March 6-9
We got our first taste of the new Terminal 5 at Heathrow as we began our journey to Prague with British Airways. It had major hiccups when it first opened, as in tens of thousands of luggage pieces missing and/or diverted due to a faulty baggage handling system, but now that the kinks are worked out, I have to say that I am very impressed with T5. It's in its very own stand alone building, with an open, airy feeling to it. The entire building is made of windows and consists of a simple, streamlined design. I never thought I would say this about an airport terminal, but I actually felt a little calm when I walked in. There are many, many self check desks along with actual manned check-in desks, 2 security line stations, and there were virtually no lines anywhere. No lines=instant calm. Outside security, they had the usual sorts of shops like pharmacies, newsstands, and even a sit down Italian restaurant. Inside security saw upscale shopping and more food and drink options. We had avoided T5 because of the earlier problems (and also because we rarely fly its solo occupant, British Airways), but we'll gladly give it a go if the opportunity arises again.
Our quick 2 hour flight put us in Prague around 11pm. We only had carry on luggage, so we breezed through immigration and customs and met our taxi driver at the arrivals area. He whisked us to the Castle Steps hotel, located, surprisingly, at the bottom of the massive castle complex. The hotel is probably the most organized and "got it together" place we've ever stayed. It's staffed by many young Americans and other internationals who are intent on making your stay as pleasant as possible. During breakfast, it was one staff's sole purpose to walk to each and every table, chat with the guests, and offer assistance with anything we needed, from more towels to dinner reservations. I would highly recommend this hotel for anyone travelling to Prague. Friday night was pretty cold, and since we arrived late, we only had time for a stroll over the Charles Bridge, quick dinner, and a meander around the old town.
We awoke on Saturday morning looking forward to a 6 hour tour of the city. We don't usually do these group walking tour things, but I was so interested in the fascinating history of this city, that I didn't want to miss the chance to hear all about it from a local and professional. We had a very small group and the day flew by. Our tour included a one hour boat trip up and down the river and an authentic Czech lunch. I had goulash, and it's nothing like the canned Spagettio's and pork and beans dish my family makes. It's chunks of tender meat that have been stewed in a rich, dark gravy. It's served with bread dumplings on the side. The dumplings are more like slices of bread and not the dough balls that I'm used to. I can't say I'm a huge fan of Czech food, but this dish was tasty. Most of the other typical foods were basic meat and potatoes, and some German inspired dishes. I kept expecting bakeries full of kolaches, since I have in the past been a frequent customer of The Little Czech Bakery in West, Texas and they seem to make it sound as if kolaches are the ONLY Czech pastry. We browsed through several bakeries, and while I did see some kolache type things, there were many other pastries that seemed more typical and popular. That won't stop me from eating kolaches, I love those sausage and cheese filled delights. After a little rest in our room, we braved the cold again to head to a baroque concert in a really old, beautiful, grand church. It was the most beautiful thing I've ever listened to. A simple group consisting of 4 violins, a cello, a bass, and a piano. Every note was spot on and you can't beat the acoustics in those old buildings. The concert lasted an hour, after which we had dinner and collapsed with exhaustion into bed.
Sunday was a day to relax and recover from the endless walking and freezing cold of the day before. We took our time walking around the city, trying to capture that perfect photo to sum up the trip. We saw the Astronomical Clock do its thing. This clock has been around since the 15th century, striking every hour on the hour with dancing apostles, a skeleton and a crowing rooster. I still can't believe the thing is still functioning after over 500 years. We also toured the Jewish synagogues and quarter. Not alot of people know that Prague was untouched by any war. Hitler wanted to keep it as it was, without a scratch, and he gathered all the best Jewish pilferings, so he could create in Prague a "museum of an extinct race". It's a sickening concept. One synagogue housed artwork from children in the Terezin during their encampment. The artwork is history from a child's eye, originally part of a project created within the encampment to teach the children and give them a sense of normalcy during a decidedly un-normal time. Terezin is the name of the Jewish quarter in Prague where the Jews lived during German occupation. We awoke early Monday morning to catch our flight back to London. Edgar boarded the Tube to head into work and I rode the shuttle bus to our car to head home.
Prague is a beautiful, old city. Edgar and I kept remarking that it felt very foreign. I don't know why. I think it's mostly the language. I can't understand any of it. The sounds and letter combinations are completely different. I couldn't pronounce anything and, unlike with Spanish, Italian, or even French, it sounded so different that once I heard a word or saw it written down, I would immediately forget it. The people in the city-locals and tourists-mostly spoke the Slavic languages, so listening to them sounded very foreign. Also, because it was untouched by war, the buildings are original. Combine that with the stark ugliness of newer Communist buildings thrown in, and you have a very interesting combination. The city has come a long way since the Velvet Revolution loosened it from Communist grip. I don't remember seeing a Starbucks (but I wasn't looking for one either), but McDonald's was on proud display and fashionable chain clothing stores dotted the streets. A lovely river, the Vltava, flows through the city, which lends itself to beautiful bridges adorned with statues of all types. I would love to visit again when the weather is warm to experience the green beauty of the area and also the lovely castle area. If you are ever in the area, please stop by for at least a couple of days. It's well worth it!
(Edgar, Vonda, Little Baby, Mom, and Dad in front of Tower Bridge)
(Mom and Dad in front of the Tower of London)
Perfect ending to a perfect day!
