1st stop - Prague

I haven’t blogged in awhile and I think I went a little overbroad this time. This is going to be a rather lengthy but highly interesting post. I hope you’ll enjoy both the writing and the pics!

Though you’ve probably heard this a thousand times, I’m going to say it again. Prague is truly a romantic city.

Imagine walking along streets paved with cobblestones as if you were transported to ancient times, the cool spring breeze like a feather gently caressing your face, and the rustic looking buildings which seem to line every street you turn into. Prague is truly the place to be to fall in love. I honestly cannot wait to return again!

Went to Wenceslas Square on the first day after checking in. We stayed at the ‘Old Prague Hostel’ which was located at Namesti Republiky. It didn’t look too impressive when we first arrived because it was located in a small alley. However, I think it had to be the safest hostel in Prague because it was located directly opposite a police station! (No fear of getting robbed or kidnapped! Heh!)

At the end of Wenceslas Square is the National Musuem. Didn’t enter because I felt that I might not be able to appreciate their works of art. However, for those of you museum lovers, why not hop inside and check it out? I reckon that it’s going to be worth your dollar because even the exterior of the building was so grand it almost blew me away!

By the time we finished admiring the sights and window shopping, we started looking for a restaurant in hopes of a truly authentic Czech meal. ‘Cesky restaurant’. The restaurant was almost empty when we arrived which left us feeling really worried. (Imagine how you’d feel if you walked into a restaurant during dinner time only to find it almost empty?) After much debate, we decided that we were too lazy to look for another restaurant and agreed to ‘leave it to fate’(for lack of a better phrase).

Astonishingly, dinner was great! It was, we concluded, the best dinner we had in Czech! Despite it being almost empty, it was relatively affordable and the food and service was great! Truly what some might term as a gem found! (Unfortunately we did not manage to take note of the address. I think it might be located either along Vodickova Street or Stepanska Street, off Vaclavske Namesti - along Wenceslas Square)

Next, we made our way to the Charles Bridge. Along the way there, we passed this region filled with shops and restaurants(They were closed). I think that must have been the most romantic part of Prague. I loved the way the intricate lamp-posts illuminated the streets, the way how the streets here looked so ‘undestroyed’ by modernisation and I loved the view of the Charles bridge from here. Here’s a picture to spell out the thousands of words on my mind!

At night

In the day

The Charles bridge

At 11am, we headed back to Wencenlas Square because the lady we were travelling with that morning had not seen it before. (We met Jenny the night before at our hostel. She’s a Taiwanese who stays/studies in Australia.) Had lunch/tea, which consisted of a raspberry cake and coffee, at Ebel Cafe.

In the afternoon, we went on a tour around Prague. Although it was a tad pricey, we agreed that it would be the best and fastest way to cover Prague and gain a little knowledge of the place at the same time!

Visited the Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, the Black Tower, the Astronomical Clock, the Jewish Quarters, passed Franz Kafka’s birthplace and ended up at Wenceslas Square again.(Yes… again…)

Just like how behind every door there lies a new world to be discovered, many of the Prague statues and monuments had legends and stories attached to them. Found (and read in the shop) a book on them but I couldn’t remember all of them. (Here’s a couple of stories I remember.)

Legend No. 1 - Story of the Astronomical clock

Legend has it that long ago, in the city of Prague, lived a brilliant mathtematician. He loved his city so much that he decided to make the clock, which could tell not only the time but also astronomical data and even knowledge of the horoscope! After spending many hours researching and crafting, the clock was complete. Everyone was impressed! Even the govenrment officials.

However, rumor then started that he was working on another structure, but only more magnificient for a private mercenary. The officials were disgusted at the idea of someone having another similar if not more magnificent clock and set it upon themselves to stop his work!

One cold and rainy night, 4 men knocked on his door pretending to seek help. The creator, being a man of not only high intellect but also a huge heart, opened up only to be met with a huge bag over his head. What happened next no one knew but his assistant found him drenched in blood, blind, sitting beside his bed the next morning.

The news took the city by storm. No one could think of a culprit who would sink to such a level to destroy the life of a man who gave them such beautiful art. After recovering, this creator tried to resume work on his ‘Improvements for the Astronomical Clock’ only to be met with more depression and a greater sense of failure.

Then one night, in a tavern, he overheard a few men speaking of the ‘good’ deed they had done - saving the Astronomical Clock and preventing Prague from being outshined by another clock. Upon hearing this, the creator went to the Astronomical clock.

With his hands, he admired his work. The product of his blood, sweat and tears. Then as feelings of betrayal and hate flowed through, he felt a huge pain pierce his heart and then his heart stopped beating. It is said that the clock also ceased to work at that very moment, telling the time of his death for everyone to see.
I’ll spare you the torture already. will let you know about the other places I’ve been to in my next post!

P.S Click here for more pics!