January 12, 2010
I didn’t manage to get stranded in Munich last night, or indeed anywhere in London, although that was a closer call. The trip out took 12 hours almost exactly, the trip home a little under 11 hours. Unfortunately on the way home we didn’t stop long enough anywhere to get any food so when I finally got home my main through was dinner not blogging. Sorry. At some point I think I will have to start a league table for good airports to visit. Prague will get points for the bidet in the toilet cubicles, even though I don’t think there will be that much call for them (what do I know maybe I’m just odd)
The first two pictures in this post are of Prague cathedral. It’s a truly amazing building. It is very hard to get good photographs of as it’s huge and in the middle of the place. I think maybe on my next trip I might take more camera equipment with me and spend a couple of days at the castle/palace. You have to buy a licence to take pictures inside the castle itself, but as soon as I stepped inside I knew I should have done. Ho hum, there will be a nest time and I had already taken more than 600 photographs. I don’t think I was really deprived. However if you do ever get the chance do go and look around the cathedral. It is one of the few tourist sites with free entry (not that the others could be called expensive at 3-4 pounds per location). It will knock your socks off. I packed my camera with the interior of this building and the views from the towers in mind so I only had a very long lens. Fortunately Tet had a much wider angle on his camera, so I will look at both of our sets of photos before posting a proper selection here.
This is the view of the town from the hill the castle stands on. You can see Tyn church, in the center of town and the TV tower right on the horizon. In the middle of the picture is the church who’s tower we climbed on Sunday. We went up the narrow tower that is just behind the dome in this picture. It’s not a great picture, it was taken on my phone at it’s lowest quality to make the upload cheaper, but I think the dark stripe across the middle would be approximately where the river runs.
I finally remembered to take a picture of a pretty typical Czech restaurant. I love the fact that all the best food seems to be underground. There are place to dine with a view (6th floor of the U Prince is on my agenda for next time) but on the whole underground is the right answer. The food seems to be both better and cheaper. I rather like the rustic decor too.Today I have been trying to get on top of my work again. It was a shock how much email had come in while we were away and how much was bookings or orders. At past 1am it seemed rather daunting. This morning it sunk in just how cool that was. So I have spent the day packing, posting and phoning. I have also managed a small amount of quilting. I had hoped to finished the white area on the quilt on the frame before we went but didn’t quite get there. It’s done now and I am motoring on the outer clack space. I am so desperate to get it done now and get on with other things. Fortunately in the huge stack of post waiting for me were my zippers for the frame, so when I start the next one I will be able to take it on and off the frame as required. I wondered why people needed zippers, I get it now.
Munich
January 11, 2010So good news, our connection is delayed. However it's snowing signigficantly so who knows if we will actually take off. The last flight was fun though on a small prop plane. It looks like a nice airport so lets see if I get to investigate it some more.
Not stranded…..yet.
All European flights are delayed, except those from London as far as I can see. So we will be late getting into Munich, which makes our short connection really tight. The staff here say we might make it. If we are lucky we will have 15 minues from one flight landing to the next closing. So place your bets are we about to spend the night in Munich?
Out and about in Prague
January 10, 2010
I am hoping that you guys can see two images on yesterdays post. For me one has a broken thumbnail but if I click on it is comes up with a picture of the bath in our apartment. I have no idea why it isn’t working properly for me.
Today I have deliberately posted a difficult image you will need to look at it sideways because no matter what I say to my phone it always posts pictures the way round I took them. It’s a quirk, sorry. The picture is of the Powder tower at night. After lunch we climbed to the top of it (mostly because you can) and found it does indeed have a good view. The tower itself was looking particularly beautiful as the snow was neatly highlighting the ornate stonework. When we came back past it in the dark I just had to stop for more pictures.
The other picture shows the astronomical clock and Tyn church. This is probably the busiest tourist area and consequently not my favourite place. It’s just too busy also the astronomical clock tower is the least impressive of Pragues towers in my opinion. It does have a fantastic lift though, I will try and popst a photo of that when I get back.
