Europe Holiday 2015 - Day Seven

Slow start to the morning and I didn't leave the apartment until 9 am. Wandered around some streets until I came to Wenceslas Square and then headed to the main train station. Bought my ticket to Kutná Hora město. Had the cabin to myself for most of the journey.

Dodgy Russian Currency Exchange on Wenceslas Square

Wenceslas Square

                                   

National Museum

On the train

 The cabin was so hot without the window down and the brakes were incredibly noisy. Almost exhilarating when cruising along at high speed. Train conductors were most helpful as we had to change trains. Alighted at Kutná Hora-Sedlec for the Ossuary - church with the bones of some 40~70,000 people. Awesome and fascinating.

Inside the Ossuary

Inside the Ossuary

Inside the Ossuary

I made sure that I purchased a multiticket to take in the nearby Church of the Assumption of Our Lady and St Barbara Cathedral. Quite a saving on purchasing individual tickets and I wanted to fill my day there. At most you can spend 20~25 minutes in the ossuary as it isn't as large as you may expect. The church was quite large, especially considering that it was built in 1300.

Inside the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady

You can even walk around in the attic

One of the chapels

 Whilst waiting for the train to take me into the town, an older gentleman came along, greeted me in Czech, then sat down and made a phone call in English. After finishing he asked me if I spoke English. I informed him that it was one of my better languages.

We chatted. He was born in Czechoslovakia in 1943 and moved to England when the communists from Russia took over. His mum was English and worked at the British embassy. One day, whilst in the south of France, it came upon him that he had to return to Prague. He hitchhiked and got a ride that took him all the way to the border but he had to stay overnight in Germany due to it being too busy at the border. His arrival coincided with the 25th anniversary of his leaving and the hospitalisation of his father who had attempted suicide.

He walked me around town to go to St Barbara's Church, also known as the Cathedral of St Barbara. On the way he stopped off at his house to grab something before calling in to a cafe to go to the toilet. I waited long enough so just left. After all, I was a tourist on limited time for tourism. I had enjoyed our chat though.

St Barbara's Church is 30m H x 70m L x 40m W - large. Basically built on the wealth of a nearby silver mine. I wandered around town afterwards and sat down for garlic polevka (soup) followed by a small nougat zmrzlina (ice cream). Down to my last 18 Czech crowns.

St Barbara's Church on the left

One of the chapels

From the rear of the building, or is it the side?

 Decided to head back to Prague and returned to the train station. Caught the next train that came in but, unfortunately, it was going the wrong way. The friendly conductor told me which station to get off at so that I could catch a return train - didn't charge me for the ticket that I should have bought!

Not my train

 Spent about an hour waiting at Malešov which is not exactly the centre of the universe. Calculated that I would be about 1 hr 10 mins later than anticipated for my return. Supposedly 34C today so quite warm. Luckily for me I managed to get an SMS through to the missus and she was waiting for me at Costa Coffee.

Malešov Station

Went looking for a decent place to have dinner. Luckily the missus remembered Cafe-Pub Atmosphere along the river. And she's normally terrible with directions. The food was fabulous - two mains, a side, a salad and two large drinks for 602 Czech crowns (rounded up to 700 with a tip). Not keen on the smoking inside the establishment though.

Part of a sumptuous dinner

One last walk along Charles Bridge before buying a mole keyring which the missus bargained down to 150 crowns - it was 249 elsewhere. Late night packing and our host arrived back from holiday and dropped in for a chat. Bed after midnight.

Can't finish off an evening without photographing Charles Bridge and Prague Castle

Europe Holiday 2015 - Day Six

Early morning walk around Staroměstské náměstí (Old Town Square) as Miky wanted to photograph buildings without heaps of people blocking the view. Quite surprising to see the streets almost empty and quiet. Bought bread at Way Better Bread and groceries at Tesco before tea and coffee at Costa Coffee where we ate breakfast.

Not many clientele early in the morning

No wonder they wanted to protect Prague from the Nazis and surrendered quickly

Beautiful artwork

Deserted street

Home for a rest before heading out again at lunch time. Visited the Kafka Museum which was a bit weird. He was a weird, but gifted individual.

