Saturday, August 2, 2014
The Six Hour Journey Through Puzzling Prague
My day started with two pastry slices and an episode of VGHS or as mom calls it, high school musical for boys. Running this way and that in Prague's twisted and sloped roads we found our way to the bike tour. We all got bikes, unfortunately my bike was like a giant noise machine on wheels due to a broken sprocket on my bike. I was the fastest in the group (Ben might disagree). I was glad to be doing the 6 hour ride because I knew it would prepare me for the ride to BIS. The day went by and we had an awsome lunch. I got ribs and ranch! Finally we made in back just before my bike broke to scraps because my gears and kickstand had both broken!
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Gary, you probably have to machine wash and then air dry your stinky sneakers. Glad to read you're all having fun!-----Noah
ReplyDeleteA few details and clarifications to Charlie's summary of our "puzzling" day: First, the best key I can provide for walking the streets of Prague is to stop frequently and check street signs - the names change at every bend and, to say the least, don't exactly roll off the English-speaking tongue, not to mention that none cross at right angles! Next, confirming, the bikes were well-used -- each of us experienced significant chain/sprocket slippage as we climbed those hills. Our guide, Jana (pr. "Ya-na") was friendly and patient (I think my group is getting tired of my picture-taking but I shall plow on undaunted by their sneers !), but her presentations lacked the flare of our Berlin and Oslo guides. No fun stories. Lots of dates and names mixed in with an endearing amount of national pride. A few site seeing highlights were (1) the early 10th century castle of the Czech kings -- called Vyšehrad; (2) the National Theater -- built and rebuilt (burned down days after first completion) solely with donations of the Czech people; (3) of course, a view from afar of the famous Charles bridge -- too crowded for bikes but still a wonder of 14th Century construction by "Chazz the 4th" as we call him; (4) lunch was awesome!!! Jana (the vegetarian) guided us through piles of meat, bread gravy and beer (see photos added); (5) Wencilicus Square and the snazzy shops of Parížská (I guess the rich folks get the only long, straight street); (6) the royal (now presidential) gardens and castle housing, in part, the Cathedral of Saint Vita (& Wencilicus, "but we dropped him off the name to keep it short", per Jana); and (7) the Jewish ghetto and cemetery (unfortunately, yet another reminder of the very sad fact that our beliefs will always have the tendency to separate us as much as bring us together if we let them...). Jana pleasantly laced the day with references to works of David Černý, the modern-day artistic darling of the Czech Republic youth who employs somewhat shocking imagery to incite critical thinking (Google "pink tank Prague" and see added photos). Phew! The map is tattered and torn. Time to head to Vienna for, per Ben, "another bike tour??" We'll see.
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