Prague Castle is the dominant attraction. Nothing else comes close. Now I don't do crowds well which is why I travel after the peak season and ride my bike. But Prague is one of those cities I felt I needed to see what all the fuss is about knowing it is always crowded here except when the snow is too deep.
Armed with my Prague Card entitling me (be careful and be warned) to lots of free access for the price of 980 crowns for 3 days, I ventured over the Charles II Bridge up to the Castle.
For those not familiar - this is not a single impressive building - it is a large collection of buildings as a self contained fortified town of its own spanning the top of the hill. Mostly walking around the site is free, with the Prague Card entitling you to free access to some of the buildings. Of course people everywhere.
One of the not free buildings is the Lobkowiz Palace. Nearly empty of people and containing many treasures that tell the story of this most central and powerful of dynasties of Prague for about 4 centuries. The family lost everything during WW2 and escaped to the USA. After the war they got it all back only to lose it again in 1948, and then to get most back after 1989. The audio guide superb. The rare manuscripts are just a draw card for some - the collection and the story it tells is vastly more.
Later to the Prague Museum (separate post - not in the Castle) but on the way I thought I would have some Old Prague Ham that is sold at many of the street stalls. I know it is a bit pricey but I am a bit partial to baked ham. I will say more of this in the comment section.
Old Prqgue Ham is sold as rough cut chunks with bread on a paper plate you eat standing up somewhere. Advertised at $A5 / 100 gm $50/kg in a poor country where pork and ham is a cheap staple part of the diet. So only for tourists. I asked for 100 gms as that is all I wanted and is a good bite for lunch. Briskly advised 200gms is the min, and I had previously observed others asking simply for 1 serve and being given 300 gms or so and too polite to say bugger off.. For a lesser cost than 300 gms of ham you could sit down at many of the average tourist restaurants and get a proper meal, and also buy a 1/2 litre mug of beer for less than a small coke. Quite peculiar.
ReplyDelete