Today we decided to go to the transport and science museums. These are at the top of another hill (did I mention we’re tired now and about ready to come home :). We noticed on the map that we could take a tram part way then walk through a park via a metronome. Cool. Frozen actually. The hill (park) was much steeper than we anticipated and accessed by stairs which unfortunately were the only ones in Prague that hadn’t been cleared. It was a mamoth trek especially as all the stairs are polished marble and very slipery if you don’t stay in the deepest snow. Still we made it and found some amazing views.
Unfortunately the science museum was closed for referbishment and the guide book had had another translation error. It wasn’t a transport museum but an agriculture museum. The chap in the tractor hall carefully explained this wasn’t the science museum, I guess they get a lot of lost tourists and was obviously thrilled that we wanted to look at his tractors. It was a very good collection of weird tractors and I got to sit on one. My those seats are hard and bouncy.
The whole museum was just three halls but for me the tractors, the giant metronome and the views were well worth the hike.
For lunch e managed to find the first bad restaurant in Prague. I guess there had to be one. This one had poor food (overpriced too) very nasty hot wine, minute apple juice and rude service. All in all I would suggest avoiding the Marie Teresie.
On the way up the hill I had realised we hadn’t been to look at the bridges from the bank of the river so we made a quick dash across town to do that, and found the artist I had been looking for on the Charles bridge. This time I bought a picture instead of waiting to think about it. I have regretted not buying a piece of his work since my last trip two years ago, Now I have one.
On the way back to the hotel we found another tower to climb, it really is the thing to do in Prague. This one was a lot less popular, which is a shame as the views are lovely and all the more so for being dusk. The tower is called the old Jesuit Bell Tower and is attached to the Churh of Saint Nicholas. Obviously it has a proper Czech name but I can’t easily type that. I have been wanting to be up a tower in the dark so this was perfect. It also has lots of information on bells, and a small watchmans apartment to look around. On the way up you go through the bellfry which was nice as you get to see bells and slightly concerning as I wasn’t certain they wouldn’t ring them. On the way down I looked more closely and I am fairly sure there aren’t ropes attached to the bells so I guess they don’t deafen the tourists.
Prague hotel
January 9, 2010
Technically it isn’t a hotel, it’s an apartment, but they call it a hotel. When we first arrived I stepped through the door and imediately stepped back. I wasn’t expectina a glass floor over a bath. I’ve got used to it and it’s great. I suspect I am one of the few without a jacuzzi bnath so for me this is a real novelty. You will have to excuse the mess we had just got in and dummped all our stuff.
This morning we have been climbing towers. The Charles bridge and the astronomical clock tower. For me the Charles Bridge tower is the best. I would love to live in it. It is amazingly solid and had a square spiral staircase. It’s roof is the place to be in the snow.
We are now having lunch and coctails at U Prince. It is a hotel near the astrnomical clock and does great cocktails.
Prague – day 1
January 8, 2010
As you can see we got our snow. It’s been snowing all day, quite lightly but consistantly. As heavy snow was forecast we started by going up Petrin hill in the funicular railway. I grew up near one and loved going on it as a child, nothing’s changed I still love them. I am also a huge fan of the public transport system here. It’s cheap, simple and efficient. Once at the top of the hill we headed on up. Up to the top of the Petrin tower. 229 steps on the outside of a tower in the snow. It was well worth it, the view is great even in the snow.
On the way down we decided to walk halfway down the hill. This took us past the magical cave. Yeah right. Tourist trap, bound to be. As we went past a lady popped out to entice us in. She managed it with the promise of hot wine (yes I drink wine here it’s good). The magical cave is a gallery cre artist has created. He has redesigned the building, to show case his work. It’s fantastic. I want to be as good as him making things glow. It was magical.
