Visit Prague

[^kaedee^]

I got back Tuesday night from our Prague trip 

I did a few research last week and they were all saying that Prague is beautiful. I have to agree with that. Just walking in the city feels so different, it has a romantic atmosphere. The buildings are really beautiful, so historical. I love the view at night especially when you are in Charles bridge or just walking beside the river.

It´s just sad that people are rude We encountered a lot of sales person in the store who made rude facial expressions and probably rude comments too (we can´t understand what they´re saying), even the tour bus driver! They are also hesitant in helping if you ask questions.

Anyway, the transportation ticket ranges from 12CZK, 24CZK and 32CZK (I´m not sure if there are more kinds - this is what we used) The amount depends on the zone and the range of time. We bought the ticket one time from the airport, 2nd from the hotel and the rest we took from the ticket machine and since we don´t know the zone that we are going to we just took the cheapest one There were 3x that we did not buy a ticket because we can´t find a ticket machine!

As for the food, we ate once in an Asian Restaurant. We paid 750CZK for 2 noodles meal (parang pancit hehe) and drinks. Then our last dinner we ate in a restaurant beside Charles bridge. I paid around 600CZK for the main meal (I had steak), a drink and dessert.

We went to the Infant Jesus church where you can find Sto. Nino. There are a lot of Filipinos in that church. We were able to hear mass too where the choir are mostly Pinoys  In front of the church is a Filipino store. You won´t miss it - the store name is Pinoy   We went there after the mass and met a lot of other Filipinos. One was travelling alone and went with us.

As for the souvenirs, T-shirts and bags ranges from 99CZK to 149CZK. Magnets ranges from 199CZK to 299CZK. I bought mine from a shop in Wenceslas Square. Probably it is cheaper outside the popular areas, I just didn´t have time to look around anymore.

I also bought rosaries. Some I bought in the Catholic store outside the Sto. Nino church. I think it was about 199CZK each and I was able to have it blessed after the mass. We also went to Loreto, there is an entrance fee (I forgot how much) and another fee if you want to take pictures (100CZK). You can buy rosaries here too.

Then the Prague Castle, the area is so big! I went in from the Paradise Garden, then there´s a path going to Vito then we just followed everyone hehe.

We actually got lost a few times but that made our trip more exciting.

Hmmm whatelse? A must have in all travels, a good and comfortable shoes. Especially in Prague where most of the sidewalks are made of brick stones.

[mama squeak!]

^Thanks for your trip report! Got some tips from you. 

As to their "rude" behaviour, this is just one of the articles I read while researching for our trip here about their somewhat lack of customer service. It kinda prepares you on what to expect from them. So any experience otherwise would be a pleasant surprise 

 

[mrs research]

Kakaexcite post mo ^kaedee^. We'll also be visiting Karlovy Vary which is 2 hours via bus from Prague but I'm now thinking about Český Krumlov when I saw http://www.praguedreamwedding.com/img/moje_obrazky/cesky_krumlov.jpg on my friend's pinterest board.

Thanks mama squeak for the customer service with a frown article. Very helpful to set expectations. Mejo sensitive pa naman ako sa ganyan. We watched Samantha Brown and Anthony Bourdain's Prague episode and everyone seems to be courteous kasi  may camera kaya lang ganon.

[mama squeak!]

^sis, initially we planned to go to Cesky Krumlov but that would entail at least an overnight stay since one way by bus is roughly 2 hours and a half while it will take longer naman via train at more than 3 hours with transfers at Cesky Budejovice. Bitin-bitin naman if day trip Lang since there are so much to see there daw. We'll probably visit the place on our next trip, hopefully makabalik ulit!

In Prague pa lang marami ka na makikita kasi! I'm thinking baka our 5 days there mabitin pa kami 

[foxymom]

^gosh na eexcite na din ako! hahaha, please post your itineraries mama squeak and mrsresearch!

my friend who came from prague last july baliktad naman ang comment -- he said the people from prague were more humble since they came from a not so rich past. thanks for the heads up on the rude behaviour, i hope we wont encounter them much!

[mrs research]

Day 1: Old Town Sq, Mala Strana, Charles Bridge

Day 2: Prague Castle  CZK 350(ticket valid for 2days- day of purchase and ff day) ; Visit local pubs and clubs (eventhough we're not party people  maka experience lang mag pub crawl) 

Day 3: Tram to Vinhorady; Lunch Picnic at Havlíčkovy Sady; Charles University/Carolinum (I like visiting college campuses bec it's free, you get to people watch, see college fashion trend, gothic buildings, well manicured lawns etc.. )

Day 4-5:Bus to Karlovy Vary or Český Krumlov (still undecided which one to visit

Day: 6: Shopping; prep for flight back to Rome

[mama squeak!]

^Our days 1 and 2 are the same! But we will be getting the CZK250 (short stay) tickets only for the castle and selected churches since covered na ng tickets yung gusto naming puntahan. Plus we'll also be buying the photo permit/license (not sure how much though) since you can't take pictures inside if you have no permit.

I'll be sure to post our trip report  Be leaving for the airport shortly. Excited much! 

