Budapest to Prague and Day one Prague:
We were up and having breakfast at 0730 and our bus to Prague was to leave at 0830.
Many of our fellow cruisers had a 0330 pick up to get to the airport. No fun for sure but we will be doing the same in a few days.
The bus ride to Prague took us back through Bratislava via a major highway. It was about a 7 hour dive with stops and the motor coach was comfortable. We made regular stops at a truck stop for lunch. Lunch for us was a steamed bread called knedliky, svíčková (beef in a vegetable gravy, served over a knedliky) and a guláš (served on an open plate over a knedliky , These were recommended by our guide and I think we were the only ones to get these items. We very much liked them and I had to go back for some more knedliky to sop up the gravy.
We arrived at the Corinthia Hotel in Prague, a very nice establishment, and were met by our local Viking Concierge. We received an orientation to the hotel and metro and a couple local restaurants were recommended. We asked the concierge where a local grocery was, she said she had heard about a small Chinese market but had never been able to find it. We found it, and got some supplies for dinner. We were not up for a big meal, so some fruit, cheese, ham, and bread was plenty. The Viking Concierge was glad to receive information as to the location of the Chinese 7-11 (that is what we call it). On the walk back to the hotel we stopped in the tobacco shop in the Metro station and purchased two 24 hour metro passes. These will be used for the next two days to get us all over to the places we wish to see.
Yes Virginia There is a Christmas Market here.
A most expansive breakfast buffet is offered here at the Hotel Corinthia.
We started this day with a city Bus and walking tour. Our first stop was the Jewish Quarter. We walked past the Synagog and the Jewish Cemetery, making our way to Old Town Square. Along the way we learned of Nicholas Winton who during WWII saved over 750 Jewish Children from the camps.
Taking a break at the Old Town Square, we wandered about the Christmas Market getting a cider and a Trdelnik. We observed the Astronomical Clock, but kept missing it chime on the hour. From the Old Town Square we made our way over the Charles Bridge. It was a bit blustery and chilly, yet the bridge was crowded and very busy. After walking over the bridge we made our way to our bus passing the John Lennon Wall. This was a wall where before the Velvet Revolution people were allowed to paint graffiti. This walk is constantly changing as people over spray it almost daily. It is painted white annually on November 17, the anniversary date of the Velvet Revolution. The Velvet Revolution was the non-violent transfer of the government to the Czechoslovakia people, November 17, 1989.
We were then bussed to the Prague Castle and Cathedral. These are magnificent structures high on the hill above Prague. The church was spectacular with it’s flying buttresses and gargoyles. As the group was heading back to the bus, we thanked our guide and struck out on our own.
Since there was a Christmas Market at the Prague Castle, we got a warm punch in a mug. We also had a local dish called Halusky. This is a mix of potatoes, cabbage, and bacon all cooked together in a large flat pan. We found this to be very tasty.
We then took a local tram back to the area of the Old Town Square and started our quest for the other Christmas markets. All in all today we visited five Christmas markets, by either walking or taking public transportation.
It had been a rather cool, cloudy, and snowy, rainy day. We bought some groceries and headed back to our hotel. Time to plan our journey for tomorrow,
