Prague Continued

Friday, 16th September

This morning we continued our Prague adventures with a guided walk of the old Jewish district. Only a few of us opted to do this walking tour, but I feel we were the most fortunate members of the group! We visited three synagogues (all museums) and the first detailed the history of the Jews in Prague - over 1000 years - and we saw some of the fixtures normally seen in a synagogue. The Prague synagogues were not destroyed during the Second World War as Hitler decided to retain them as museums of a race that no longer would exist; artifacts from other synagogues throughout the country were brought to Prague for storage.

The second synagogue was perhaps the most subduing and confronting (good preparation for our visit to Auschwitz, no doubt). The men were required to cover their heads for the visit to this memorial to the Czech Jews who were exterminated by the Nazis. The walls were inscribed with the names of all the 82,000 plus who lost their lives and there was a gallery with drawings done by children in the concentration camps. Very chilling and provocative. We followed this up with a tour of this synagogues cemetery, which dated from C1300. Because of the land restrictions, there are up to twelve layers of burials. A far more peaceful feeling for us to end the visit to this particular synagogue.

The final stop of our tour was at the Spanish Synagogue - a very ornate building which tried to emulate a Christian church.

Our guide returned us to our hotel through many of the small, narrow, cobblestoned streets and lanes - we were all totally lost and completely unable to remember our way back to the interesting little shops we had passed on our walk. Prague does not have any logical layout to its streets, which seem to head off in all directions and angles - even with a map it is extremely difficult for us to navigate. Consequently, there are few Prague souvenirs in the suitcase. Souvenir teatowels are non-existant for those who may be expecting another teactowel!

We did spend an period of time in the lobby this afternoon while our room was being serviced. When we returned, we discovered Cat sitting very neatly between the pillows on the bed with a big grin on his face.
Some photos will also be included on another post.

Prague

Thursday, 15th September
After a walk back up the hill to the bus, we said goodbye to the lovely medieval town of Cesky Krumlov and headed for Prague. The morning was cool with some fog patches, but quickly cleared to a clear day. The drive was through rolling, wooded hills and farmlands - very picturesque.
We arrived in Prague just on noon, after driving through typical city outskirts. Prague is a mixture of medieval, middle ages and communist buildings. The very ugly with the very beautiful. Some is well maintained, some needs plenty of TLC. Bullet holes from the Second World War are still apparent in some of the building. Grafitti is very bad.
None of our hotel rooms were ready, so we were assured our hand luggage would be stored in a secure room while we went and had lunch, with the rooms supposed to be ready before we left for our afternoon tour of the city. This is when the drama started. Our tour guide noticed a stranger trying to enter the luggage area and challenged him. When she turned back, her tour bag/office had been stolen. Not only did this contain all the documents and paperwork she required for the tour, but also her float of about ten thousand Euros as well as her personal documents and cards. (Tour guides are expected to pay cash for optional tours as they happen - Insight really need to review this policy!) The hotel CCTV showed there were three involved in the theft and they had been waiting in the lobby for our arrival. Although the complete scenario was filmed, it doesn't really help Beata. Fortunately we have Friday in Prague, which will give her time to visit her embassy and arrange an emergency passport so she can continue with the tour. A big dampener has been put on the tour.
A very subdued group, clutching bags to their tummies, headed out for a tour of the city sights. Our bus took us to the Prague Castle where we were dropped (with our local guide) so we could look at St Vitas Cathedral, watch the guards change, watch five brides and grooms have their photos taken (they have photos taken days before the wedding - one bride we saw was wearing a very dirty gown and thongs on her feet), before walking through the narrow cobblestone streets to the Charles Bridge. There are supposed to be 5 million visitors to Prague and I think they were all on Charles Bridge at the same time. They all then followed us to the square to see the famous Astronomical Clock strike five before we returned to the Palace Hotel for dinner.
After dinner entertainment was a tour of Prague by night - we were put onto a little train which drove around the streets before we finished the evening with a cruise on the river. The city looked very pretty by night, with all the churches and buildings lit up. There are supposed 137 churches in this city, and I think we have seen 136!
Unfortunately, we don't feel secure in this city and everyone is very aware of their bags and wallets - all are securely tucked down the fronts of shirts of attached securely to our chests!
Will put some photos on later today when I have more time.

