Margaret's Adventures Abroad

Sun setting over Vienna’s vineyards

View of Vienna from the foothills

Charles Bridge from afar

Walking across Charles Bridge

Pictures from the main square in Prague

   It’s been almost a month since I was in Prague, but I figured I might as well give a brief synopsis of my trip.  Huan, Lisa, Amy, and I spent a brief weekend in Prague, and I could have spent so much more time there.  We arrived around noon on Saturday, and immediately went on a free tour of the city.  I hadn’t realized how popular a tourist destination Prague was, but the main streets were packed with people.  We watched the astronomical clock change at the hour, and we were a little disappointed.  Our tour guide was not surprised about our disappointment.  She explained that when this clock was built, it was a marvel because people had never seen anything like it.  Now, of course, it takes a lot more to impress people.  So, the clock still has the reputation as being amazing, but that reputation is a little outdated.  The feeling of disappointment is typical among tourists, so the city decided to add a trumpet player at the end.  This makes it a little more exciting for the masses, but it is not historically accurate. 

   After our tour, we decided to go to the Charles Bridge.  Just as we were getting there, though, a wave of zombies poured out of the entrance of the bridge.  Obviously, it was just people dressed up like zombies, but it was creepily realistic.  Besides being dressed up, they all had makeup on.  They were convincing actors, as well.  Even though I knew it was pretend, it was still extremely disturbing.  There were so many of them, and they were coming right at us.  Lisa was convinced it was to protest the amount of tourists who invade their city, but I was doubtful.  Huan stopped one and asked what it was for, and he just shrugged.  I guess you don’t need a reason to dress up like a zombie and scare the beejeezus out of people? 

   Finally, the zombies were gone, and we got to go on Charles Bridge.  Let the picture taking commence!  Once off the bridge, we decided to find a beer garden our tour guide had recommended that was on top of a hill looking over Prague.  After climbing the step path up the hill, we found the garden but decided that it wasn’t worth eating there.  Prague is suppose to be incredibly cheap, so we were on a mission to prove that true.  Eventually, we stumbled upon a restaurant serving traditional food.  My meal cost me less than five euros, and it wasn’t small.  It consisted of three different types of pork, sauerkraut, and potatoes.  For five euros!  This made my cheap self very happy. 

   The next day started relatively early.  We got breakfast at my new favorite grocery store, Albert.  They have a bread section where you can get croissants for fifty cents.  On our way to the main square, we stopped at a little market that sold souvenirs and fruit.  At the main square, we listened to a group of old men playing jazz.  They were so good!  I was almost tempted to buy their CD.  After walking along the river and across another bridge, we discovered the Czech Senate.  It was a beautiful garden, and it made me want to be a member of the senate.  There were peacocks!  We then went up to the castle which is huge. You get a wonderful view of Prague from the top.  There was another street band, and we watched a fellow tourist jokingly dance. He saw us watching and promptly linked arms with me and gave me a spin.  We saw the changing of the guards in front of the main part of the palace. We went to the cathedral and just leisurely explored the area.  By then it started to rain, so we sat in a café and prepared to leave.

(5/5/12 - 5/6/12)

Flowers are blooming in the Volksgarten!

Before & during the Life Ball