Prague | global nomad family

Category: Prague

Nine countries, six states, one year! by Nate

Filed under: Croatia, Czech Republic, India, Montenegro, Nate's Take, Prague, Slovakia, Slovenia, Travel in Europe, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States — Leave a comment

September 5, 2015

Prague, my home for 1/3 of my life!

I have had an amazing year since my family and I left Prague on July 31, 2014. In August 2014 we went to Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, and Montenegro. We visited Amber and her dog Paws, in the beautiful Slovakian countryside.

Amber’s garden

We swam in the sparkling Adriatic Sea with our friends in Croatia.

The food was delicious! We swam and ate and ate and swam.

We drove to some interesting seaside towns in Montenegro, and we swam in the beautiful Bay of Kotor.

It was hot and the water felt good! The dog liked it, too.

You can read more about our adventures in Montenegro here:

https://globalnomadfamily.com/2014/08/16/the-bay-of-kotor-montenegro-stunning/

We visited our Indian friends, Sally and Ram, in Slovenia. They took us to Lake Bohinj, and we had a delicious picnic.

Too cold to swim.

Then we flew to the USA in September and visited friends and family in six different states over the next two months. We visited our friends in Oregon. We visited Auntie Robin at her amazing cabin in the mountains, in California.

We stayed at my little cousins’ house in Indiana. We played legos, and went to the zoo. I had a surprise early birthday party, and I got Angry Birds Star Wars telepods.

I was so surprised because it was a week before my birthday!

We visited my Grandma, Grandpa, and sister in Wisconsin. We stayed at our friends the Zideks’ house. We spent time with friends and family, and celebrated my birthday two more times!

We went out for Mexican food for my birthday. Not my best photo!

We stayed at my cousin Morgan’s house in Minnesota, where we played Gamecube Super Mario Sunshine and card games. Then we visited my grandparents, uncles, and aunt in Texas. We went to NASA in Texas with my uncle and aunt.

The original control room for the Apollo missions.

In November we flew from the US to Prague, and we stayed there a week. We stayed at the Antblads, our good friends from Sweden. We visited my wonderful school. I met my old friends, including my friends David and Robbie. I was sad to leave my great friends.

We flew from Prague to Dubai, and we stayed a few days with the Bevans, our British friends. We swam and played in the Persian Gulf. We saw a camel racing farm in the desert.

I wish we could have seen the camels race!

We went by elevator up the Burj Kalifa building, the tallest building in the world. It is 2,722 feet (830 meters) tall! We saw dozens of the tall, modern buildings. You can read more about our adventure around Dubai here:

https://globalnomadfamily.com/2014/11/23/beaches-camels-and-sand-dunes/

This is us with our friends, the Bevans.

Next, we flew to Bangalore, India and stayed with our friends, Martha and Susheel, at their farm. They have five cute dogs, and I liked playing with them. I walked the dogs almost every afternoon by the lake.

On the farm

We went to Susheel’s second farm in the countryside for a weekend. On the way we saw many interesting animals. Indian food is the most yummy food I have ever had.

On the way to Susheel’s other farm.

We visited other friends at their 40 acre farm called Bamboo Banks, located in the jungle. We stayed in a small, cute cottage with a garden. I swam in the pool while Mom was reading in the hammock. I jumped really high on the trampoline.

The horses came by for lunch while I swam.

One morning the monkeys woke us up when they were playing on top of our roof!

On a jeep ride we saw deer, peacocks, wild boars, and monkeys. We watched the elephants eat their food at the elephant camp.

Sometimes we drove really fast!

So close! We had to be really quiet.

You can read more about our adventures in the jungle here:

https://globalnomadfamily.com/2014/12/27/bamboo-banks-paradise-in-the-jungle/

After Bamboo Banks, we stayed three weeks with Granny Ingrid. Every morning Dad and I went swimming in Granny Ingrid’s pool. The Zideks, our American friends, came to Granny Ingrid’s house for Christmas. On Christmas morning I opened my presents. Then we went to a party with fancy cars and delicious food. India was the best vacation ever for me. We spent six weeks in India, and I loved it!

