Friday, 22 November 2019

Day 3 PM - Mostly Riding Around On Trams

We stopped in a little coffee shop for a cuppa and cake and a planning session for the remaining 5 hours until we had to leave for the airport.  We both felt we'd more or less "done" Prague so decided to make use of another day's travel card and take a tram ride into the suburbs.

However when we got outside the weather was so lovely and, as we were already quite close, we decided to take a walk along the river.

The Rudolfium Concert Hall



A tiny part of a much larger sculpure


The river cruises at this time of the year are very restricted as the lock isn't operable, so we didn't bother to do one.


Charles Bridge


We'd seen doves on our first day and had assumed they belonged to someone and were being used as photography props (at dusk on the bridge there are people with puppies and kittens getting tourists to pose) but no one told me off for photographing, just a pity I couldn't get a better angle.


Gollom - in Czech and Jewish folklore a legendary, supernatural figure that once stalked the crooked alleyways and dark corners of the Jewish ghetto.


We then hopped on a tram with the intention of going to its farthest point further down the river.  Enroute Ian noticed a castle high on a hill which we though would be worth stopping off for, but once we'd got off we realised it would mean either a stiff climb up a flight of steps or a long walk on the road.  So we got straight back on the next tram and having reached suburbia very quickly, got off again just before the tram tracks headed away from the water.  A few random photos.



This dog was with a couple who were feeding the water fowl and he was desperate to get the food.  One of the swans chased him up the bank at one point but I missed it.



A few more tram pictures I collected in the 3 days (as you can tell from the varied lighting)





We passed this enormous building which we felt should be occupied by a government department but it turned out to be a hospital.


Another stop to walk around this park but there was no obvious way up the cliff and the park was very small so we walked on to the next tram stop.  Incidentally tram stops are quite a distance apart.


Whilst the centre of Prague is very clean and tidy, graffiti is a huge problem out of town, every available bit of concrete is scrawled on.





We went back into the city centre and then out the other side on the same tram.  We'd seen this rather lovely building the day before so this time got off to take a look.


There was quite a lot of activity going on with people scurrying in and out with boxes and all sorts, so we just wandered in to have a look.  Built in 1891 for the Jubilee Exhibition, the glass was lovely - I imagine the original Crystal Palace might have looked similar


There was some kind of beauty trade fair being set up.


We walked back out of the main hall with the intention of looking around elsewhere but got spotted by a security guard and escorted off the premises!

Goodie Bags lined up ready to be handed out to visitors.


The same building from different angles




I'd seen a picture online of the lovely autumn colours in Prague which was taken in Stomovka Park and as we were just next to it we thought we'd go for a stroll.  There was a nice open air cafe so we stopped and had coffee/tea and delicious cake (my taste buds have certainly changed) and then wandered around for a while.





The trees were beautiful but unfortunately I managed to tread in some dog poo, so poor Ian spent a good time cleaning my shoe whilst I sat and watched the ducks on the lake.


The sun was going down now and it started to get chilly so we headed back to the hotel, collected our case and popped into a nearby supermarket to see what we could spend our last few coins on.  This noose caught my attention so I photographed and promptly got told off.


Bet nothing would have been said if I'd used a phone.

We then did the trip back to the airport, metro first and then bus and found that check in wasn't due to open for another 1 1/2 hours and as we hadn't got boarding passes we couldn't get through security and reach the lounge - major panic.  Luckily I was able to download the BA App and we could get the necessary on my phone.  But what a dump the lounge was; a miserable space to sit around in


Poor choice of drinks


Barely any food (and certainly nothing to take home for upcoming dinner parties!)


And the cleaners couldn't wait for the passengers to leave.


We're certainly learning that not all lounges are up to BA's standard.

The skies were very clear as we flew over London.



We'd heard a lot about Prague and are glad we visited, albeit briefly, but it's not one of the cities either of us feels the urge to rush back to.