Day 11: Prague

We had to vacate our rooms by 9 o’clock so we were at breakfast by 8:15. But the schedule got mixed up because the boat had to wait at a lock for over three hours. There was nothing we could do about it so we stayed in the dining room as long as they would let us and then waited in the lounge.

We were sad to say goodbye to the wonderful staff. I’m sure they’ll remember us because we tipped well!

I had arranged for a driver to meet us at the dock and he was there. We introduced ourselves and he introduced himself. His name is Zdeneck. He was tall and young and spoke English but we had to speak slowly.

The distance is 220 kilometers, but it’s a three hour drive since the road is mostly 2 lanes. When we left Germany, you could see a difference right away. The road wasn’t as well maintained and the houses we passed were not as nicely stuccoed and painted.

But it certainly looked real.

There is a large national park that spans the border so we drove through forests and low mountains. Parts of the drive looked like central Pennsylvania!

We stopped at a nice town to use the Bancomat (ATM) and take the pause that refreshes. There were public toilets that had a woman standing guard. Laura just had euros so she gave her one, about $1.12. I think the cost in Czech money was about $.10. I’m sure the woman thought her day was made!

We arrived at the hotel around 2 and were greeted by two gentlemen, asked to sit in the lobby while they checked us in, and brought us cold towels and sparkling wine.
This place is amazing and completely over the top. Lots of chandeliers and gilt and draperies. It’s amazing. Our rooms have canopied beds, fainting couches, crystal sconces and a large foyer holding a huge armoire and a gilded chest of drawers. You can unpack everything you own and there would be space leftover.

My bathroom has a bidet as well as a crystal sconce.

Laura and Stuart wanted to clean up a bit but I wanted to take a walk. Our hotel is across the street from the American Embassy. Our car was stopped before we got to the hotel and a policeman ran a mirror on a stick under the whole car and checked the trunk.

I walked down the hill, all cobblestones and not easy to navigate, and the buildings are beautiful. There are people everywhere! I passed the front of Saint Nicholas Cathedral, just took a quick peek in and it is quite a sight.

I went back to the hotel where there is a mosaic in front of the door that says AD 1517.
The basement, where the beautiful spa and pool is, has original stone arches.
They serve cheese and wine in the lobby from 4-5 every afternoon. Katerina became my best friend, was very solicitous and said she wanted to make sure such a “glamorous” woman was well served. I love her. (I did put on makeup and earrings before we checked in).

We met in the lobby at 6. We wanted to have a light dinner before going out in a vintage car for a night tour of Prague.

Laura had found what looked like a fantastic place just down the street from the hotel. Wonderful Italian sandwiches.

But it was a hole in the wall with a cooler of premade sandwiches and no place to sit.
We went next door to a pizza place with an authentic Italian pizza oven. We split an order of bruschetta which was served on their pizza dough then cut up 2 pizzas for the 3 of us. They were great, like Italy.

At 8:30 we met our driver with Prague Old Car Tours. We were driven all around Prague, Small Town, Old Town, New Town and up to the castle. It was fabulous. Prague is so busy, people everywhere. And it is a beautiful city. The churches were lit up, there is public art, wonderful architecture. There is a moving head statue of Kafka that is extraordinary, by David Cerny, who has done other sculptures in the city. Our driver took us to see several, and that man has to be a bit crazy. We also drove by the Dancing House.

There are so many cafes and restaurants open late, and busy! And lots of people with rolling suitcases clacking along the cobblestones probably in search of their hotels.
We went up to the castle, by this time it was getting cold. But there were no people around.

Finally he drove us up to the top of Prague where there is a Communist-era stadium which is huge! The driver said it enclosed 9 football (soccer?) fields.

This is a wonderful, vibrant exciting city.

We are meeting our private guide at 10 tomorrow morning. I’ve got to go to sleep.

Love,
Lynn

P.S. I absolutely LOVE this hotel! Truffles with turndown service.