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Lizzy and I have been to Prague twice, driving both times. The first time we sailed from Portsmouth to Le Harve, driving across France on A roads (to avoid tolls) to Germany where we picked up the Autobahn. The second time we sailed from Dover to Calais, drove on the free French Motorway to Belgium, which we crossed to Germany where we once again picked up the Autobahn.

The driving was an adventure in itself, having so many different currencies, having to learn how to ask for a receipt (for the fuel) in so many languages, well actually we didn't bother to learn Czech for that. 'Thank you' and 'Beer' was just about as much as we could manage.

The first time we drove we thought we'd make a proper trip of it, we headed south through France, turned left at Paris and headed off toward Germany. Our first nights stop was in Sarbruken in Germany. We arrived in the dark - found a Hotel - found a pizza hut - had tea (being a veggie in Germany is Very difficult!). We woke the next morning to find snow, we had some breakfast and set off along the Autobahn in the snow, freezing spray and fog. It was so very cold that the windscreen washers froze, never actually thawing until we got to France on the way back. The spray from cars and lorries froze solid on the windscreen and headlights forcing us to stop every 20 miles or so to scrape it off.

Just before we arrived at the German Czech border the autobahn ran out, back onto the A roads, in the snow! This portion of the journey took ages, it was getting dark and there was a lot of snow on the road. The lorries heading back to the Czech republic were going so so slow. Finally we got back onto the Autobahn, which starts just before the border crossing. Incidentally, the Autobahn will one day go all the way to the Czech border. The second time we went the A road was much shorter.

Finally we arrived at the Waidhaus-Rozvadov German/Czech border crossing, we were waved through with no difficulty and then set off for Prague. We went through Plzen, where the first Pils lager/beer was brewed, still home to the best lager/beer, Pilsner Urquell. Have a read of the Radio Prague History of Czech Beer to find out more. After working out the Czechs call Prague 'Praha', we were off, on a mission. We arrived in no time, drove into the city and literally fell upon one of the Hotels our Czech friend, Milan, had recommended - Hotel Golf. Which is on Plzenská, the Plzen road, right at a Tram stop.

OK, the Czech's do speak an odd language, it's almost as if they came up with some words and thought 'how can we confuse the foreigners?'. 'I know, we'll remove nearly all the vowels' To say the Czech language is consonant rich is an understatement!

It's actually not that difficult getting about, you can use the fantastic tram system. Eating is easy, nearly all menu's are printed in many languages. Most importantly Beer is called Pivo, so that's not to difficult to remember.

Prague's Architecture

Once you've worked out how to get into the city, there is SO SO much to see. I love looking at the architecture abroad. I would not be exaggerating in saying that my neck ached at the end of each day - due to looking up so often at the facades on the buildings.

Every building has something to look at in and around the City centre. So many old buildings are still standing due to the fact that only one bomb fell on Prague in the Second world war. Even then it only knocked a corner off one building, the rest is still standing.

This picture shows Lizzy sitting on a bench on the land where the bombed building once stood. This is in Old Town Square - Staromestské Námestí. Where you will also find the astronomical clock quite how this works I am unsure, still there are plenty of people hanging around to photograph the goings on. One person actually got there camera out again to take a picture of the clock chiming!! I would love to see that picture - 'Here's a picture of the astronomical clock and here's one of the same astronomical clock, chiming'

Charles Bridge - Karluv most

Charles bridge is probably one of the most famous sites in Prague. The sides of the bridge is lined with many statues, all of historical significance. Nowadays the bridge is also lined with many artists, selling images of all descriptions; watercolours, oils, photographs charcoal etc.etc. Both of our visits to Prague were in the winter. Charles bridge at this time of year is still busy, but not as busy as it reportably gets in the summer. From the bridge you also get a fantastic view of the Prague castle - Pražský hrad.

Prague Castle - Pražský hrad

Pražský hrad is the largest ancient castle in the world. 570 metres long, an average of 128 metres wide and occupying 7.28 hectares. Traceable back to the 9th century it has been added to by many rulers making it a facinating record of architectural styles throughout the ages.

There are many courtyards to wonder through. Each courtyard will have a particular theme relating to when the buildings around it were either built or re-designed. The Czech parliment building is within the grounds of the castle as is many other governtmental departments. A large propoirtion of the castle is open to the public, and is well worth a good look. Be warned, take you guide book - all the explanations of what things are is in Czech only! At the castle there is a rather gruesome museum of torture, still worth a look though!

This is a montage of several pictures of the cathedral in the castle. The cathedral is huge, but with little space to take photographs I 'scanned' the building and merged them all together in photoshop - sorry about the odd colouring, but I haven't quite got photoshop right yet!!

Cubism in Prague

Cubist architecture was mearly a paper exercise in every city of every other country in the world apart from the Czech republic. In Prague there are many examples of cubism being used in building design. This building is an apartment block, built as an apartment block - but using cubism as its design base! There are many other fine examples all over Prague, some have to be hunted out. They are all worth a look.

Old town square - Staromestské Námestí

A view looking back over the old town square, toward the Týn church.

The astronomical clock - how it works and quite what it tells you I haven't a clue.

A tram junction on the castle side of the river, immediatly to the left of this picture is one of the bridges accross the river.

Looking over a bridge 'Mánesuv most' toward the castle

A castle somewhere outside Prague, could be Karlštejn

This is yet another page that is still under construction. As I write more stuff I will update the page. I do this in my spare time so to write stuff can take some time. In the mean time please take a look at the pictures - come back later to read more. Prague really is the best place that Lizzy and I have been to.

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Old town - Staré Mesto

Jewish quarter - Josefov