[foxymom]

^EXCITING!!

how do we go to the infant jesus of prague? i promised my mom i will get her some medallions

shux i need to start reading about prague, still not finished with london :S

[^kaedee^]

mama squeak!, you are leaving na pala. Take care and have a nice trip! 

foxymom, meron dun St. Nicholas Church sa Lesser Town Square. Malapit na dun ang Infant Jesus Church. Don´t be confused kase meron din St. Nicholas Church sa Old Town Square naman.

[lavieenrose]

^^ Here is how you get to Praszke Jesulatko / The Church of the Infant Jesus of Prague.
http://www.pragjesu.info/en/access.htm

If I remember correctly, it is still walkable from the banks of the Vltava (Karluv Most / Charles Bridge and environs).. Praha is a beautiful walking city.

[mama squeak!]

Off to Prague tonight! Sad leaving Amsterdam, but excited and looking forward to continuing our adventure in the Czech Republic. We'll be taking an overnight train and we'll be arriving in the morning.
I'll post our trip report soon. I hope the hotel we'll be staying at will have good wifi!

 

[foxymom]

^enjoy!!

[mama squeak!]

^Thanks, foxymom! My hubby and I definitely enjoyed our time in Prague    It's our last night here and we're just taking it easy packing our stuff for our train tomorrow.

Prague is a very compact city and one can visit the popular tourist sights in three to four whole days. But for us five whole days is just right to enjoy the city in a relaxed manner. We enjoyed walking and hopping on/off the trams. We did use their metro but we find the tram rides more enjoyable, a bit slower but we didn't mind it since mas scenic yung rides.

 Their transport system is so efficient and easy to use, easier than Amsterdam's pa nga! As long as you have their transport pass, you can hop on and hop off anytime. The pass is good for their metro, trams and buses and comes in 24 hours, 72 hours and weekly passes. You just validate it once and just keep it in your wallet. No need to show the driver the pass unless a transport inspector asks for it. But be sure to ask the inspector for his badge and ID (numbers should match) first before you show your pass. That's  one scam kasi in Prague where someone will impersonate an inspector to try to fleece unsuspecting tourists claiming that the pass is invalid etc.

We were also pleasantly surprised that the people we encountered both young and old were all kind and wonderful. I guess it helps that we try to learn the basic greetings in their language plus sabayan pa ng ngiti. The older people at first seems to be dour and gruff pero once we greet them in Czech and sabayan namin ng smile, they warm up and smile back.

I didn't get to souvenir shop so much since we still have a few places to go to and ayoko magbitbit ng mabigat na maleta! I'm saving the space for Paris!    But for souvenir shopping there are a lot of crystals (Bohemian Crystals) available, marionettes and of course Sto. Niño de Praha memorabilias. I got rosaries and medallions for friends and family (madaling bitbitin!). We got them blessed too by the priest at the Sacristy. Natuwa yata sa amin yung pari he gave us Sto. Niño posters and prayer books.

I'll post our actual itinerary soon. 

[foxymom]

yey!! thanks mama squeak naku excited ako. our apartment is in the old town square so hopefully madaling umikot

will wait for your advise re the transpo pass. and how do you greet in czech? hahaha magpapractice na ako!

[mama squeak!]

^sis, maski hindi ka sa Old Town mag-stay madaling umikot. It's a pretty compact city and it's made for walking. Pag napagod na kayo just hop on a tram or metro. Our first night sa Old Town kami near the Palladium shopping center then succeeding nights sa Smichov area na or Praha 5. Mas nagustuhan namin sa Praha 5 since hindi magulo, it's not a touristy area. So more locals ang nandun which translates to cheaper food and lodging. More money for shopping! 

 

[mrs research]

hi mama squeak,  mahangin ba sa old town and surrounding areas bec it's by the river? Iba kasi yung lamig  ng 14 C and lamig ng windy 14 C.  I'm planning on what to bring wala kasi ko lightweight trenchcoat and mejo nabibigatan ako sa wool pea coat type jacket pero kung windy and chilly no choice  pero kung ok pa naman cardigans and layering ganon nlng para kasing 1 peacoat=4 cardigans in weight and they're easier to pack.

[mama squeak!]

^Bring your wool pea coat because you'll definitely need it. I brought mine plus I also have cashmere sweaters for layering. The weather in Prague is unpredictable. They'll forecast rain for the day but it won't naman or opposite. The whole time we were there we got rained on once lang when forecast said two to three days. It gets warm around noon but cold early morning and evening. Average temperature when we were there was 10-12C. So, I assume it will be much colder when you get there in November.

Tip lang, since it'll be the start of winter when you get there you don't have to bring a lot of clothes since di ka naman papawisan. If you have cashmere sweaters better bring those as they're way much lighter and warmer compared to wool or knitted sweaters.

[mrs research]

^ thanks! sana magwork din yung heattech ng uniqlo

[foxymom]

^it should! i love uniqlo's heattech OT na ako :S

[fn_Crazycat]

Off to Prague tonight! Sad leaving Amsterdam, but excited and looking forward to continuing our adventure in the Czech Republic. We'll be taking an overnight train and we'll be arriving in the morning.
I'll post our trip report soon. I hope the hotel we'll be staying at will have good wifi!

 

Wow! Dream ko talaga pumunta ng Prague. Marami pa sa EU countries and hindi na check sa list ko.