These are the Days of my Life - Prague, Czech Republic

I just love Prague!!!

Metronome on the hill of Letna Park, marks the time wasted during Communism.

 

I want to live here just to come home to this doorway every night.  Nice...Right!

Comedy Night at Belushi's Bar in the Mosaic House Hostel.  Hilarious guy(s) imported from London.  Fun night in the Bar!

My daily breakfast $130koruna(crowns) = $7.75US....oh did I mention it is an all you can eat buffet...can' get that at the Market Diner...alll you can eat under $10Us

Mosaic House Hostel, Prague, sleek, contemporary dining room.  View from what the staff calls "my office in the corner" where I do my blogging.

Just a portion of the morning breakfast spread....YUM!

Bus stop in Prague

Even the bridges scream with statuary.

Wow, my view from the top of the hill at Letna Park.  Will Ii be back???....Oh Yeah!!  

Crazy, ancient indoor shopping mall with bizarre wall hanging.  I don't have my guidebook handy but it is supposedly a famous statue of the guy riding the upside down horse.  HUH!!!

So cute i couldn't resist.  Pets touring Old Town and just waiting for their guide.   Actually their masters were all sitting across from them, but bow wow how well behaved in the throng of people taking their pictures.

Say's it All!

Little gay cafe that has the Hottest Bar tender....Grrrr!  Food, Drinks, Good looking...YUM!

Near the US Embassy.  Got my Russian visa; added passport pages and spent a beautiful day in the park in Mala Strana.  It was a good Monday

Just Hot; don't you think?

Dinner at Mosaic House Hostel, Loaded Nachos. Delicious!

These are the Days of my Life - Prague, Czech Republic

Wow, what a day of Embassies and Consulates.  headed to the US Embassy in Prague to inquire about the process of getting my Russian visa.  they were clueless.  What good is a local embassy if they are clueless on the process for an American citizen to get a visa to a foreign county.  I guess my dumb question that was met with we do American questions not international visa's?!?!  DUH...did i feel stupid, silly me for asking a question on international travel from my own countries embassy.  Guess I learned my lesson on who to turn to when i have a problem abroad.  But...it beats the Californian dude that i met outside the embassy while we waited for it to open after lunch that got tanked on the previous evenings pub crawl and lost his wallet.  At least he still had his passport, but no money, credit cards, debt card, DL.  He had a credit card from a credit union so not even an international bank to help.  Note to self and others, get a real big name international bank credit card and debit card prior to travel.  The Cali guy was told that they had a program to give him a voucher to get home but that he then couldn't leave the country (USA) until the debt (voucher) had been repaid.  Sounded reasonable to me.  Note to self/others:  keep you wallet locked up on the evening of the pub crawl...DUH!  I have an appointment to go back to the US Embassy early next week to get additional pages added to my passport as this trip around the world adventure has really filled up the 21 pages of my passport with visa stamps quick.

The reason I need additional pages is that countries like China, India and Russia requires an entire blank page for their rather detailed visa stickers.  So my next destination for the day of which the US Embassy, my first stop was easy to find is the Russian Embassy...not so much.  Funny thing is that this is the first time I have actually had to visit an Embassy the whole first 8 months of traveling the world.  Guess I need to count my blessings that everything has gone so well/easy.  I did have to find the India processing center in Japan but that went so well that it was only pins and needles while you wait the 5-7 days for processing hoping that when you go back on the designated date that they don't throw your passport at you laughing and say...Good luck making that flight in the morning....but so far no worries...Be Happy!  :-)

The Russian Embassy is on the far side of the river North of the city of Prague in Praha 6, Most of the other embassies are in Praha 1 near the Prague Castle.  Oh No, the Russians are up on a hill in a more residential area of mini castles (rich) themselves.  The fun of getting there was only having an address from the website and the city map from the hostel.  Note to self and all nations of the world:  Please utilize one set of maps and then add all the bad advertising for all the places no one will never visit (touristy/overpriced/marginal quality/who cares) so that you can find your destination in one simple map with the same street names for all the things that you are trying to find in a foreign city where you have no idea where you are.  Do you know how hard it is to use the maps provided by the tourist information kiosk at the airport, the map that was left in the common area that is a throw back to the old city maps that fold out to the size of a huge dining table, the map provided by the hostel, The map provided by the city tour, the map available in the neighborhood gay bar that tells where all the bars/clubs/restaurants and shops are that you really would be interested in only to have your pockets stuffed all day to ensure that you have the right map when you need it to get home without walking the streets of a foreign city for hours on end wishing that you had taken a nap in the afternoon to rest up for the additional walk-a-thon that you didn't originally sign up for.  Thanks...I needed to vent as I was drenched, exhausted and a little nervous that I would never find the Russian embassy today.  Since I leave on Wednesday the 31st of August, ticket bought, hostel booked and sweat glands dripping, not completing this task today was not a option.  But I am proud to say that despite taking the long route, going the wrong way...well past the right way by a long way, circling back and asking at the Indian embassy for directions only to be told to go in the wrong direction prior to the Indian guy coming to the gate to scream at me that he meant the other direction; I finally located the Russian Embassy.  I now know the easy way to get there...Woo Hoo!!

