Czech out Prague!

So I got a crazy idea to visit Dresden this weekend, but I didn't want to spend tons of time there, and I knew I had five days, so I should find somewhere close by, and spend a couple of days there. So after a lot of thought, I picked Prague. I had no idea what to expect by Czech Republic, but I wanted to know what it was about. So last Tuesday, I booked a hostel in Prague, and a hostel in Dresden. I did my laundry, and then packed my new backpack! Wednesday morning, I went to class, then ran back to my flat, grabbed my backpack, and caught the next bus to the train station.

It was about eight hours to Prague. Five hours on trains, and then somehow I ended up on a three hour bus ride from Nuremberg to Prague. That was weird and unexpected... I got into Prague around seven, which was the same time I had told the hostel to expect me. But, I had planned on eating on the last leg of the train ride, and when that turned out to be a bus ride, and I was asked to store my backpack under the bus, I found I had no food and arrived starved out of my mind. I changed my money at the train station, which I know is dumb, but I was hungry and decided I didn't care so much about getting ripped off. I went to Burger King, and ordered the biggest thing on the menu. I really struggled with the language barrier, but I figured at a train station Burger King, how bad can it be? It was bad. I really don't believe that no one at that Burger King spoke English. They were either really dumb, or trying to rip me off. I stood in line forever, and then finally got to order. After I ordered, I stood there for a really long time while new customers came and went with food, and I got nothing. At this point, I am so hungry I'm shaking, and on the verge of tears. The guy who took my order asks (I think) if he can take my order, and I just about flipped. I tried to tell him I had already ordered, and what I had ordered, and he just thought I was ordering. He asked for money, and I was like "look guy, I already ordered and gave you money!" I looked for a receipt, and realized I was not given one. I was most unhappy. They got a couple other people trying to understand me, and a while later they just gave me a burger, fries, and a drink. I had food, but I was so angry. I was too hungry though. I went and found a seat, and my food was soon gone.

I left the station and headed for my hostel. I managed to navigate the public transportation just fine, and got to the hostel, got checked in, and went to the room to put my things away. I got settled in, and headed downstairs to use the wifi, then took a shower and went to bed. The hostel was great!

So my first full day in Prague, I set out toward the Prague Castle. Of course, I got lost. I got off the tram too early, and ended up at a park. I started up the path at the park, and it seemed to go up and up and up. I followed it anyway. This was when I first noticed the crazy hills in Prague. Everything seems to be at the top of a ridiculous hill. You get some really good views of the city, but your calves will not thank you for it. I walked around the park for a bit, then went and got back on the tram.
I got off at the right stop this time, and walked around for a bit unable to find the silly castle. I stopped at a little cafe for a crepe and cappuccino, and used their wifi to find it. Wandered around the wrong way for a bit, then found some crazy stairs. This must be it. I walked up and up and up some stairs until I arrived at the castle. It was huge. I spent the entire day at the castle and did not see everything.
I just walked around for a bit taking pictures at first. I found some stairs, and as usual, I decided to see what was at the top of them. Two hundred eighty something steps later, I was at the top of some tower. The view was great, and it was definitely worth it, but those stairs were deadly. Next, I decided to go inside the castle and have a look around. I bought a ticket for every part of the castle, and was determined to get my money out of it.
I went to almost every part, but got kicked out of the royal gardens at 6pm. I started to head back to the hostel, and stopped for supper at some resaurant. The food was great, but the service wasn't so good and I way over tipped, because I couldn't translate the currency in my head with the waitress standing there staring at me. Oh well. It was cold and dark, and I was tired, so I went back to the hostel. It was free crepe night. I had three.

Day two, I went into the old town. I visited St. Wenceslas Square, got lost, got some Starbucks, lost my free map, paid way too much for another one, then headed for some old churches. I went into St. Nicholas church, which was absolutely beautiful, and another church that I couldn't find the name of. I walked over Charles Bridge, and around the Old Town Square. There was also a little market that sold a lot of touristy stuff, but also some really cool stuff, and flowers and veggies. I really enjoyed this part of town the most. All of the buildings and bridges were so beautiful.
After I had seen everything, I headed back to the castle and saw everything I had missed the day before.

The next day, i went back into town for a quick walk around, and then I headed to the train station.

Next stop, Dresden!

-----

All of the pictures from Prague:

Praha!