Praha - day 1

Today started (for me) with a trip to the hotel breakfast buffet, which was huge. I tried out a few things, but did not try the pickle fish eye with onion. Not the breakfast of champions, at least not this one.

 

Out host, Jonas, picked us up and took us from the airport to the city centre. Prague is like any other big city - until you get into the centre, where the buildings became more beautiful. Jonas' family owns the apartment we are renting, as well as the restaurant next door.  

We went out to see the Astronomical Clock in the Old Town Square. We first ate brunch/lunch in a cafe directly across the street, then climbed the clock tower for a wonderful view of Prague.

 The clock was originally built in 1410, with other features added later. Impressive.

 

After the tower, we wandred in the main Christmas market in Prague. Lots of things to eat, but we were told by Susan Murrell that we had to try a chimneycake. These seem to be as ubiquitous as funnel cakes in a southern fair in the U.S. And they are good. We tried the original, but I suspect the version with chocolate spread around the center would be even better.

 

The market was pretty and even had St. Wenceslas wandering around, although he ran when the police drove by. 

 

Turns out there are Christmas markets in just about every street or square that has the space. And Santa is here, as is the unending playlist of Christmas music from the U.S.

 

After the market, we headed for the old Jewish cemetery. Vicki - Mme Historian - will tell you more about it later. It's not a pretty story and reminds me of how horrible mankind can be.

For a bit of Christmas cheer - and my annual dose of culture - we attended a holiday concert at St. Nicholas Church. The St. Nicholas Chamber Soloists (soprano, trumpet, and organ) performed classical and holiday music. The church itself was cold - we kept our coats on, as did everyone else.

After the concert, it was dinner time! God forbid I miss a meal. We found a small local restaurant that had some wonderful beer, some OK goulash and garlic soup, and some unusual beer ice cream. The couple next to us was splitting a pig knuckle, which was the size of a football. I'd hate to see the pig that had a knuckle like that.

 

After dinner, we got to see the market all lit up. Gorgeous.

 

 

 

That's it for me. It's almost bed time!