In which we squish ourselves into elevators and eat dumplings...

When last we spoke, the fearsome foursome was enjoying the wonders of Berlin. The next leg of our journey carried us to the Czech Republic - not Czechoslovakia anymore, my friends, in case you shared my confusion. This happened in 1993, so you think I'd have noticed. I'll fall back on my usual excuse of being American, meaning I am geographically challenged and often not well informed about world events. (Aren't stereotypes wonderful? Fellow Americans, feel free to take me to task in the comments section...)

Ah, Prague. This has to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. As well as one of the most difficult to navigate by car. Poor Dave - we tortured him for over an hour upon our arrival, trying to negotiate the one-way streets and pedestrian zones of old town Prague. Our GPS system apparently thought the pedestrian zones were more suggestions than actual restricted areas. The local constabulary, however, felt differently. Luckily, I don't think we were the first misguided international visitors they'd encountered, and so none of us ended up fined. Or in jail. So that's good.

So Dave was contending with a confused GPS system, and three advisers who felt certain we each knew the best way to get where we were going. Eventually, he pulled off to the side of the street (onto the footpath, actually), said, "Get out!" and kicked the rest of us (and our baggage) to the kerb, in the rain, and drove away. Shocking behaviour. 

Ok. So it might have gone more like this: Dave drove as close as he could to the flat we had rented, helpfully unloaded the baggage, and told us he'd meet us at the flat after he'd found a park. But the first version is far more dramatic, don't you think?

So now we joined the pedestrian throngs, and made our way to our temporary home.

Brenda: I'm pretty sure we should go that way...

We saw strange and interesting things as we sought our lodgings...

We passed this storefront a few times in our wanderings...

The two headed baby really freaks me out!

But rest assured, Brenda safely navigated us to our destination.

Our street!

The church across the way from our flat

From the front window of our flat!

Once we had settled in, we did what comes natural - we found a pub. Did I mention that those Czechs know a thing or two about beer? 

Dave's back!

We really were lucky with the accommodation this trip. We used websites to find holiday homes and flats (instead of hotels), and they all turned out to be centrally located and really comfortable. This building had a lift, which was fantastic, if somewhat small. Mark liked to wait until we were all in, then take a running start at us, and squish us all in like sardines. Good times.

Nobody really minded after a few beers...

We stayed smack in the middle of Old Prague, which was convenient as no one really wanted to get on the wrong side of those traffic cops again.:P We just left the car where Dave parked it.

There's Mark at the entryway to the building

Just outside the flat

The Havelske Markets were steps from our door. The sign says there have been markets here since 1232 - probably selling the same lovely trinkets to tourists as they do today.:)

I love the medieval-ness of Prague - it's all cobblestones and narrow streets with pointy buildings at the end. (I believe those are the correct architectural terms.)

Old Town Square is stunning - you wind your way through streets as closely packed with people as they are with buildings, and then suddenly you push through an archway... 

Into this...

We were here to see the Astronomical Clock, along with everyone else in the Czech Republic, apparently.

We stood around for about 20 minutes, waiting to see the clock do its thing. On the hour (which isn't actually the hour, because medieval clocks don't keep up with time changes very well) Death sets it off by nodding his head, the twelve apostles make an appearance, doing an odd little dance, and it's all over in about a minute and half. Blink and you'll miss it. All worth it, though!

So many beautiful sights, so little memory of what they might be called...

While I love Prague's architecture and its beer, I do have some concerns about the food. Czech food is brown. With dumplings. Not dumplings like you get in a dim sum restaurant, or like your mom puts into chicken and dumplings. No - these are strange things, some look like white bread with the crusts cut off but dense - so dense they sit in your stomach like a rock for hours. Others are steamed rubbery weirdness. I liked the cabbage, though. Which was lucky, since it was served with everything.

Two kinds of dumpling madness

I hope you like meat, cause that's what you're getting!

Back to the prettiness. The Charles Bridge was definitely one of the highlights of our stay. It's a beautiful pedestrian bridge built in the 1300s, that links Old Town with the Castle district.

Gothic tower on the Old Town side of Charles Bridge. And me, with my map.

My partners in crime, on the bridge

View from the bridge

At the other end - we made it!

All over Europe (and in Oz, too, now that I think about it), kids are clipping locks like these, engraved with names or initials, to bridges as a testament to their undying teenage love. I guess it's better than graffiti!

On the other side of the bridge, we found this tiny passageway down to the riverside. You can see there's a traffic signal that tells you when you can enter, as there's not enough room for two people to pass.

Waiting our turn

Muppets unite!

Climbing back out

I stumbled across one of my favourite things in all of Europe in Prague. Mark and I ended up in a public library one day (probably looking for a clean bathroom), and what should we find in the foyer but a giant tower of books!

So cool!

There were mirrors at the top and the bottom, so when you stuck your head inside, it looked endless.

I wish I could live here!

Now, this trip was a few weeks ago, and some bits are a bit fuzzy (probably due to all the Czech beer and dumplings), so I can't guarantee that these photos are strictly chronological. You'll get the drift, though.:) The next day (maybe?) we went to visit the castle.

Brenda and Leighana on the tram

I'm just now realising that I didn't take any pictures of the castle itself, but it was cool. You'd like it. We did climb to the top of the chapel's bell tower, and saw all of Prague laid out before us.

And they gave me a medal for making it all the way to the top. Because I'm special. (I'm sure the others would want me to mention that they got medals, too. I don't think they were worthy of theirs, however, because they didn't keep them. Something about too much luggage. Whatever. I retrieved them, and now I have all four medals. Suck it.)

As we made our way down from the bell tower, Dave commented on how thirsty he was and how much he wished for a beer garden. And what should appear before our slightly hung over eyes but the granting of Dave's wish! I even got a sausage (no comments from the peanut gallery, please).

You're a good man, Dave. You always wish for the right things.

On our way down the hill back to the tram, we came across a beautiful little winery, named for St. Wenceslas, where we paused for a photo opportunity.

I could talk all day about how wonderful Prague is, but I know you've got important things to do with your day. I can say for certain that I will return to Prague, hopefully sooner rather than later. It's a dumpling-loving, book-tower-building, beer-wish-granting kind of place - which is definitely my kind of place.

Next up, Budapest!