Finally Time to Go Home to London

After our leisurely lunch in Old Town Square, Annalisa made our way to Prague International Airport, which marks the end of our 10-day journey in Europe. I confess that I am extremely excited to go home. I can’t wait to take a hot shower, do my laundry, and sleep in my own familiar bed!

Relaxing with a pint before our 1.5 hour flight back to London.

I am so blessed to have traveled with such a great companion like Annalisa and I am so fortunate to have been given the opportunities to travel and really enjoy the culture and life in European cities! Now, time to go!

Ryan Air flights are really not all that bad. Maybe it helps being as short as me. I never have to worry about tight leg space!

Finally Arrived Home! Time to pass out for now…

Feeding Swans and Ducks on Strelecky Ostrov Island

Later this afternoon, Annalisa and I are catching a flight back to London, officially ending our Spring Break European Adventure. We thought back of our favorite places to revisit in the city and Strelecky Ostrov Island was on the top of the list.

Feeding the Ducks

Our hostel provides a free ham and cheese sandwich everyday to guests and since it was our last day in the city, I knew I did not feel like eating my sandwich in favor for hot food. Might as well feed my sandwich to some willing ducks!

There they come!

Nom Nom Nom

I Made a Swan Friend

Today, I made a new friend with a swan! I named him Frederick! I was first feeding a few ducks and when he saw me, he actually paddled from all the way across the river to have some ham and cheese sandwich!

He spots the ducks eating my sandwich!

Purty!

Ahh! He’s close!

Frederick is kinda scary big. I didn’t really think swans as intimidating birds… but they are.

He basically ate my entire sandwich.

The Strelecky Ostrov Island Park

Aside from feeding the birds, the park is gorgeous and a great place to have a nice walk with river views. I am glad I got to spend the morning here, but now it’s time to head back to the city…

Random Sighting!

We found Noah from The Notebook! He’s there rowing in the blue boat!

Shopping During Our Last Night in Prague

We went back to Old Town Square on our last night in the city to get last-minute souvenirs to bring back home. It sounds like the worst place to get souvenirs, but there is definitely a great variety of stalls and things to choose from. Plus, the prices are mostly negotiable and Annalisa and I were able to grab some items at a good price!

Lavender Stall in Old Town Square

I found postcards and small trinkets for my friends but once I saw the lavender stall, I knew I had to get something from there! My dear friend Zoe is obsessed with lavender and I found a small trinket to take home for her along with a postcard. I hope she likes it!

Found a crazy Lavender stall!

I think she’d really love it if I brought a pack home. Hope it still smells good when I finally give it to her!

Lavender can be found anywhere but here’s proof I got it in Prague!

Walking Back to the Hostel

Prague Castle at Night

I am almost sad to know that this is our last night in the city. We are leaving tomorrow afternoon back to London, but Prague by far has been the most magical place throughout our travels!

Relaxing in the Park on Strelecky Ostrov Island

Strelecky Ostrov Island is a small island directly in the middle of the river separating the East and West side of Prague. It is accessible by the Legion Bridge and is honestly, one of my favorite parks in the city!

Crossing the bridge to reach the island on the left.

Apparently the island used to serve as a shooting range:

As early as under Charles IV, Prague longbow and crossbow shooters had the privilege of training here. From the 15th century, the island held competitions in shooting. During the Thirty Years War the island ran wild, but later, in the 18th and 19th centuries, it was used not only for the shooters, but also for folk festivals, celebrations and carnivals. In 1812, after the fire of the old wooden shooting range, Prague shooters built a new brick building with a restaurant according to the plans of the court architect Josef Kliment Zobel. It was a single-storey Empire style building No. 336. Thanks to its basement it survived even a great flood in 1890. In the years between 1935 and 1937 the building was extended by a terrace with a café designed by architect Jan Zázvorka. Both the building and the island used to be a place for busy social life: promenade concerts, dance parties, dancing balls and performances of variety and cabaret artists. In addition, a cinema auditorium was built on the first floor. In the 60s of the 20th century the building was adjusted for the use of the Start Prague, an association for physical education.

– Prague Welcome website

After walking around the park, I found a small flight of stairs that led directly into the water. I decided to sit there and feed some of the passing ducks and pigeons while watching people on paddle boats go by.

