Last day in Prague meant I had those last few sites I hadn't seen yet. First I headed NE to the powder tower which I think is the last remaining tower from the walls last used to circle the city. Apparently this is where tolls were collected from anyone wanting to pass thru the city. It was kind of interesting but like a lot of places in town it is covered in what I guess is black mold or something. It's right next to the municipal house, they hold concerts here. Looks pretty spectacular but you can only get in with tours at 1 and 3 and the one was sold out and I was on a 430 bus to Nuremberg so it was a no go. I looked around the lobby and hit the streets again.
Next stop -- the museum of communism. Prague had an interesting transition after WWII. They were occupied by Germany but then came under the soviet unions sphere of influence since it was in the east. The people never dug it, a student set himself on fire in 1969 to protest the communist leaders. On the 20th anniversary of his self immolation, there was a week of protests on Wenceslas square. The cops didn't like that. There's lots of interesting footage of police fighting the protesters. Eventually the communist leaders, directed by Gorbachev not to kill protesters, backed off and the government collapsed. Tie museum tells that story w pictures and video up to 1989. Pretty hard to believe this place has gotten so popular with tourists in 33 years. It was bleak w soot covering everything and these Czechs cleaned it up and made it a destination.
This was my last sight to visit so I decided to hit the two great views -- a bridge over the river w a view of the castle then up to castle hill to look down on the city. Awesome!
Out pics looking up at castle and down on city here.
After killing enough time to get to my bus, I got my bags, walked to the train station, and took my bus back the 3.5 hrs to Nuremberg. On the way to Prague from Nuremberg the bus was empty, maybe 15 people. This bus was packed, easily 60 people.
Back to the same hotel I stayed in on Christmas eve night. And I got a smoking room! Fantastic. Not what I booked but whatever. When are Europeans going to quit this foolishness with smoking. They had smoking areas adjacent to baggage claim in frankfurt. It was wafting into the non smoking areas. Blech.
Ate at a little Italian place in the middle of old town. Very cool concept. Pizza cooking area, pasta cooking area, and you go order what you want. not fast food, not fancy, but good and fresh stuff.
I then wanted to try a local beer, of which there are hundreds of across Germany, after some Internet research I ended up at a place called alt?? Up near the castle. Looked like a little local spot hole in the wall. Sat at the bar and had a Rotbier - a really smooth red beer. So good that I ordered another in a beer stein with this places name on it. And I now own one for myself!
By this time it was 1130ish so I wandered home, went thru some emails, and finally went to sleep around 115.
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