The Russian compound is huge, gigantic, walled and not accessible other than thru an open gate into a drab waiting area just like any other DMV/tax office.  The waiting area was a little threatening, a little outdated, a little concerned that no one would speak English and I was really, really sweaty; like dripping wet.   It was a hot balmy 85F today; which is hot for Prague so I was told upon my return to the hostel looking like a drown homeless person who had given up on life.  Warm weather is great if you sit by the pool, have a cocktail in hand along with a good book, shades and a view.  Warm weather is not so good when you spend the entire day walking in it only to realize that you aren't exactly sure where you are going.   Come on fall I need some cooler weather and plus i have a lot of great cheap knockoff designer clothes that I can't wait to wear to impress the impressionable...lol  So back to the Russian Embassy; there is no a/c and only one attendant behind the dark windows and she points to the next window...hopefully not a glimpse of things to come...fingers crossed. There is an older gentleman in the window, head down but the best part is there is a blast of a/c coming under the glass window, kind of like the old teller windows.  Not sure if the security is to protect him from me or vice versa?   I have all my documents completed, a cover letter requesting admittance, an invitation letter from my hostel, as an invitation to Russia is required, the completed application, a somber color 3x4 photo and my passport.  I hand it all over to my somber Russian friend and he said well he doesn't say anything as he does not speak English but points to his wall calendar to next Monday and a kind (good Samaritan) lady who had an armload of passports said he wants me to come back to pick up my passport on Monday.  So out I go, through the squeaky front door into the heat of the day at least satisfied that I had found and submitted my documentation for my Russian Visa.  The rest is up to them....my fingers will be crossed all week.

I just love Prague as it is a walking kind of city.  The people watching is fantastic as there are so many Beautiful people just out strolling.  So many cozy little streets with interesting shops...they seem to like their antique shops as they along with bars are on every street corner.  Almost every dive bar has chairs and tables with umbrellas outside so it is easy to stop to have a cold one...and they do like their beer....alot!  Actually, Prague is the first place that I have actually included the draft been with my dining experience, also because the beer is as cheap as a soda.  When in Rome...

Dinner by candlelight....so romantic except that I am eating alone...it's the mood that count, the company was extraordinary...lol

This pizza was the size of the plate and was delicious!

Told you...YUM!

On my way back from the Russian Embassy, I ran across these older buildings that needed a good remodeling.  Fantastic bones, but a little decayed in the roof and window department.

So romantic a view from the far bank on my way back from the Russian Embassy.  

Yeah, there are cathedrals on every corner and the insides are exquisitely decorated.  I haven't seen this much decoration since my last visit to Bryan's house (shout out).  There is the most intricate carvings and gold leaf everywhere.  Oh yeah there was a service going on when I arrived so I stayed for some of the most beautiful, acoustically perfect organ music I have heard in a long time.

Big Brother is watching...over head...lol

Beautiful hall overlooking a park where a lot of families and friends were enjoying a lazy beautiful day in Prague.  Picnic baskets, blankets, good food and wine...charming.

Coat of Arms hanging over the Czech Police department entryway.  No I did not go in  to say Hi.

Old Town Square Astronomical clock and cathedral.  This area is a huge square of restaurants, museums,  tours meeting, people watching and just hanging out to enjoy the day.  The clock chimes on the hour from 9am-9pm and it is a huge crowd draw of both tourists and locals...cameras and camcorders ready.  

Marionet and bald fat guy smoking

Another beautiful view from the far bank of Prague.  Wow, nice to go to the far side and see that it is pretty beautiful!

Absinthe Bar...enough said!

These are the Days of my Life - Prague, Czech Republic

OMG, a true Czech dining recommendation from my good pal Jen at the Mosaic Hostel front desk.  The restaurant is called Prazsky most u Vaisu which is a restaurant and micro-brewery.  Jen recommended that I try the Bramborakj and Suickova.  What the heck is that you may ask...well let me just tell you it is a starter of potato pancakes w/special cheese sauce which literally just melts in your mouth.  The main course was tenderloin of beef w/cream sauce (gravy) topped with real fresh cranberries and bread dumpling for sopping up the sauce.  YUMMY!  Oh and lest I forget that i ordered a light beer to wash it all down.  All this for under 330koruna - $17US.

Quaint little restaurant off the beaten track in a back street that I think is  a local hang out as you would have had to know how to get there not on a main street. 

Real Czech cuisine menu items that were delicious.

My main course was absolutely delicious.

A little bit about the restaurant and micro-brewery.  

Yum...Best Beer, don't believe me...see the next pic.

