com/a-break-and-trying-something-new http://www.checkingthingsout.com/a-break-and-trying-something-new After visiting the Royal Palace and other marvels of Prague castle, we're taking a break in the Wenceslas vineyard. Here you can see a fine Czech red - Zweigeltrebe 2007 Znovín Znojmo.

 Beautiful views of the city from here - you can see the crowds on the Charles bridge and all the steeples of Prague.

After the break - St. Vitus Cathedral

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/438764/myphoto.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eIKH96Xyoh Steve Joseph Steve Steve Joseph Wed, 22 Jul 2009 02:25:01 -0700 Prague castle and Hradcany http://www.checkingthingsout.com/prague-castle-and-hradcany http://www.checkingthingsout.com/prague-castle-and-hradcany Today we finish our orderly discovery of the old quarters of Prague with a visit to the castle and the castle neighborhood. These are the old areas of Prague: Nove Mesto, Stare Mesto, Josefov, Mala Strana, Hradcany.

 Finally, we have summer weather!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/438764/myphoto.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eIKH96Xyoh Steve Joseph Steve Steve Joseph Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:22:20 -0700 Another day, another.... http://www.checkingthingsout.com/another-day-another http://www.checkingthingsout.com/another-day-another ...Czech beer. Today it's Staropramen. And it goes down great after a day wandering around Petriny Park and finishing off at the Kinsky summer palace.

With our trusty guidebook in hand we have discovered the delights of Mala Strana.
 
Apparently the Swedes were here in 1648 and they took some statues. The Czechs would like those to be returned, judging by the little signs on every copy of a statue in the gardens at the Czech Senate. If anyone has seen them...

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/438764/myphoto.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eIKH96Xyoh Steve Joseph Steve Steve Joseph Tue, 21 Jul 2009 05:49:25 -0700 Apple strudel http://www.checkingthingsout.com/apple-strudel-0 http://www.checkingthingsout.com/apple-strudel-0 Keeping up the energy level after a morning walking around Mala Strana:

 Czech onion soup
Beef goulash with dumplings
Apple strudel

After coffee, we'll head uphill (yes, uphill) to Petriny Park. Where we will probably fall asleep under a tree.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/438764/myphoto.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eIKH96Xyoh Steve Joseph Steve Steve Joseph Tue, 21 Jul 2009 02:04:59 -0700 Mala strana - starting the day http://www.checkingthingsout.com/mala-strana-starting-the-day http://www.checkingthingsout.com/mala-strana-starting-the-day We've finally crossed the Charles bridge over the Moldava. Getting ready to discover Mala Strana -- after a stop for a coffee.

Steve

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/438764/myphoto.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eIKH96Xyoh Steve Joseph Steve Steve Joseph Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:42:00 -0700 Black light theatre http://www.checkingthingsout.com/black-light-theatre http://www.checkingthingsout.com/black-light-theatre Rounded off a very long day with a show at a black light theatre

 Amazing stage effects!!!

Steve

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/438764/myphoto.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eIKH96Xyoh Steve Joseph Steve Steve Joseph Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:10:43 -0700 After a long day of sightseeing http://www.checkingthingsout.com/after-a-long-day-of-sightseeing http://www.checkingthingsout.com/after-a-long-day-of-sightseeing Pilsner Urquell...enough said

Steve

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/438764/myphoto.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eIKH96Xyoh Steve Joseph Steve Steve Joseph Mon, 20 Jul 2009 03:53:07 -0700 Sunshine & the Jewish Quarter http://www.checkingthingsout.com/sunshine-and-the-jewish-quarter http://www.checkingthingsout.com/sunshine-and-the-jewish-quarter This morning we're visiting the Jewish Quarter - 4 or 5 synagogues and the Jewish cemetery. The cemetery is a tiny plot of land where the dead were buried one on top of the other for centuries. No pictures of the cemetery, because we weren't up for paying 40 KC after shelling out 480 for the tickets, 240 for the audioguides and 5 for the Kipa (which constantly falls off - should have brought bobbie pins).

Next stop is the Old-new synagogue - the oldest synagogue in Europe, built in 1270.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/438764/myphoto.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eIKH96Xyoh Steve Joseph Steve Steve Joseph Sun, 19 Jul 2009 15:18:42 -0700 Mucha Museum, mucha Praga http://www.checkingthingsout.com/mucha-museum-mucha-praga http://www.checkingthingsout.com/mucha-museum-mucha-praga No rain today, so we walked all over Prague today. The Mucha Museum was great. They've got a good collection of posters and sketches by Alphonse Mucha, not as many as the recent exhibit at Caixaform in Madrid, but still worth the 80 KC entrance fee.

Dinner was at the King Solomon restaurant in the old Jewish quarter. Apparently, Michelle Obama was there in April, and enjoyed it (or so the sign in the window proudly claimed).
 
I enjoyed it -- but I doubt they'll repaint the window for me.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/438764/myphoto.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eIKH96Xyoh Steve Joseph Steve Steve Joseph Sun, 19 Jul 2009 04:27:35 -0700 Hare Krishna in Prague http://www.checkingthingsout.com/hare-krishna-in-prague http://www.checkingthingsout.com/hare-krishna-in-prague Here's something you don't see every day

Steve

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/438764/myphoto.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eIKH96Xyoh Steve Joseph Steve Steve Joseph Sat, 18 Jul 2009 14:32:01 -0700 Discovering Czech cuisine http://www.checkingthingsout.com/discovering-czech-cuisine http://www.checkingthingsout.com/discovering-czech-cuisine

We had dinner at a place called Starocesky. Great food, but the English menu was a bit strange:

Check out dish number 20.

More from Prague tomorrow!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/438764/myphoto.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eIKH96Xyoh Steve Joseph Steve Steve Joseph Sat, 18 Jul 2009 14:29:00 -0700 Arriving in Prague http://www.checkingthingsout.com/arriving-in-prague http://www.checkingthingsout.com/arriving-in-prague Arrived in Prague without incident. We were VERY impressed with Swiss Air on the flights from Madrid to Zurich and from Zurich to Prague. They still serve food! Marvellous in flight breakfast on the way to Zurich.
 
We only had half an hour to change planes, and Swiss managed to get our luggage to Prague with us.

Our stay in Prague started with a downpour. Looks like it will be raining most of the time we're here. But we bought some very nice jackets to make the rain bearable

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/438764/myphoto.jpg http://posterous.com/people/eIKH96Xyoh Steve Joseph Steve Steve Joseph