Praha, or Prague, as we spell it

Well that is how I look after I pass a big test. Like a breathalyzer test. It was my very first one and I passed it on my very first try! Might add it is a good thing Patt read the AAA guide to the Czech Republic as we were driving out of Austria into the old western end of Czechoslovakia- only don’t call it that, it's been the Czech Republic since 1989. The tolerance for driving and alcohol is zero in the CR. They take drinking and driving seriously here.

To cut to the chase, we were involved in a minor car accident. In a about 20 minutes of very slow driving as we were entering Prague on a three lane (one way) highway inching along we got hit from behind by one of the nicest guys you would ever want to meet. A electrical engineer, Josef, spoke English very well (THANKFULLY) and admitted guilt to the police and us - hard for him to avoid it I suspect.  

As you can see his car has a little damage to the hood and front left of the plastic bumper.  Our car had less to the the rear bumper but still scraped up a bit. We are the first drivers of our car so it shows up pretty well - car had 35 km on the speedometer when we started out from Vienna. 

We created quite a traffic jam, only one guy yelled at us and I think he was telling Josef that one of his blinkers was out. Emergency highway guys and ambulance people came rather quickly, got us off the road, ascertained no injuries and left with instructions to wait for the police. The police came and wrote a report in Czech. Since I learned Czech while waiting, no problem.

The drive up from Austria. other than that Mrs. Lincoln, was quite nice. Austria had some beautiful farms and massive wind mills,

We stopped just inside the Czech Republic to have lunch in Velle Mezirici. I left out the umlauts, titles, and dash marks that should go over most of the letters in the town's name.

Patt on Charles Bridge, probably the most visited place in Prague, named after King Charles IV most famous and powerful of all kings in Czech history.  He was even ruler of the Holy Roman Empire during his reign.  He had the bridge, tower and arch (in the background) built in the 1357.   The bridge has been here a while.  Our bed and breakfast is about 30 yards behind the tower on the same street.  Patt can find a good location for us to stay when we visit a city.  

And Patt still on the Charles Bridge and taken still looking west. There will be more photos of the King Charles Bridge and environs.

These guys set up on Mostecka Street across from our hotel on Saturday and were there for a pretty good while I reckon. Patt and I came back across Charles Bridge and there they were.  We watched a while along with several dozen others, a few went up and waved hands around and such, a few tossed in coins. After 10-15 minutes Patt and I left.  Consensus of the few in the crowd that I spoke with or heard talking, “pretty darn good magic trick”  It is not hard to find someone to speak with in English. It is universal.

A historic place in Prague is Wenceslas Square. It is where Czechs have gathered in protest or celebration over the centuries. It is where demonstrations against the Soviets were held in 1968 that led to a Russian invasion. And again today there was a demonstration against the Russian occupation of Ukraine. We spoke with one of the demonstrators and Patt asked if he were Ukrainian and he responded, “No, I am Czech … Czech-European”. Czech flag, red, blue and white, Ukrainian yellow and blue.

Wenceslas Square is named for THAT King Wenceslas of Christmas Carol fame, the good King. He was born in 905 AD and became King of the Czech’s, and a good one, then was killed by his evil brother who became an equally evil king. The square now is surrounded by hotels, restaurants, and beautiful tulip beds

The Tulip beds in the middle of Wenceslas Square are beautiful and were in full bloom this first week of May.

And back to the hotels. Just how large do you think the rooms are in the Meran Hotel?

A quirky restaurant for dinner. The Czech beer is awesome. The wine, well we have not tried so much as the beer is good and so cheap.

And back on Mostecka Street, this time just across from our hotel. Charles Bridge Tower in the background.