Since our group arrived in Prague last night, we’ve shifted into a “post cruise” mindset, with limited meals and organized activities. Fortunately, the wonderful weather (70s and sunny) is conducive to my kind of activity and I’ve been planning walks for days. This morning, I was awake by 0630 and spent some time reading and relaxing (including a bath - ahhh). Next (0730), I got dressed and went to breakfast in the hotel restaurant with other members of the tour. Afterwards, I got info about the itinerary/plan for the day and then went to my room to get my stuff for the excursion. By 0845, I was back in the lobby, ready to go! Before the “Jim Time” resumed, though, we were offered a guided walking tour of the Old Town and Charles Bridge (0900 start). I decided to follow along with our guide from yesterday, Andrea, and we were given some extensive background on many of the streets I’d walked last night. The tempo was VERY slow, though, and it was quite frustrating to stand as much as we did. Despite the snail’s pace, I learned a lot about the history of the area near our hotel (Republic Square), several interesting and historic buildings (Municipal Hall, Astronomical Clock Tower, etc.) and prominent Czech dissidents, saints, scientists (e.g., Wenceslaus, Charles IV, Tycho Brahe, Johannes Kepler, Jan Hus, Franz Kafka) and heroes. Andrea was very helpful and knowledgeable so I didn’t drift very far until after we arrived at the famous Charles Bridge. This is a very crowded place and our group was quite large - this meant it was almost impossible to stay together. So, I took advantage of this fact and walked all the way across the Vltava River (into the Lesser Quarter) before Andrea had cleared the eastern gates. Satisfied I’d gotten as much as I could from staying with the crowd, I walked back to the eastern side of the river and wandered into areas we hadn’t yet seen. This included finding myself inside the courtyard of an astronomical building that included a library from the 13th Century, marveling at artwork in several pretty churches of varied architectural styles (St. Nicholas, St. Francis, St. James) and relaxing at a table on Republic Square with two different kinds of Czech beer (light and dark) and some Prague Ham. The morning was quite eventful and I was away from the hotel until almost 1400. Observation: this city is a complicated maze of streets and it’s taken me longer than normal to find familiar landmarks. But I love the unique books and crannies and surprising artwork on walls. I think the fact the city survived the World Wars nearly intact has allowed it to retain all the little medieval, Baroque, Art Deco and Communist styles. Back in the hotel, I read and then took a nap (while charging my phone) for about two hours. My main reason for waiting to explore some more was because I thought that Steve and Jim would call so we could go taste beer together. However, they never did... After a nice break (1700), I visited the hotel concierge, who helped me get a ticket for an evening Cruise on the Vltava. That wasn't going to start for a few hours, though, so I departed my hotel in search of more views, history and beer on the north side of Old Town. I initially walked north to the Vltava River and explored the waterfront. While poking along in some neighborhoods nearby, I found an open side door of a pretty church building and went inside. The whole place seemed to be gutted but I started to see little information plaques that indicated I was inside the extensive grounds of the St. Agnes of Bohemia Convent. This building celebrated a well regarded member of the Bohemian Royal Family (13th Century) and was apparently a museum. Eventually, I found the entrance and departed before learning if I’d needed a ticket. I began searching for some of the historic Synagogues nearby but was interrupted by a request from some of the ND guys (Jim and Steve) to meet for (more beer). Starting at 1815, we had a happy hour with 0.5 liter drinks (I had light and dark beer mixed). These guys have been great, inviting me to dinner with them and their wives - it will be sad to say goodbye to them… Afterwards, I headed south and into the New Town (Nove Mesto). My ultimate goal was Wenceslaus Square, which required some skillful navigation through lots of “T” shaped intersections. The sun was setting behind the hills on the other side of the Vltava and the shadows produced a soothing effect (pleasant temps, quiet conversations, etc.). I located the statue of the famous “Good King” of Christmas Carol fame and then made my way west to the river’s edge. After getting through another maze of streets, I emerged near Slovansky Island. The river was covered in all kinds of pedal-powered boats (some shaped like swans and cars) - it looked so fun and relaxing! I walked north along the river so I could reach the next activity of my busy day - all the way, I enjoyed the shadowy effects of the gloaming. Prague is quite pretty in the different kinds of light! By this point, I was ready to head towards the launch site for the Vltava Cruise. I located the spot pretty easily but then had to figure out the queue - eventually, I figured out I was in the correct location. We boarded quickly but I didn't get one of the good seats. Instead, I ended up next to a group of happy/rowdy kids. But, at least, everyone was in good spirits. After we launched (2100), I really soaked up the ambiance of Prague from the water. The lights on the buildings and bridges made for wonderful views and the waning “Super Blue Moon” made a spectacular appearance. Our 50 minutes on the river allowed us to see the city from between the Charles Bridge and Stvanice Island. All the while, Smetana’s famous composition of “Ma Vlast” (especially the part entailed “Vltava”) played on the ship’s loudspeakers. My ticket included a glass of Proseco and I enjoyed that touch too. Very glad to have had such an awesome experience! I was off the boat just before 2200 and I walked back to the hotel by streets that have started to seem familiar. In my room again, I did some blogging and then read a bit before going to bed (0015). After such a fun-filled and stimulating day, I had trouble getting to sleep (tossing for more than an hour). Still - what a day!
