Womenwanderlust went to Europe Part 3 (Prague)

Traveling has turned me into a story teller but the beauty of Prague left me speechless, an impression on my imagination that never fade and after all is a paradise for photographers, you can take in any angle and the result will turn out amazing.

Greeted by freezing drizzles in the late afternoon, soon we reached the crowded bus station, we confirmed the location of the hostel in information center, and went our way to change into Koruna (CZK), the currency of Czech Republic, 1 euro = 27 CZK but most of the stores will accept euro although be ready that they don't accept coin and give change in CZK only. We bought our transport ticket in the convenient store in the bus station, which included train and tram for our way to hostel, we stayed in Plus Prague Hostel which around 15 minutes by train and tram. cost us 24 CZK for one way.  

And this time again, welcome to Europe with all the steps, kinda not convenient for a disable person and also for us that got 4 huge luggage with us. Maybe we didn't search well and maybe we were distracted by the rain as well to look around but from the information, they got elevator but only for going up not going down to station, so there we were in front of 50 steps down the stair and our luggage. I will say luck or maybe our helpless face encouraged a woman, we called her superwoman as by the time I carried down my luggage, she has done twice up and down with same size of luggage of my friends. 

We booked Plus Prague Hostel for around 95 euro for 3 nights for quadruple room with Private bathroom, quite cheap compare to other countries in Europe that we visited, although the location is not within city center but only 500m from Ortenovo Namesti tram station.

By the time getting to room, we were too lazy to go out for dinner so my friends decided to try the restaurant in the hostel, and.... yummy so well recommended, for salad, soup and steak, only cost them around 23 euro.

I have to give 9 out of 10 to this hostel after all, I guess 1 is falling is because of the location only, others were perfect especially the service and the value for money part.

Good morning Prague, the sun came earlier than Netherland and German. At 7.30 am you can see it peeking through the dark and it's a perfect day to start our days in Prague and we don't need a warm morning to warm our heart.

This is how it was at Ortenovo Namesti tram stop, it's 6°and it's freezing. 

We took tram no 12 to City Center, around 8 stops to Namesti Republiky and started our walk from there, this canal was not too far from the stop and with no hesitate to go back to take pictures.

Don't forget to try Trdelnik, you may find it in front of Paladium shopping center, a traditional Slovak cake and sweet pastry, originally coming from Hungarian-speaking part of Transylvania, Romania. It also is known within the culinary heritages of other European countries like Hungary, the Czech Republic and Austria. We had it with chocolate filling inside, too sweet, so will recommend without feeling to try this.

After brunch in Paladium mall, we had it in Nordsee for 5 euro, not a good one to review, tasted better in Zurich in the next chapter of my story. We walked the Old Town and headed to Castle through Charles Bridge.

Old Town Prague

Stone Bridge (Kamenny most) or the Prague Bridge (Prazky most) but has been called Charles Bridge (karluv most) since 1970 is the main attraction of the city that connect Old town and Prague Castle, it is full of people from busy taking pictures as well as selling their arts and musics along the street. Be sure to visit it in the early morning if you don't want to be trapped in the crowd, its hardly to capture clear view of Charles Bridge.
 

Super Crowded Charles Bridge

Over looking Vltava Rivers and Old Town Tower

It is the oldest bridge in the city, built between the 14 ^th and 15 ^th century, and it spans the river with 16 pillars. It is lined with statues and lamps and this scenery together with the Gothic bridge towers on both ends.

There are now 75 statues on Charles Bridge, but most are copies, as floods and catastrophes over the centuries damaged the originals. Perhaps the most interesting, as well as the oldest, is that of John of Nepomuk (8th from the right as you cross towards Prague Castle). 

I should have read the history before walking the bridge as I am not sure which is John Nepomuk nor Towers at the Lesser town end in my photos. Instead we just squeezed in to take picture along the bridge over Vltava Rivers. Although it's still a breathtaking scenery after all.

You will find Lesser Town at the end of Charles Bridge and we found all you can eat Chinese restaurant on one of the narrow alleys, it costs us 7.5 euro. 
Yes, its getting dark as we arrived in the bridge to the castle, since it's winter, the sunset is around 4 pm.

The castle is actually a complex of churches if I may say, the biggest is Basilica of St. Vetus which most shown as the Prague Castle itself, but also got Basilica St. George, All Saints Church, didn't really see the Holy Cross Chapel as mentioned in the Wikipedia though.

At first we were confused seeing the gate was guarded and there was some one being questioned aside, we were thinking we entered the wrong place as if this is the government building.

Entrance of the Castle Complex

Basilica of St. Vitus

We closed the night or I can say the afternoon as it's 5 pm but as dark as 9pm at night and my phone hardly can capture any good pictures anymore. Since we ended up in the other side of the castle, we took tram no. 5 back to our hostel.

We were late to try breakfast in the hostel a day before, so today we tried that for 5 euro/person, they got juices, coffee & tea, yogurt, sausage, baked beans, scrambled eggs. all you can eat.

To be honest one day is enough to walk through Prague unless you really search for objects for photography then the time different is important for colours and brightness, so today we only walked the rest like Jewish Quarter and ended up enjoing sun and doing some shopping of souvenirs for home.

Wencelas Square

We were lucky to have two shiny days in Prague, all things come to an end eventually and we have to leave Prague for Salzburg,

We took taxi as usual but it was quite a drama, we booked through reception a big van considering our 4 big luggage but the taxi company told us normal car will be enough but apparently not, so we have to wait for another taxi not to say that first taxi was already late in arriving, so it was a rush to get just in time in bus station, we were the last four. 

For Prague's taxi, bear in mind, you need to really pay attention on the meters as in the rush, the taxi drivers were trying to rip us off because we took two taxis and the other one my friends left in rush for catching bus, not sure the price in the meters, so they were just saying its the same amount with mine which waited for half an hour with meters on before and in rush because we were paying in Euro, not only the exchange rate was higher and also the round up mentioned.

But....one thing for sure, Prague has left us an amazing imagination for another visit, and and it just started snowing, butterflies of winter sent us away with the mystery of His creation. Till next time Prague.