Doing the Tourist Thing in Prague

PRAGUE.

Heading into the Czech Republic today. The route is pleasantly along side roads letting us see the best of Germany. Just outside of Bodenmais is Glass Paradise. How we force ourselves to carry on is a mystery. The landscape into the republic is very similar to Germany but the villages are a little more rustic. Faced with another diversion before we stop in Stod. Use the cash machine and buy a vignette. Now we can move on to the motorway without fear.

Arrive in Prague and park in an outskirts called Zelivskeho. The site is a plot of land devoted to parking and nothing else. The attendant offers us electricity but when the cost jumps from 2 euro to 5 we decline. The site is next to the offices of Radio Free Europe, a reminder of the past and the present.

We can catch the subway or the tram into the city. The attendant tells us that roadworks mean that the subway is preferable. A helpful attendant further along explains that we should eat locally, it will be cheaper.

Disembark at the stop for Wencelas Square. Obviously, given our track record, the square is closed for refurbishment. At least we get to see the Bohemian Library.

Rosie discovers the outdoor market but pronounces it all tat made in China. However, she does buy her next car. In her dreams!

Move on to the old town square. We're surprised to find groups offering pub crawls with the strapline "The best night you'll never remember". What the giant panda is doing there we've no idea.

We have to visit the Charles Bridge. It's buzzing. We decline the opportunity to have our photo taken with a python around our necks. Well, would you?

We move into the Little Quarter and decide to have a beer. A musician is just setting up. We agree to wait awhile to listen to him. An hour and a half , and three beers, later he's been joined by 3 others and is just about to start. The music is not that great so we move on to the tram stop. It's the one that Nigel and I arrived at seven years' ago. It brought back happy memories.

Ate at the restaurant suggested by the car park attendant. It's a sports bar showing softball between Czech Republic and Argentina. We have goulash, Paul, and veal in a cream sauce, Rosie. Three huge dumplings each and Rosie still wanted mashed potato. Stagger back to van after polishing off a bottle of wine.