More Photos

Top to bottom:

Melk Monastory

Cesky Krumlov Castle

Cesky Krumlov

Castle garden hedge

Window shopping

On the Road

Wednesday, 14th September

First of all, I must describe last night's entertainment. First, we had a drive to a small town in the country outside Vienna for dinner. The entire waiting staff were waiting outside for our arrival and immediately rolled out a red carpet across the road for us to walk on. Violinists played us into the restaurant - rather a quirky little place. Lots of little rooms heading in all directions and every room was absolutely stuffed with all sorts of different stuff! This place used to be a very swish restaurant (still is, of course) and its patrons have included Napoleon, Franz Ferdinand, Clark Gable, Elizabeth Taylor, Margot Fonteyn, Neil Diamond, James Stewart, Audry Hepburn - just to name a few. Many famous people have left behind a small memento, these are displayed in the many cases throughout the building. We were immediately given schnapps in a test tube to drink (majority were left undrunk!), salad was followed by a choice of main course, dessert was a chocolate cream type of thing, then coffee with whipped cream. Wines and beers were also included, however, most of the wine was also left undrunk. Certainly not the style of wine Australians are used to!

Following dinner, it was back on the bus for the trip into Vienna for a Viennese concert at the Stadt Park Palace - this is the venue where Strauss performed. We were seated in the very hall in which Strauss played, only this time we had an orchestra of twelve, two opera singers and two ballet dancers. We were treated to some lovely music by Mozart and Strauss, concluding with the compulsory Blue Danube and Radetsky March. All concerts in Vienna finish with these tunes.

We had a later start this morning, with the bus departing at 8.30 am - the Hilton Vienna could not cope with eight tour groups departing at the same time, so we had to wait. We had beautiful clear, warm weather for our short drive to Durnstein, and lovely medieval village on the banks of the Danube. The village was overlooked by a ruined castle, the very castle that Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned in! We were allowed free time to have a wander and discovered the most amazing cemetery, as one does. The tops of the graves were turned into gardens and planted with flowers. Evidently the graves date back to medieval times and are reused after fifty years. We continued along the Danube, with a photo stop at the Melk Monastory.

The weather now deteriorated to heavy rain as we travelled into the low alpine country, passing under (yes, under) Linz before heading to the Czech Republic. The Iron Curtain border crossing still exists, although is no longer in operation. The countryside changed almost immediately after the crossing - although the trees remained similar (beech and fir), the houses were now more like concrete blocks and not the traditional styles of Austria. We reached Cesky Krumlov about 3.00 pm - this is another medieval town with very narrow cobblestoned streets dominated by a castle. We had about a five minute walk to our hotel (fortunately we didn't have to worry about our luggage) before checking in to our suite - entrance hall, bathroom, dining room and bedroom. There is a kingsize bed plus three smaller beds - literally small beds that hopefully extend somehow to make additional beds for the room.

Cat was very excited to have his own bed for the night and not have to share. He has had a wonderful day on the bus, being made a fuss over by quite a few of the ladies, and a couple of the men. The dynamics of the tour group is rapidly becoming apparent as well. A couple of groups tend to stay apart, but most people at mixing well.

The day finished with a walk - UP the hill - to the castle for a guided tour. We were lucky to have clear skies and sunshine again by this time. The castle was lived in by one of the minor princes of the ruling dynasty - Rosenberg (or something like that). It has now been turned into a museum and has a wonderful garden even further up the hill. A quick check of the local jewellery shops on the walk back to the hotel filled in a further half hour.

This hotel has FREE internet - and we are only staying one night!!!

Lots of photos to post today, so will do them in two different lots.

Tortes

Tuesday, 13th September

Our last day in Vienna - and the first official day of our Insight tour.

We had our welcome meeting last night, which turned out to be more of a lecture/information sessions and we didn't really talk to any of the other travellers. We will be equal number Australian and American, with four Canadians and two New Zealanders. Most of the Americans are travelling in groups with friends. It will be interesting to see how they mix as the tour progresses.