Lunch was at ‘The Old Prague Restaurant’. It was obviously a popular place with natives and less so with tourists, which I take as a very good omen. It was. We each had soup and will insist ours was better. Both soiund vegetarian, Tet had potatoe and I had garlic, I am quite sure both were meaty. Mine certainly comtained pork as well as croutons and potatoes and cloves of garlic. They were wonderful, although you can be glad you aren’ sitting next to me 
This afternoon we have shopped. If you want cold weather gear go to a cold country. Works wonders. I had intended to shop for cat treats to (I hope they haven’t eaten the cat sitter yet) but I think it will have to wait for annother day. Gotta go they are trying to close here and I want to post before I lose net access.
We made it.
It is pathetic how little snow stops the UK, and when we arrived at Heathrow our flight had been canceled. Geman efficiency was dealing with the problem and we were already booked on the next flight an hour later. When we tried to check in they[spotted we had a connecting flight that had to be changed too. That was mor of a problem, it had to move four hours. They were very appologetic and sent us off with a voucher for lunch. The delay being only an hour didn't require it but they felt they had a resposiblity to make things right for the knock on effect. It was a very good breakfast and much appreciated.As it turned out we were delayed almost 2 hours and arrived in Fraknfurt much later than expected, so our connection was only a 2 hour wait. I can't recommend Frankfurt airport. It's lovely and the food looks to be excelent, but the prices are insane. Yes even relative to other airports or London.We eventually arrived in Prague over 12 hours after we started out. Strangely though the journey had felt like a holiday. The room is from the same company as last time but much lower on the hill so less exercise this time. Speaking of which, i should finish my breakfast and head out into the snow to explore.
Did you pack this case yourself?
January 6, 2010
Well yes and no. I see some unpacking in my future. You see I don't own any grey and black furry clothes, that is an attempt to stow away. Fortunately I can see her even though she can't see me. She does like to try and stop me traveling by getting in the case, but this is her best yet. We are hopeful that there won't be more snow overnight and Heathrow might be working in the morning. Our cats will be fine while we are away, they have a cat sitter they love to bully. Gotta go two cats in the case now.
Delicate snow
January 5, 2010
I like snow, a lot, well usually. Unfortunately I am hoping to fly on Thursday so being told we would get 10-35cm of snow over night and tomorrow wasn’t actually good news. However, at the moment we have a delicate dusting and the snow seems to be staying fairly clear of Heathrow too. Fingers crossed that it will work out. I had to share this picture of Trogdor, he is the only one of our cars with an artistic layer of snow at the moment. I think it looks great just as it is now highlighting all the important areas.
Despite still being ill I had to go out and enjoy the snow and I do feel better for the fresh air. It was magical being the first people to walk around in the snow, and quite odd. Normally at least one dog walker beats us to it. I did got for normal boots though so people won’t be looking at apparently bear foot prints. I thought it was more important to have warm feet than confuse the neighbours.
The quilt made it off in time, but I did forget to take a better picture, sorry. I was more concerned about getting it delivered than picture taking. If I have a brain I will ask someone to do it for me tomorrow, if not it will just have to be the one that got away.
Quilting progress
January 4, 2010
It always amazes me how much a cold slows me down. Even when I feel mostly better qulting is really hard work. The small green qul had to be done before Wednesday so I had to work on it today. It is a charity quilt off to forien parts. I should be able to bimd sleeve and label it tomorrow. Of course I wanted to quilt this on the frame, but as you can see there is still anopther quilt there. I manage to jam it im at the side, just. It's amazing what you can do if you really want to.The other quilt is coming along too. I think I am getting qucker at the really dense fill. I've nearly finished the white area now which will just leave the outer black section. Yes the zippers are on order and I won't start another until I have them. I am really looking forward to doing some customer work. Variety, completion, speed. Sounds like bliss. Funny what can become just what you need when you haven't had it for a while.