Drove into Tampa with no problem on Tuesday (quite the different drive than our 5 hour slog through torrential rain on Sunday to HHI!). Checked into the hotel, organized the bags, then went to a fantastic Peruvian restaurant run by….Hondurans! Excellent food and service – the waiter was wonderful and we had absolutely no complaints.
Finished our organizing and car packing the next morning, then off to the airport. Flight on time, we then spent our 5 hour layover in JFK in the Priority lounge (we got a membership for free with some hotel points that were expiring). Cost $27 each to get in, but well worth it since we essentially had lunch, snacks and all the beer and wine (or hard liquor if you so desired) we could eat and drink. Comfortable chairs and tables and out of the hustle-bustle of the terminal. Plus wi-fi. Made the wait much more pleasant.
The flight was the flight. Crew was barely friendly, seemed like we bothered them just being on board. Dinner was essentially thrown at us and Ed’s came with salad with no plastic top on it and no brownie – we think it was recycled. Ran out of wine after the first pass through the cabin, breakfast was worthless, all in all – it was transport…and that was all.
Arrived in Prague to 58 degrees and rain. Bummer! Picked up our car and managed to make it to the hotel without incident. I was worried about the language and names – it may not be Cyrillic symbols, but boy are these words undecipherable to us! Nevertheless, we were checked into the Hotel Coronet in Vysehard and unpacked a little after noon. Great little hotel, 20 or so rooms, nicely done and fairly new. Plus a wonderful reception desk gal who gave us tons of great info. So…off we go to explore Castle Hill and the Little Quarter.
Public transportation here is great. Our hotel is out of the city proper (because we needed parking), but the subway is an easy walk away, and we buy a 3 day pass for all metro, trams and buses for only 310CZK ($13US) each).
We’re in town in no time. Following Rick Steve’s advice, we catch the #22 Tram from the metro station up Castle Hill and to the Monastery then walk back down to the castle. We buy our ticket for the Strahov Monastery and library and head inside. It’s busy, but not crazy busy so we can sort of make our way through the little area without too much of a problem. Have to buy an extra “photo” pass (to take pix – they know now to make money! 50 CZK extra), but it’s only about $2US so we do it. The library is gorgeous – the books, the painted ceiling. And some of the furniture in the vestibule lobby is incredible with inlays and fantastic woodwork. There is even a Buddha!
Back outside we wander around Monastery taking pictures. The architecture is just gorgeous – and we’ve not even begun to see any of it!
Its getting on time for a beverage break, and those monks don’t disappoint. They have their own brewery and beer hall up there – have had a brewery and even winery for years, supporting themselves with their commerce.
Called the St. Norbert, we wander inside to this cool old brewery and order up their seasonal special dark beer – Anti Depressant! Too funny – and too good. Smooth and rather light for a dark beer (LOL).
It’s still sort of spitting rain when we leave, but that won’t deter us – we’re off to the castle!
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