This morning we were taken to the Schonbrunn Palace for a guided tour of the state rooms, then allowed to roam by ourselves for a short time in the gardens. This palace really highlighted the difference between the aristrocracy and peasants in Europe! Although very ornate, the palace is a museum compared to Buckingham Palace, which is a working palace. We walked through Napoleon's office and bedroom and gazed in wonder at the ornate, and HUGE, bed that was used by the Emperor and Empress. The gardens were lovely still, at this time of the year.

The day has been very clear and very warm, which did make photographs a little harsh. Cat has been shedding as well, the last couple of days.

After another drive around the city of Vienna, we were dropped at the Opera House for some free time. Of course, we had to walk past our favourite department store from yesterday and managed to make another economic contribution. The suitcases are starting to fill up! We decided to walk back to the hotel, rather than wait for the bus to return after lunch.

As it is our last day in Vienna, we thought it would be rather rude to the Viennese not to sample afternoon tea in one of their traditional coffee houses. Big decisions were required - the cakes all looked so delicious, with not a calorie in sight!! If only. Cheesecake has nothing on these cakes, it is rather fortunate that we don't live here and have the constant temptation. A walk afterwards in the Stradtpark probably wasn't long enough. We did see a replica of the Johann Strauss statue - the original is having a bit of a face lift.

Tonight it is dinner in a country mansion before attending a concert. An opportunity to dress up.

Yippee

Monday, 12th September

Whooppee, and all that - the suitcase (and presents) arrived!!!

Today we decided to try the Hop on Hop off bus and get to have a look at the sights too far away to walk. We started with a tour across the Danube, seeing the river cruise boats all tied up, the Vienna ferris wheel (this starred in the film, The Thirty Nine Steps evidently), the United Nations building, lots of old palaces, many statues and lots of other interesting places I have now forgotten.

We took a lunch break back in the city, first stop being at a department store toilletten. Needless to say, it was about an hour and a half later before we left the store, with each of us carrying a number of bags! A quick bite to eat at our usual chain of seafood restaurants (prawns are a great specialty of the house) before we headed back to the bus to continue our tour.

Drove past the Holfburg Palace, Parliament House, Rathaus (town hall), university and lots of other interesting places (see above paragraph!).

We left the bus again at St Stephens Cathedral, with a quick look inside before joining all the tourists (locals are all working during the week) for a look at the expensive designer shops in this area. Cat did wonder about a kangaroo he met outside a souvenir shop, though.

Tonight our tour officially commences, with a meet and greet - we finally meet our tour guide and the other members of the tour.

Today was warm and overcast early, clearing to a lovely fine day.

Mozart & Horses

Sunday, 11th September

Still no luggage (which means no presents for anyone from England!) although British Airways say the case has arrived in Vienna and delivery has been initiated. Here's hoping it arrives before we leave on Wednesday morning.

Yesterday evening we attended a concert at the Golden Hall, scene of the New Year's Day concerts. Such an ornate setting to be able to sit back and listen to Mozart. The orchestra were dressed in period costume - brocade frock coats with matching vests, knee breeches and wigs. Two opera singers also performed and, of course, the concert finished with the obligatory Blue Danube and Radesky March (Strauss, not Mozart).

This morning it was off to the Spanish Riding School, after spending half an hour with a very nice receptionist trying to track my luggage. This attraction was well worth a visit - and the Euros. Another magnificent building especially constructions many years ago simply to be a winter riding school. The performance was wonderful, it was simply amazing to watch the stallions, and riders, perform. There were no apparent commands, but the horses seemed to know exactly what was expected. The above ground work (jumping) was truly spectacular, considering the riders don't use stirrups for this work.

Following the show, we joined the thousands of people wandering the city centre, enjoying the very warm sunshine and lunch. Cat very quickly wrapped himself around some prawns and a beer! An icecream each was a welcome treat, although we had to eat it very quickly. There are just so many chocolate shops here, as well as shops/cafes selling the most wonderful looking cakes. It is amazing how the locals stay so slim! The Austrian women (and men) are very stylish and certainly dress up more just to wander the streets, etc. than Australians do.

It has been a very pleasant day.