Told you...advertisements don't lie...lol

Entrance off a small alley into a really quaint little restaurant with great food.

My potatoe pancakes with special cheese sauce.  The sauce was served hot and added a flavorful dipping sauce to the potato pancakes

Oh...Just Yum!!!!!

The bar.

Funny place Prague...they do not provide free soft drink refills and they charge you for Ketchup.  This will never do in my US culture of  free refills and ketchup is almost a requirement at every meal.  Can you imagine the uproar at home if you had to pay for ketchup at the fast food joints let alone at the higher end restaurants?!? 

Crummy pic butdid I mention that after dinner walking along the river there was this 15 minute firework  display.  How fun is that to end a great day of site seeing and then dinner and a show.  Luv Prague!

These are the days of My Life - Prague, Czech Republic

Another Awesome Day in our Big Beautiful World.  I have to take a minute to acknowledge the state of the world which from my only real source of information as I travel has been Yahoo.  Forgive me for not watching TV as for the most part it is all negative nay sayers and unfortunately there seems to be a horrible reality in the world that we believe what we hear/see on TV and hence it can become reality. That and the fact that I only speak English and some of my recent past stays rarely had an English language channel that I had access to.  Trust me the world is not all doom and gloom.  All the people that I have met and they have been all Nationalities with most or quite a few were also visiting foreign countries (travelers) seem to think that the world is an incredible, mind blowing, fascinating, positive, gracious, inviting, friendly, fantabulous place to live.  I've met no one that is negative, unhappy, worried about much of anything as they go through their daily lives and I admit some are ignorant of the worlds status but they also are all very happy to be living their lives on the road, as teachers, as students on gap year or vacationers who earned it, on business.   I challenge you ALL to turn off the TV and focus on what is most important in the whole wide world, You, Your family of choice and do what you can to be happy!  Of all the places I have visited so far there is a common thread that I may have touched on previously; the only thing that any of them want is Happiness.  Everyone that I know has a million blessings that are taken for granted.  Take a blessing or two and share it with a stranger who needs it.  Be sensible, don't give money as most people don't know what to do with it ...especially those big organizations that claim to be on your side (marketing), doing great things (marketing), make it sound too good to be true (marketing, it is), get involved in Your life and then you will find the calling that will bring you true Happiness and there is no better gift than the one that you do for yourself.

Let me share a bit of my happiness: Prague, Czech Republic

There are statuary everywhere and in the evening they are all lit up to make them look even more fascinating against the beautiful evening sky.  not enhanced, this is the romanticism of this country.

Prague Castle with St. Vitus Cathedral smack dab in the middle; all reflected on the Vitovo River.  Prague Castle is the largest in the world with the President in residence while I was here.  The palace is not open as tourist site as the President actually lives in this gigantic facility.  How Grand!

The cobble stone streets all lead from one amazing architectural beauty to the next and at night all  are cast in a other worldly glow.  

The astronomical clock tower that dates back to the 15th century. The clock was never meant to tell time instead to mark the phases of the moon, the seasons, the Christian seasons, Night and Day to name only a few of it's amazing design abilities.  There is a real clock at the top for ease to tell the hour of the day....the only clock that doesn't tell time.  there are also along each side of the two faces are four symbols that represent evil, death, vanity, consumption, and greed that do a little dance along with the 12 apostles that faces appear in the 2 squares right at the top under the awning.  Quite a 30 second show on the hour.  The best is the trumpeter that sound the hourly time to thunderous applause.

Many spellings and pronunciations but all are Loved!

The only remaining concert hall that continues regular concerts by the City's favorite musician...Amedeus Mozart.  I have tickets to a concert there on Saturday night! 

What a interesting way to see this great city; in a antique tour car.

Franz Kafka statue.  Huge literary legend that was not fully published or appreciated until after his death.

Rudolfinum is a neo-Renaissance concert hall.  I will attempt to snag tickets to a concert while i am in Prague as it is not open to the public other than thru concert ticket sales.  $40US for balcony, $50US for mid hall and $90US for the good seats down front.  

One of many statues that line the Charles bridge (Karluv most) which was built in the 14-15th century.  it was commissioned by Charles IV and laid out by Peter Parler, one of the original architects of the St. Vitus Cathedral.  The stark religious imagery was the work of the conquering Hapsburgs.  Most are reproductions but each tells a story of the history of the Great City of prague.

Horse drawn carriage; another Fun way to spend an hour touring around the city.

The status of the bronze crucifix is the oldest on the bridge and stands on a spot once occupied by a wooden crucifix.  legend has it the Hebrew inscription that reads "Holy, Holy, Holy God" was forcibly paid for by an unknown Jew who had mocked the crucifix.  History lessons around every corner. 

Yes that is a hot air balloon in the lower right so that you can see over the castle walls and the full length of the river.

Paddle boats on the river.  Another of the cities great people watching attractions.