Prague, Czech Republic

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

   The weather was nice and we decided to make a trip to Prague. It took us about 12 minutes to walk to the bus stop. We took the bus and then the subway to get to the Old Town. From the subway (metro) we walked to the Old Town Square.

In the metro (subway)

St Nicholas Church

Paying to use a public restroom (most have turnstiles to make sure everyone pays)

The Tyn Cathedral

City Hall

In front of the astronomical clock

   The Easter Market was still in place in the square with vendors selling food and souvenirs. We bought some sausage and hot dogs for lunch. After lunch we walked across the square to a building where Kat used to work. We also stopped at a petting zoo in the middle of the square. When it was close to 2 PM, we walked over to the famous astronomical clock. When the clock was done, we continued our walk to the Charles Bridge which was built in 14^th century. It is the oldest bridge in Prague and until 1845 it was the only bridge in Prague across the Vltava River. We walked across the bridge and then towards the metro to take it back to our bus stop. 

Charles Bridge

Memorial for those killed in Ukraine in January during demostrations against the government

Tight parking

   We were tired and kids were getting cranky (they walked a lot, especially Stevie) so we stopped in a little café for some water.  We ordered non-carbonated water and the waitress brought us two bottles of carbonated water. We opened both because we did not think to read the label first. Once we poured the water in the glass, we realized it was sparkling water. The waitress told us they would not exchange it because we already opened the bottle. She told us that they did not have any other water but brought us a cup of tap water. This is apparently normal in Europe.  If they accidentally bring you something that you did not order (like a gold brick), you are required to pay for it regardless. 

Steve insisted on going inside to get money back and there was another guy who let us exchange the carbonated water for a bottle of regular bottle (which they apparently had). 

   After the brief rest, we bought some postcards and then took the metro back to our bus stop. We waited 10-15 minutes for our bus. A gay guy on bus got mad at Stevie because his shoe was too close to his shirt. And to top off the day’s unpleasant incidents, we got cursed out on the walk to Babi’s apartment because we walked past a woman who was allowing her small child to pee next to the sidewalk.  Kat says that the woman told her to f off and we should have taken a different sidewalk. 

I (Kat) wonder if people hear us speaking English and do not think I speak Czech as well. There were a couple other incidents where people said pretty rude things that seemed odd (something you may think but not say it out loud to someone’s face). 

 

   The trip to Prague went well over all.  It appears that people who live in or near cities through out the world have very similar behaviors.  Mostly rude, unhappy and self centered.