Prague

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We flew from Austin to Houston, then from Houston to Paris and finally on to Prague. The highlight of the plane travel for Emily and Ian was the unlimited hot fudge sundaes on the long flight to Paris. They also liked the overnight kits from the airline.

We arrived in Prague about 5:45PM and went directly to the Old Prague Hostel located near the Old Town Square. Dinner that night was at La Boca in Old Town. We wanted something nearby after the long flight, and the traditional Czech dishes (ex. duck w/ gnocci and red cabbage) were excellent.

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The Old Prague Hostel featured spartan rooms and a clientele almost exclusively aged 20-25. We didn't get much sleep that first night, with the garbage trucks coming by our second story room at 2AM. We also learned the chants used in drinking games from around the world, punctuated by the sound of retching.

Ian became quick friends with all of the staff and guests at the Hostel. He even worked the desk for a few hours, and got to know all of the college girls. A better chick magnet than a puppy.

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Our first day of sightseeing started in the Old Town Square. We visited Tyn Church and saw the famed Astronomical Clock. We also walked across the Charles River Bridge. We finished the day with a black light theater presentation of Cats.

Prague has a number of off-beat attractions. One notable was the museum of medieval torture. We were able to persuade Ian to skip it, Another was a museum devoted to sex machines. Thankfully, the kids didn't see that one.

On our second day in Prague we went to Weneclas Square and Prague Castle. The Square was the seen of pro-democracy rallies during the fall of communism in 1989. Prague Castle sits on a hilltop on the opposite bank of the river from the Old Town. The Castle is a complex than contains St . Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace and St. George Basilica among other buildings.

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There was also an interesting building (nicknamed the Fred Astaire building, due to its wavy design) which contained a coffee shop called La Perle de Prague.

Our final day in Prague...we took a tram tour around the Old Town. Irene's back was hurting pretty badly. We also spent some time shopping in local markets. The produce and cheese were first rate.

We also opted to attend a concert Thursday (5/31) evening at a Monastery off the Old Square. It was slated as a "Greatest Hits" of classical music. It started with Vivaldi (The Four Seasons Pt 1), Mozart (A Little Night Music), and included Handel, Schubert and several others. The quality of the string quartet was exceptional. Irene and I just closed our eyes and soaked in the music. A great way to end our final day in Prague.