me.
Today was a test of my new technology, the IPAD Mini and the Smart Phone, and they passed with flying colours. I didn't get geographically embarrassed or lost in other words. From our apartment in Prague 3, all the suburbs appear to be numbered with Prague 1 being the centre of the city, we strolled to the historic Old Town Square. Like any old town the streets are not arranged in a straight line, so if you don't have the benefit of a GPS head towards the big tower (pictured below). However, if you have an IPAD switch on Location Services, and use Google Maps, which worked really well for me.
On the way we passed this Soviet looking building, which I found out later was the old Comunist Party building, quickly abandoned after the Czech Republic secured their independence from in 1989.
At the centre of the Old Town Square is the statue of Jan Hus a very important person in Czech history, and European history. He was a learned man, a University Professor and Religious Reformer, a hundred years before Martin Luther, who tried to reform the Roman Catholic Church in Prague. The church invited Jan Hus to a synod, found him guility of heresy, and burnt him at the stake. The public outcry resulted in the 'Hussite Wars' where the 'Proto Protestant' Hussites, the followers of Hus, defeated five crusades against them. The Hussites used some innovative tactics at the time, the widespread use of firearms, and a fortified wagon circle, similar to what you see in the old Western films. Eventually, the Hussites were overwhelmed, and the Roman Catholic Church regained control of Czech lands, but at great human cost. Today, fewer than 10% of the people in the Czech Republic are Roman Catholics.
The Old Town Square is one of the highlights of Prague, and here you will find a great number of restaurants. Some with menus covered in plastic are perhaps avoided. We had lunch at Maitrea, a vegetarian restaurant, in one of the lanes off Old Town Square. It was very good and reasonably priced. I had the goats cheese salad. What you will find is that the Czechs eat a lot of pork, so it might pay to mix it up a little if you are here for a long time. The good news is that there restaurants from all over the world, so you have plenty of options.
As you can see it's beautiful weather in Prague at the moment. Follow the crowds or the brown signposts a few blocks West and you will arrive at the famous Charles Bridge.
In the distance you can see the great cathedral and Prague Castle, one of the largest castle complexes in Europe. It's best to spend atleast half a day visiting the castle, so we retraced our steps home.
I hope you enjoyed your first real taste of Prague. We will be spending the next few weeks in the Czech Republic. We have booked a two day trip to Cesky Krumlov, high up in Bohemian mountains near the Black Forest with Germany. It's highly rated and perhaps the second biggest attraction in the Czech Republic. It's about a four hour train trip from Prague, and costs about $12.
There is a cultural festival on in Cesky Krumlov when we ae visiting and we have secured tickets to the music events. I can't wait.
Travel Tips:
- Ensure Location Services is switched on your IPAD, and use Google Maps to navigate.
- If you are in Prague try mixing it up a little with your restaurants, unless you really love pork.
- If you have the time venture out of Prague and into the Bohemian mountains to Cesky Krumlov.
- If you are in Prague try mixing it up a little with your restaurants, unless you really love pork.
- If you have the time venture out of Prague and into the Bohemian mountains to Cesky Krumlov.
