Destination: Prague

The Charles Bridge, Prague, CZ
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

"It's easy to fall in love among the winding cobblestone streets and snow-covered castles of Prague..."   -Dana Newman 

*** 

We arrived in Prague on a clear Saturday afternoon in August 2012, having flown from Dulles to Amsterdam to Prague Václav Havel Airport for our first European vacation in nearly two years.  Excitement and elation cannot even begin to describe my emotions as we left the airport and were chauffeured to our hotel situated on the banks of the Vltava.  Prague had been on my "Top Five Before 25" list since I'd been in high school.  Although gaining in popularity in recent years, Prague remains a fairly well-kept secret to most Americans when it comes to choosing an affordable, historic, and beautiful European city for a vacation.  I wish it would stay that way, but that's a wish in futility considering Prague has appeared on Trip Advisor's Travelers' Choice Destinations at the #9 spot in 2013 and #5 in 2014.

Mr. Gypsy and I stayed at the Mamaison Hotel, located roughly a twenty minute walk south of the Karlův most, or Charles Bridge.  Check-in was swift and easy, having already paid for our room through Orbitz, and we hastily stowed our luggage before starting our exploration of the city.  True to my "project manager" nickname, I had already planned an itinerary for our two full days in Prague as well as mapped out an exploration route.

Statues on the Charles Bridge
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

We began by walking straight into the heart of the old city, bent on seeing the Charles Bridge first.  The Bridge, along with the Old Town Square and Prague Castle, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.  We reached the bridge right before 5pm, and one could hardly see the bridge for all the people on it!  "Hordes" of tourists is the most apt description (for a less crowded view of the bridge, come very early in the morning or after 10pm).  Regardless, it was an impressive site.  The Charles Bridge acquired its name from Charles IV, the Holy Roman Emperor, who himself laid the first stone of the bridge at 5:31am on the 9th of July 1357.  The precise timing of this event is documented due to the Emperor's strong belief in numerology, as this date makes a numerical bridge of its own (1357 9 7 531 - year, day, month, time).

But numbers weren't on our mind as we studied the 30 statues gracing each side of the bridge.  Saints, kings, and knights of Bohemia's past are all depicted there. A love lock site appeared on the Charles Bridge, and Mr. Gypsy and I affixed our own lock to the bridge like giddy teenagers to symbolize our eternal love.  I'm sure by now it's been cut down and thrown into a dumpster somewhere.  So much for eternal love!

Our view
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Speaking of love, Mr. Gypsy fell in love... with Czech beer, that is!  After the Charles Bridge, we stopped at a restaurant to enjoy an ice cold Pilsener Urquell along with a delicious meal of roast duck.  We chose that particular restaurant because it had outdoor seating, and it also advertised menus in various languages.  Being jet-lagged, we did not write down the name of the place, but thanks to Google Maps, I think that it was simply called Česká Restaurace (meaning "Czech Restaurant") located on Karlova street halfway between the Charles Bridge and the Astronomical clock.  If you should happen to stumble across it, be aware that Czech wait-service is typically unhurried and "slow" by American standards, and this place was no different.  Don't fret; enjoy the experience!

Once our bellies were full, we meandered down to the Astronomical Clock in time for Vanity, Greed, the Turk and Death to usher in the top of the hour, accompanied by a procession of mechanical apostles, and then we moved just around the corner to survey the cobblestone grandeur of the Old Town Square.  Simply stunning.

Astronomical Clock
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

By this time, we were surrendering to jet lag and walked back to the hotel for the night.  On Sunday our itinerary dictated spending the day at Pražský hrad (Prague Castle) and St Vitus Cathedral located within the castle walls.  I'm glad we budgeted that much time; we spent almost three hours in the cathedral alone, and as for the castle, I don't think we were able to see everything!

Expansive courtyards, beautiful wrought iron gates, an imposing palace, and above all the Gothic spires of St Vitus Cathedral - that is Prague Castle.  Mr. Gypsy and I love old churches, and this one remains on our top five favorites list.  Words can't do it justice, so I hope these pictures do.

Front entrance to Prague Castle
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Front of St Vitus Cathedral
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

What gorgeous detail!
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Mr Gypsy and I :)
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Stunning interior of the cathedral
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

The archangel Michael defeats a demon
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Your gaze is directed up, designed to elevate your thoughts to God
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

(c) Thrifty Gypsy

View from the cathedral tower
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Charles Bridge!
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

St. Vitus was martyred at the age of 13 when Romans threw him into a pot of boiling oil.  Supposedly, they threw roosters in with him, too, which is why the rooster features prominently in the cathedral.
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

On our final full day in Prague, we set out for the Church of St. Nicholas, one of the most beautiful examples of Baroque architecture I've ever seen.  Prague has almost every architectural style available: medieval, Baroque, neo-classical, Art Nouveau, Gothic, etc.  Again, words can't express the beauty of St. Nicholas, so enjoy these pictures:

WOW!
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

The Altar
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

This saint vanquished a demon apparently.
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

How does the speaker get up there? There were no visible stairs...
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

(c) Thrifty Gypsy

View from the second level
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

(c) Thrifty Gypsy

After St. Nicholas, we went to the Jewish Quarter to tour the synagogue and the Jewish cemetery, but photos were not allowed, so I will post about this experience in the future.  So we returned to the Old Town Square to examine the Astrological Clock more closely, taking the time to climb all the way to the top for some stunning views of Prague, enjoy a gyro while sunning ourselves in the square (and being treated to an impromptu "rally" by some French bicyclists singing anthems around the statue of Jan Hus), and simply reveling in the liveliness of the area.  The weather couldn't have been better.

Old Town Square with the statue of Jan Hus to the left and the Church of Our Lady of Tyn standing tall above all.
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Facing east
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral on the horizon
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Already sad about leaving the next day :(
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

But as they say, all good things must come to an end, and our time in Prague was swiftly drawing to a close.  We spent one last night walking through the brightly-lit streets and saying our adieus to our favorite spots in the city before we continued on to Germany the next day.

In closing, I'd just like to emphasize that Prague is one of the most affordable cities in all of Europe.  For the price of a two star hotel in Rome, we stayed at a four star luxury hotel in Prague.  Although part of the EU, Prague still uses its Koruna, which has an excellent exchange rate with USD and Euros.  Beer is cheap, plentiful, and very good; Mr. Gypsy looks for their Pilsener Urquell in specialty stores whenever possible.  If you're looking for an exciting European city that won't break the bank, Prague is the place for you!

~ Just a Thrifty Gypsy 

A few final photo favorites:

Charles Bridge
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

The "Dancing House" directly across the river from our hotel
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Full moon over the Old Town Square
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

As an American, you know you're in Europe when you can drink beer on the streets!
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Our Lady of Tyn - the one church we didn't get to tour
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Prague Castle
(c) Thrifty Gypsy