Auf Wiedersehen Vienna, Ahoj Praha!

On our last morning in Vienna, we woke early in order to take in the sights and sounds of our neighborhood one last time. We walked to St. Stephen’s Cathedral, or Stephansdom, a gothic masterpiece that was literally a 3 minute walk away from our apartment. We reveled at the stained glass windows, original paintings that adorned the walls, as well as its high arched ceilings. We spent some time within its walls and bade farewell to the massive structure as we made our way to get some breakfast. 

We ate one last meal at our neighborhood Mc Café and bid adieu to the overly sweet barista (we’re being sarcastic), who made the made the mistake to of giving Mary attitude a little too early on, “No-it’s wid mil!”  Ok, ok, we got it. A mélange just means coffee with milk! 

We walked back to our apartment, grabbed our luggage, and took the metro to the train station. We boarded our train, found our seats, and prepared ourselves for the six-hour ride to Prague. We were riding in first class compartments and were hoping we’d have a compartment to ourselves so we could ride comfortably but we found ourselves sharing the compartment with an Australian couple and their 18-month-old daughter. The ride wasn’t so bad, especially when you have a restaurant car that serves beer! Needless to say, the six-hour ride was very enjoyable. 

Our arrival in Prague was smooth; too bad we couldn’t say the same thing for our walk to our apartment. One thing you must know about Prague: it has cobble stone streets. So, be advised and wear comfortable shoes. It’s a medieval city; in fact, it’s one of Europe’s best preserved medieval cities.  Sore tootsies are worth it when you’re walking through a historical feast for the eyes. 

Check in was a breeze and we didn’t waste any time before we made our way to the Old Town Square. Upon arrival, we were happy to find that the city had set up a fair of sorts, an Easter market, complete with performances, vendors, and crafts. The smells of warm nuts and cider, and baked goods filled made the cold air bearable. We took in the sights- the old buildings, belfry, and clock tower. We did some light shopping and enjoyed a traditional Bavarian dinner. We watched the astronomical clock strike eight and watched as Death rang the bell, while the figures of Saints blessed all who watched from the tower. Old town square and its surroundings have a fairy-tale feel, it’s surreal. You could get lost in its narrow streets and not mind it one bit. 

We walked toward Charles Bridge in the evening, a structure that was begun in 1357. Its towers are well preserved and stand at both ends of the bridge and flank the thirty sculptures of Saints that sit along the bridge. Beyond the bridge, atop one of the highest peaks, sits Prague castle! Everywhere one looks, there’s something else that leaves an impression. This medieval city surely knows how to take one’s breath away.