View across the river

You can see the Opera House in the brown building to the center-right.

The Charles Bridge from the island

We easily spent an hour or two just sitting and staring at the water. I imagine when I turn old and grey, I would be one of those ladies who just brings a chair, a loaf of bread, and spend the afternoon napping and feeding the ducks. Sounds like a wonderful life!

Walking Along the Riverbank in Prague

Since Annalisa and I took the metro to Vysehrad, we decided to take a scenic walk along the river back to Old Town Square.

Path leading to the embankment

I did a double-take with this musician. He looks like James Blunt, but I quickly realized he wasn’t… awkward!

Found a dog playing at the water’s edge.

Walking underneath a bridge.

Leaving the embankment back to Old Town Square.

The embankment really reminds me of the beach boardwalks in SoCal on the weekends. We passed by half a dozen cute beer gardens set up on the side of the river and there were tons of young people and families biking, roller skating, and running on the paths. Taking the extra time to walk while traveling is truly the best way to experience a city!

Visiting Vyšehrad Fortress Along the River

Vyšehrad is a highly recommended attraction by travelers on Tripadvisor. It is a fort located a ways from the main center of the city, but it is no further than a 20-minute metro ride and a 15-minute walk away from the Vysehrad station. Since it is removed from the main touristy areas of Prague, many people enjoyed the quiet and scenic walks along the fortress walls.

Entrance to Vyšehrad

Apparently this is Prague’s oldest surviving building: Rotunda of St. Martin from 11th century

Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul in Vysehrad

Views of the River from the Fortress

Yours truly along the fortress wall

I know little of the history of Vysehrad, but I agree that it is a fine and beautiful place to visit. I am not sure if I would recommend this place to others, but we had so much extra time in the city, it was an okay diversion.

Visiting a Hidden Treasure in Prague, the Klementinum!

I heard many stories and seen a few photos of a beautiful library in Prague so Annalisa and I went on a hunt to find it. After asking locals around Old Town Square, Annalisa and I found an unassuming courtyard off the main road that was surrounded by buildings that make up the Klementinum. The Klementinum was once a Jesuit academic institution where scholars, religious figures, and astronomers came to study and research. For around $5 USD (less if you have a student ID), you can visit the Mirror Chapel, National Library, and the Astronomy Tower.

Who knew that this unassuming entrance on a busy street led to the some of the most interesting buildings in Prague?

Photos are not allowed of the rooms during the tour, so definitely keep that in mind when walking around!

Mirror Chapel

The tour is super low-key and possibly lacking in some ways, but the attractions are gorgeous! This is the Mirror Chapel that once housed Jesuits who studied at the academic religious institution. Although this chapel was originally used for religious purposes, it was famous for hosting classical concerts, including Mozart in his prime! Today, you can still listen to concerts performed here, but it mostly used as a wedding venue.

I managed to sneak a photo! I can’t believe Mozart once performed here!

The Mirror Chapel is named for the many mirrors placed on the walls and ceiling that represents God’s presence in the room.

Prague National Library

Now this was the room I came here for! Unfortunately, I could not sneak photos of this library, but I so WISH I could! I absolutely LOVE visiting libraries and Prague National Library, although small, is gorgeous! If you do want to visit another beautiful library in Prague, people on Trip Advisor recommends the Strahov Library at the Strahov Monastery.

Prague National Library

The library was originally used by the Jesuit scholars. About 200 years ago, the library was open to the public but since WWI, it has been closed to the public. Today, only national scholars, librarians, and special researchers have access to the collection. When we were there, around a third of the books were missing since they were sent to Germany to be scanned for an online database. All of the globes and astronomical clocks are original to the library collection and it is believed that Galileo, when he was studying in Prague, used these globes.

Views from the Top of the Astronomy Tower

Although we could not take any photos inside any of the buildings, we were allowed to take them out once we got to the balcony. The views from the top of the astronomy tower makes the Klementinum such a treasure in Prague!

View of Old Square

View of Petrin Park

View of Prague Castle

I was pleasantly surprised of my experience here! When I come back, I am definitely taking my family here!

