Day 2 in Prague

We started out the day at the breakfast buffet here at the hotel.  It was huge, varied and if you went hungry, it was your own fault: omelets, bacon, eggs, of any type, cold cuts, cheeses, fresh fruit, toast, pastries,  cereals, juices, coffee, tea, milk, yogurt, you name it, they had it.  I contented myself with a relatively virtuous bowl of bircher oatmeal (a cold oatmeal that has been soaked overnight in fruit and yogurt) tea, and a croissant.  Life is good.

Then it was off to the "Panoramic Prague " tour that took us up through the Castle, into the Old Town,  Wenceslas Square,  the Charles Bridge.  The traffic (foot and vehicle) was "relatively" light, as it was a National Holiday.  Most places were open, and the people were out, despite the weather which was (again) cloudy with on and off showers all day.  The mulled wine vendors were doing a brisk business.

Czech wine is very good, though it is better known for its beer, as the home of pilsner.  Wine production is not large, and it not exported.   Therefore, it remains a hidden treasure.

If you like to shop, 100 Czech Kurona is worth about 5.65 CDN.   So, prices here are low,  Bohemian Lead Crystal is still made here, and many other type of handcrafted glass are good buys.  So are garnet and amber.  With the glass, make sure that it really is Bohemian Glass, not Chinese knock offs.  As ever, the best deals are to be found on the side streets, away from the main drag and the tourist traps.  I spent the afternoon prowling through the many narrow alleys finding all sorts of places the specialize in local artwork and traditional crafts while Dan, at the end of the tour, took sanctuary in cafe with another beer, and spent the afternoon recuperating from the walk. 

Today, I am off to tour Jewish Prague,  and Dan is planning a self guided walking tour of local beers. This means less walking and more tasting.