Prague hat-trick!

Praha, Czechia. Monday, 16th May 2022

Woke up at 04:45, before the alarm could sound. Finished everything well before time, went down to breakfast at 07:00. After struggling to buy two single-journey tickets on the MVV app, gave it up and decided to buy tickets on the tram.

Left the hotel Leonardo Hotel Munich City Olympiapark by 07:20 or so, caught tram no. 20, managed to buy the tickets from the TVM on the tram, using my Borderless Prepaid Travel Card. Arrived at Munich Hauptbahnhof; purchased a few eatables and drinks at ‘dm’ market and ‘Yorma’s’, the latter on the station premises. Platform no. 24 was close to the entrance, hence did not have to walk much. The train to Prague was already announced on the indicator. Waited patiently on the platform, watching people; and other arrivals/departures. A regional express bound for Passau was already occupying track no. 24. It departed on time at 08:23 and within five minutes the train to Praha – the Zapadni Express – docked there. Our bogie was no. 259, second from the engine. Seat nos. 94 and 97; window and aisle. The bogie (Czech Railways) was clean and comfortable. The train departed on the dot at 08:43 and we enjoyed the journey of a little over five and a half hours. The train changed direction twice. At one station, half the train was disconnected and one part went to another destination. I was happy to have made a reservation the previous night; as the train was full; and it also meant that we did not have to worry whether our coach would go to Praha or to the other destination! The Czech countryside was rugged and beautiful, as expected. The houses we passed by were painted in their light pastels, so typical of Central and East Europe, lacking the lustre that one associates with the buildings of Western Europe. Nevertheless, it was wonderful being back in Czechia! We had completed a hat-trick of visits to Prague - 2014, 2019 and now 2022!

The train arrived at Praha Hlavni Nadrazi (Prague main train station) bang on time, at 14:21! Just before reaching the Nadrazi, the train had crossed the Vltava and it was thrilling to view familiar and much loved sights – the various bridges spanning the river and the golden roof of the National Theatre. Walked from the station to Hotel Ramada City Centre. Prague was warm and sunny but the one thing that struck us was the crowd! There were so many people! Most of them might be tourists. I mean, how many locals would have the privilege of wandering, on a Monday afternoon?

Hotel Ramada is right on Wenceslas Square. We were allotted room no. 503 on the fifth floor. It had a balcony that overlooked the square (I had opted for a room with a view of the square, while booking). Refreshed ourselves and stepped out for lunch. Headed to Vodickova street, for our old favourite, Novomestsky Pivovar restaurant. We were in for a rude shock to discover that the restaurant was no longer in existence! Construction work was going on at the site where it had once existed! Bitterly disappointed, we decided to try out an Indian restaurant that we had seen, near Wenceslas Square. However, Urmila spotted another Indian restaurant, ‘Namaste India’ in a side street on the opposite side. The restaurant is underground. It was a brick structure, hence was quite cool. The ambience was welcoming, the layout and décor were pleasing; and no one to bother us. The bar, built inside a brick wall, made an aesthetically pleasing sight! The bartender announced that the time for lunch had passed! However, he asked us to place an order (seeing that we were Indians; perhaps) and added that he would serve us. We lunched on Butter Chicken accompanied by plain naan, fried papad, draught beer and ice-tea. The meal was wonderful and not very expensive, at Euro 22/-. A similar meal in Austria, Switzerland or Germany would have loosened our purse by at least Euro 30/-.

Done with lunch, we exited and strolled in the direction of the famous Astronomical Clock (which we had visited in 2014 but not in 2019), stopping at markets and souvenir shops on the way. We also located the market where we had seen the cackling witches on our 2014 trip. There were none, this time! I showed a video of the cackling witches, which I had shot on our 2014 trip; to a stall owner. I asked her about the witches but she answered that they were no longer available! It seems that the product has been banned! A second disappointment!

Reached the Astronomical Clock, which was just as it had been when we had first seen it, in 2014. As expected, a huge crowd was present, much of it guzzling beer at restaurants in the beautiful town square! We found an empty bench close to the statue of Jan Hus, at the centre of the square. Sat down, absorbing the scene, recalling our visit of 2014. Then walked back to our hotel via BILLA supermarket (near the restaurant ‘Namaste India’. Rested in the room, thereafter, observing the crowds down below in Wenceslas Square. It is now 20:46. Called it a day, after a while. Plan to visit the iconic Charles Bridge; and the hitherto unseen Letna park, tomorrow.