Visting the Prague Metronome in Letna Park

Prague was once under Communist rule during Stalin’s reign. The location of today’s Prague Metronome used to hold a humungous statue of Stalin overlooking the city (which sounds slightly terrifying). Less than 10 years after the it was installed, the statue was removed and destroyed in 1962 by protesters. The site is still a well-visited one yet to get there, we first had to climb another hill!

The top of that hill was where Stalin’s larger-than-life statue used to stand.

A main telephone wire with hanging tennis shoes. This scene is on many postcards sold in the city.

The Prague Metronome

The Prague Metronome is not an incredibly interesting attraction. The red hand just ticks back and forth, but the locals swear by the amazing views from Letna Park.

View of Charles Bridge from the top of the hill.

The views were good. If only the trees did not block most of it.

Annalisa and I decided to stop here to eat our sandwiches for lunch. Overall, I would not recommend visiting this park since there are plenty of nicer and cleaner parks around the city. This one is popular among young skateboarders, but it also means that it is graffiti-infested and not that clean.

Accidentally Stumbled Across Wallenstein Palace Gardens

After leaving Prague Castle, Annalisa and I started walking towards Letna Park and passed by the most charming and beautiful gardens! We walked by the area a few times and never realized the Wallenstein Palace Gardens existed since they were enclosed by high walls. We just saw some people walk through a door today and followed them through!

Surprise!

The fountain is filled with enormous koi fish.

Surprise! There are a lot of peacocks in the gardens!

Another surprise! A white peacock!

This garden was such a pleasant and beautiful diversion! That’s why I never discount getting ‘lost’ in a city!

A Royal Affair at Prague Castle

After turning the corner from our hostel, Annalisa and I made our way uphill to Prague Castle this morning! Prague Castle is one of the main attractions in Prague and since it is located high atop a hill, the fortress can be seen from almost every point in the city. Travelers rate the castle very well on Tripadvisor  so definitely visit when in Prague!

Steps Leading to the Castle

So many steps! No Pain. No Gain.

Made it to the top!

 Prague Castle

Annalisa and I did not want to spend extra money to view the interiors of the castle, but the grounds and courtyards are free to the public. I am not sure how much the entry tickets cost, but judging from the excellent review on Tripadvisor, the price is justified from the experience.

Today Prague Castle, besides the seat of the head of state, is also an important cultural and historical monument. The crown jewels are kept in Prague Castle, as are the relics of Bohemian kings, precious Christian relics, art treasures and historical documents. Events important for the whole country have taken place within its walls. Hence Prague Castle is the embodiment of the historical tradition of the Czech state, linking the present with the past.

– Official website

The Prague Castle was most likely founded in around 880 by Prince Bořivoj of the Premyslid Dynasty (Přemyslovci). According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the Prague Castle is the largest coherent castle complex in the world, with an area of almost 70,000 m². A UNESCO World Heritage site, it consists of a large-scale composition of palaces and ecclesiastical buildings of various architectural styles, from Roman-style buildings from the 10th century through Gothic modifications in the 14th century. The famous Slovenian architect Josip Plečnik was responsible for extensive renovations in the time of the First Republic (1918-1938). Since the Velvet Revolution, the Prague Castle has undergone significant and ongoing repairs and reconstructions.

– Official website

Annalisa perched on a fountain in the main courtyard.

St. Vitus Cathedral

St. Vitus Cathedral is located right inside the walls of Prague Castle so it is a very easy walk to get there. I really loved that the main foyer is accessible to the public free, so Annalisa and I definitely took advantage of that perk!

Parts of the Cathedral is open and free to the public. It is one of the city’s most significant cathedrals, so I would recommend to have a look when visiting Prague Castle.

The basilica of St. Vitus, built on the site of the original rotunda, was the main castle church since the 11th century, where the relics of the patron saints of the land were kept: SS. Vitus, Wenceslas and Adalbert. And from the 10th century the convent of the Prague church was an important educational and cultural institution.

– Official website

The cathedral is famous for its gorgeous gothic architecture. It almost looks like Notre Dame in Paris!

The main atrium area is accessible to the public but if you want to get to closer to the podium, you will have to pay a small fee that is probably included with the ticket fee to Prague Castle.

Views from the Grounds

Located high on the hillside, Prague Castle provides some of the best views of the city!

This is why I can’t be trusted with photos