Charles Bridge is pretty crowded at lunch time

Outside the Kafka Museum

Across the road to Svetje pub/restaurant for lunch. Miky ordered an extra serving - a plate of cheese. Stinky cheese, it was. And not good tasting. I will remember that distaste for a long time. Couldn't even finish it.

Looking back at Charles Bridge

Crossed the river and found the Old Jewish Cemetery - the other day we were at the back of it. They only accepted cash and seeing as I wanted to preserve my Czech crowns I paid in Euro. They gave me a poor exchange rate. And they charged for photos.

Interesting display of religious objects and the cemetery itself was something else. It seemed disorganised and ad hoc. There was a memorial to the victims of the Holocaust with all the names of the Czechoslovak Jews who died at the hands of the Nazis. So many names on the walls (nearly 80,000).

Inside the Jewish Museum

Torah?

Some of the names of the Jewish Czechoslovak Holocaust victims - Kafka stands out

Impressively done and poignant

The Jewish Cemetery in Josefov

The oldest surviving Jewish cemetery in Europe

And probably the most haphazardly organised

No room to get in

Part of a series of pictures depicting a Jewish burial ceremony

Some of the items used in a Jewish burial ceremony

Later in the evening I attempted to change some money as cash was low. My exchange business that treated me so well before was closed. A couple of other money exchanges were open and offering no commission but rate of only 12.65 and 14.01 Czech crowns to the Aussie dollar when the real rate is 18. Rip-off merchants. Bought a quesadilla for dinner. Tried to call our host, whom we still hadn't met, but my mobile wouldn't connect. He did receive my text message though and responded.

Summer crowd

Europe Holiday 2015 - Day Five

Up at 6 am for breakfast on the balcony before walking up to Pražský Hrad (Prague Castle). Saw a lady driving with her exhaust pipe dragging which fell of at the next set of traffic lights. Karluv Most (Charles Bridge) didn't have many tourists and none of the art sellers at 8 am. It's a little more attractive because of that.

Nice morning to take wedding photos. Only Asians were doing this.

Nice view of Pražský Hrad early in the day

Best time to see Karluv Most

Not busy in town just past the bridge either

Steep walk up to the castle and we arrive at 8:30 which was half an hour before any of the buildings were open to tourists. Bought tickets, first in the door actually, when they opened at nine o'clock. St Vitus Cathedral was closed for a service until 12 pm so we toured St George's Basilica. Delightful building. And we were first tourists to enter so it was not crowded and quiet.

Castle was undergoing some renovations

Inside St George's Basilica

Looking up at St Vitus Cathedral

Had a gander a the castle building and the story behind it. A few old relics but the great hall was fab. Unfortunately you're not allowed to take photos inside. Looked at the Golden Lane with some maintained houses, little shops, armour and weaponry on display along with a torture room. The Rosenberg Palace wasn't worth viewing.

Small shops on the Golden Lane

Some armoury on display in the Golden Mile

The lineup, 40 minutes before opening to the public, for St Vitus Cathedral was huge. Went looking for somewhere to eat and drink. Left the palace grounds and crossed the road to Garden Cafe - too hot, too expensive and staff too idle. Across the road was Starbucks that Miky had read about and she was really keen to try. Nice sandwiches, tasty coffee (so she said) and nearly full of Koreans taking the best spots. Oh, and numerous screaming babies too.

Had lunch outside the castle. Top view from atop Starbucks.

Back to the castle and I returned the audio guide before joining Miky for a look inside St Vitus Cathedral. Magnificent. Gorgeous stained glass windows and displays. Awesome. Holiday highlight.

Stained glass window inside St Vitus Cathedral

Inside the cathedral

Splendid pulpit

Extraordinary stained glass windows

Garden walk was pretty boring. Except for an American tourist getting told off by a well-armed guard for sitting on the grass.

Keep OFF the grass!

In the town below we bought a gelato to eat. Great chance to wash my face as it was a hot day. Quite a few paddle boats out on the river. Pasty Brits soaking up the sun?

Soaking up the sun on the Vltava River

After a short rest at the apartment we went to the Old Town and found the tourist info, finally. Did lots of shopping - dishes and clothes before having dinner. Nice walk around the streets in the evening. Concert for the 600th anniversary of Jan Hus in the Old Town Square but it was just finishing. Had a chocolate waffle was as tasty as Nutella on cardboard.

Evening view of Karluv Most and Pražský hrad