train to Prague

One USA dollar = 22.38 Czech Koruna or\r

One CZK = 0.04468 USD\r

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10-18 March - Train trip to Prague via France and Germany.\r

Paris plans another strike on 10 March so hope that this does not affect me (plus the Olympic Committee will be here 9-12 March).\r

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10 March (Hbf = Hauptbahnhof = main station)\r

Arrive/Depart Karlsruhe Hbf 1153/1200 (#878)\r

Arrive/Depart Frankfurt Hbf 1308/1321 (#1651)\r

Arrive/Depart Dresden Hbf 1746/1805 (#371)\r

Arrive Praha Holesovice 20:23\r

17 and 18 March \r

Depart Praha hl.n 2152 (#352)\r

18 March\r

Arrive/Depart Frankfurt Hbf 0621/0643 (#52)\r

Arrive Paris Gare de l'Est 1303\r

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10 March - I walked to Le Meridien at Porte Maillot down the road from Pam's house in Neuilly sur Seine to catch a taxi to the train station but the taxi driver did not want to take me because he claimed that there were no trains due to the city-wide transport strike...finally he did take me and the train departed Paris Gare l'Est at 0642 (#65).\r

I had to change trains three times.....but I did it with great success...\r

The trains ran just fine but very empty from Paris(I am sure that many folks thought that no trains were running due to the strike) then very full through Germany and then empty again from Dresden to Prague....beautiful sunset on the sandstone cliffs of Labo River.\r

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11 March - I found free internet at the tourist information office (although this terminal is supposed to be used to find tourist information) so am taking advantage of it although cannot find all characters on this czech keyboard....stayed last evening at the Hotel Alta by the Holesovicey train station and today found a place in the old city at Hotel Antik with a wonderful veranda overlooking a garden. Heaps of walking and saw the astronomical clock do its thing at noon and the changing of the guard at the Prague Palace at 5 so good timing. Very cold and windy this afternoon and a few snow flurries that did not stick....but heaps of people and it is not even spring. Enjoyed a local pastry called trdlo that is dough rolled around a rod then cooked....very tasty. Also found a Temsco here but too crowded for me so will return when they open early in the morning...although that may not work as the czech are early risers.\r

Walked across Manesuv Bridge to visit Vojan Park, the Church of St Nicholas, the Hradcanske namesti (city square), the Prague palace, Schwarzenberg Palace, the Lennon Wall near the French Embassy and returned via the very famous Charles Bridge.\r

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12 March - A cold and clear and sunny morning for a walk through the Jewish quarter Josefov and then a big breakfast before walking to the river for a photo of the castle on the water with the morning sun shining on it. Back to move hotel again as the Hotel Antik had said I could stay but would have to move room then the woman in that room decided to stay but they found me a place around the corner closer to the square at the Hotel cerny slon and it is a Unesco World Heritage site...over 600 years old. There is now a big market and festivities in the square for Easter. More walking through Stare Mesto and Nove Mesto and to the train station and the Museum of Communism which just opened four years ago and is very well done. A bit of snow flurries in the afternoon but nothing major and nothing stayed. Beautiful sliver of a moon over the square this evening. \r

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13 March - I will move room again to the Prague Expres Hotel (www.pragueexpreshotel.cz) and have a great room on the top floor overlooking the city so hope that I can stay there longer than one night as it is the cheapest yet...even the hostels are expensive for not the greatest accommodation.\r

Sun then snow then rain and now this evening there is not cloud in the sky! More walking to the eastern side of town in Zizkov to visit Vitkov Hill monument(where they were filming an Italian commercial) and the Army Museum. Visited the cemeteries and the gravesites of Franz Kafka at the Jewish cemetery and Jan Palach at the Olsany Cemetery(the guy that burned himself in November 1969) and also the tv tower that has strange sculptures of babies climbing up the sides done by www.davidcerny.cz. Sussed out the Florenc bus station...a bus to Kutna Hora is 60 CZK and a tour is 1290 CZK so may opt for the cheaper one! Had the local beef and bread dumpling dish at Restaurant Stare Casy.\r

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14 March - Decided to visit Kutna Hora tomorrow when the cathedral is not closed (closed on Mondays) so walked to the Eiffel Tower of Prague at Petrin Hill and hiked the 299 steps to the top of which most are exposed to the out of doors....a frightening experience for me but beautiful views as today was glorious and sunny. Then down (almost sliding) the icy hill to visit the Strahov and Loreta Square and the Infant of Prague at the Church of our Lady Victorious.\r

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15 March the Ides of March\r

A beautiful sunny warm day...must be spring!\r

Took the bus to Kutna Hora and returned to Prague via the train...really enjoyed the Cathedral of Saint Barbara at Kutna Hora and the bones of Sedlec...now roaming the streets of Vinohadry which is very much like Paris and returned via Charles Square and many more churches.\r

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16 March - Sunny in morning but now clouds are moving in...still warmer though than a week ago.\r

Wandered the hill of Vysehrad all morning and found cheaper internet nearby at Grial Internet. Entered Vysehrad via the Brick Gate and really enjoyed roaming the old cemetery near the cathedral which included the grave of Dvorak and also visited the St Lawrence Basilica.\r

Returned via the Emmanus Monastery and the Church of St John on the Rock and the Botanic Gardens. Have really like the supermarkets here so stocked up at Delvita Supermarket on good drinking chocolate and at Midi Supermarket on more chocolate biscuits. Spent the afternoon walking the old steps up to the Prague Castle via Wallenstein and enjoyed the cottages on Golden Lane then over Powder Bridge via the Royal Garden and returned via Chotkovy Park and Letna Park where the metronome has replaced the statue of Stalin and wonderful evening views of the city/river/bridges.\r

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17 March - A trip to Tesco to do the last minute shopping for chocolate! Great prices here on chocolate biscuits and drinking chocolate that you mix with water. Visited the Spanish Synagogue in the Jewish Museum which had great history from the early part of 20th century (and very relevant to the book that I have been reading The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Chabon).\r

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Because my train did not depart until 2152 and it also looked like rain, I moved my bags and me to the Hotel Falkensteiner Maria Prag which is near the train station and read my book. The train departed on time and I had my own six chair room even though it was in between the rooms that held eighteen partying young Germans. Enjoyed the evening views of castles/churches at Karlstejn and other towns in the Czech Repulic before crossing into Germany.\r

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18 March - We crossed the border Czech to Germany at 0112 and then I changed trains in Frankfurt q5 0630 and then we crossed the border into France with a late arrival at 1413. Metro to my sisters and time to catch up with the family and wash my clothes!\r

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19 March - foggy day in Paris!