Mini Europe Tour-Part 2

When we arrived in Prague it was really warm there, we took the metro from the train station to our hostel, so we didn't get to see Prague yet. Our hostel this time was quite a distance from the center, but it was one of the cheapest that time, that's what you get when you don't book earlier i guess, not many options. This was a huge one, they have like a whole building to them, the previous ones that I been to only had a floor as the hostel. We arrived around 12pm but the check in time is at 3pm, and we didn't want to miss the check in time, because we wanted to grab two beds next to each other. And also we were exhausted after the overnight train trip, and we badly needed a nap. So we just wandered around the hostel, had our lunch at a rather expensive restaurant, it was one of the very few restaurants we could find near to our hostel. After checking in, we went up to the room, unfortunately there were only left 1 bed near the door and another 1 at the corner. I took the corner 1, the bed above me looks like it's occupied, but we found out the next day that it was free. We took a nap and started exploring Prague. We decided to take a tram instead this time to the center. The view all the way there passing the river was amazing. After getting off the tram we just wandered around finding places with our map, almost at every corner we saw beautiful old gothic style building, they were absolutely gorgeous. Along the way, we saw a very crowded spot, we went check it out, there were bout 10 Mediterranean food stalls, the food looked really good, so we tried one of the stalls, it was rather expensive, but the food was good. After walking around, we decided to go home, but we were both still hungry so we went to the Vietnamese grocery shop near our hostel and got some really cheap bagetas. They have many Vietnamese stores, mostly selling grocery, some selling clothes. But the things they sell are cheap and they open till bout 10-11pm.

On the second day, we changed our money at the metro station and went to the center. When we arrive there, we walked a little, then we passed by a money exchange place, and the rate was ok, I had enough money for the day so I didn't want to change at first, but Ray told me it will be more convenient to change it so we don't have to find for a money exchange the next day( you don't have to worry bout that actually, there are money exchange every corner in Prague). I took out my 50Euros and exchanged the money, the rate I saw was 22.2 something like that. After i changed it it was much less, I thought I counted wrongly, but then it was really much less, then i looked up to the board displaying the rates then i noticed on the right, lesser than 200 Euro-18.0. How careless can i be? But this is the first time I have seen such rules, they don't have this thing in Poland, or anywhere else that I've been to. And not every money exchange have that rule, the one in the metro station didn't. So, lesson learnt, always check if they have any traps like this before changing your money!

View from the tower

We walked around the center and came to the clock tower. We notice there was a crowd gathering at a part of the tower all of them looking upwards. We also joined in then according to Ray there was a guy who came out and blow the trumpet, after he is done, he waved to the crowd and everyone clapped. I could only hear the music, but the sun was too bright, I couldn't open my eyes. We decided to go up the tower, the view from there was really pretty, you could see almost everything. Just before we were about to leave, the trumpet guy did his show again, this time, i got a view from the other side, as we were standing just behind him when he was blowing. As he waved, the crowd clapped again. Seeing all those people down there clapping, feels really cool. We continued seeing other places and by evening, we reached the famous Charles bridge. It was breath taking standing on the bridge taking in all the view. When we started to walk the sun was setting, by the time we reached the other end of the bridge it was dark but the view was better, the lights from the buildings and bridges, the cool breeze. Nothing could be better. At night before going back, I bought my dinner, bageta, from the Vietnamese store again, but Ray wanted to try a Chinese restaurant that he saw on the way back. We walked to the shop and the food was pretty good, and the Chinese girl was very friendly. We kind of felt at home there. Travelling could make you miss home a little, but the things we got from travelling is definitely worth everything.

The next day we walked to the metro station and bought a ticket to the center. Before using the metro we need to validate our ticket first in the orange box just before the escalator. Ray validated his and went before me, I validated mine and went after Ray. Ray stepped on the escalator and just a few steps away from the escalator a skinny guy probably in his mid 40s cut his way in front of me, I just let him pass, he stepped on the escalator, and Im sure you girls now bout my OCD with escalators, I must see one flight crossing before stepping on it, so Im always stepping on the second flight after the person in front of me. As I was waiting for the second flight, the guy in front turn his head sideways and when he noticed that I didn't take the flight right behind him he started backing up. I felt so weird that this grown up guy was playing with the escalator, I thought he was really drunk or something, and he just keep backing up and up. The person behind me was standing so close to me, I knew I just had to step on the escalator, hoping he will stop backing up and don't slam into me. After I got on, he stopped. The person who was behind me got on the one right after me. I was a little annoyed, i mean if you r really in a rush, just go to the left side. And I was thinking bout the weird drunk guy backing up. Busy thinking, I suddenly felt a slight movement of my top on the right side near my waist. I was wearing a loose top, at first I thought its the wind but i just looked down anyway. I noticed a black thing pulling away very fast from my bag to the back, I turned and looked behind, a very skinny also probably mid 40s lady wearing a black leather jacket was standing right behind me. She tried to make a straight face and look somewhere else, but I finally realized what was going on. I quickly turned my head in front trying to search for Ray. Just then the lady said something to the guy in front of me. he turned his head sideways to me again then turned back front. I didn't know what else they were going to do, I was really scared, but I know i was only few steps to the ground. As soon as i got off from the escalator I rushed to Ray, told him someone tried to steal from me, but when we turned to look both of them were already taking the escalator up again. I knew she didn't mange to take anything, cause I always have the zipper opening of my bag in front where i can see it, and my bag is not that easy to open. But i just sat down and made sure everything was still there. I was so angry but I just let it pass, didn't want it to spoil my day in Prague.

Beautiful rays of light through the windows

We went to the castle, and again I was mesmerized with the beautiful buildings there. The St.Vitus cathedral was amazing. They have this beautiful colourful glass that makes a picture on every window in the church. When the sunlight shines through the glass, it makes beautiful colourful rays of light inside the church. After the castle we went to the Charles bridge, this time Ray wanted to paddle a boat on the river. I was very reluctant, I was afraid of drowning and all, you know me. We rented a boat for an hour. As we paddled it felt amazing, right in the middle of the river, the sun setting before you, birds flying, ducks swimming near the river bank. As we passed the bridge from underneath, Ray whistled and the sound echoed. There were a few other boats nearby, some were the paddling kind, some were the rowing kind. Some of them had drank champagne while paddling. Most of them were couples, but we also saw some with 3 or 4 people in a boat. It was really beautiful. If you girls have the time, you must do this, trust me, you wont regret it. As we were paddling i turned and told Ray that I think Prague is the most beautiful city I have been, even more than Venice, which has always been my number 1. I thought Ray wouldn't agree so much because he has seen much more places than me. But surprisingly, he said he thought the same too. After we got off the boat, we heard fireworks very near us, so we stand and looked at the fireworks beside the river. It was the perfect ending to a great day. Overall, Prague was amazing, there's so many things to see and I had a great time there.

View from the boat