Granny Ingrid

Last Christmas I was really into Super Mario Brothers!

On the way with our not-so-fancy car. Seatbelt laws aren't the same here!

On the way with our not-so-fancy car. Seatbelt laws aren’t the same in India!

This was at the Christmas Day lunch party with Auntie Ingrid’s friends.

We moved to Turkey in late December 2014. In Turkey I went to a new school . We love having guests and showing them cool places nearby.

We hiked up a mountain to see Termessos!

We like going on boat rides with guests!

We went to Side to see the ruins. There is a nice beach here, too.

I went camping twice in Cirali; once with my school, and once with our church. This is the cabin I shared with three boys.

The mountains are not far away.

It has been a good year. I like living in Antalya. I like the mountains, the nice breeze, the sea, and the ice cream (dondurma). You would love it if you came here.

Tags: Bay of Kotor, birthday, camels, Croatia, Dubai, elephants, farm, India, jungle, Lake Bohinj, Mario Brothers, Montenegro, Prague, Slovakia, Slovenia, Star Wars, travel with kids

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Prague Christmas Market in Old Town Square

Filed under: Czech Republic, Prague, Travel in Europe — 1 Comment

December 15, 2013

Old Town Square

This is our third Christmas season in Prague. There are Christmas markets that spring up all over Prague in December, and the most beautiful one of all is in Old Town Square. When I first came here, I was used to the US Midwest hibernation…when the temperature plummets, people stay indoors. I was used to going from the house to the garage to the car to my destination. It isn’t uncommon for people to circle a parking lot several times to find a spot closer to the mall entrance, or wherever it is we need to go.

During my first winter here in Prague, I was surprised to see how many people walk all over the city, particularly the center and shopping areas. They go not just to accomplish shopping errands, but also to walk, talk with friends, and enjoy the atmosphere. The cold temperatures don’t seem to deter the crowds; people just bundle up, and walk !!

It’s a whole new way of life here in Prague, and I really enjoy it. In the US, we had two cars and drove everywhere. A car is a necessity in the vast majority of US cities, suburbs and small towns (although I’ve never lived in New York or other cities with good public transport). Here in Prague we don’t own a car. We go to school, work, the grocery store, errands…everything…by public transport. And we love it! The public transport system is excellent: prompt, easy to figure out and navigate. I often feel like I’m a Disneyland tram, riding through the beautiful streets of Prague!

I’ll admit, there are days where it is really cold, and I miss the warmth and convenience of having a car. But we have no desire, nor need, to buy a car. If needed, taxis (from a reliable company) are quick and inexpensive: 150-300 crowns for a ride across town ( $7-$15).

Old Town Square is always bustling with life throughout the year; it has an especially festive atmosphere when the Christmas markets go up.

Jan Hus presides over the festivities, as always.

For the past three years we always head to the US to spend Christmas with family, so I’ve never experienced what Prague is like right at Christmas. I’ve heard that there are buckets of fresh carp that appear all over the city as it is part of the Czech traditional Christmas meal.

Early December is always filled with lots of events at my son’s school, Christmas parties, and last minute gift buying. I guess that’s the same regardless of the country! Some day I’d like to go to a Christmas concerts in one of the lovely churches. I’ve also heard that the New Year’s Eve celebrations are wonderful. We often see fireworks out our window throughout the year (we live on a hill); I can imagine that there must be many spectacular displays of fireworks on New Year’s Eve!

Tomorrow we are off to the US to spend time with family. We are looking forward to it! Good-bye, lovely Prague. See you next year!

Tags: Christmas, Europe, family travel, markets, Old Town Square, Prague, travel with kids, what to do in Prague

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Photo of the day: Prague…home sweet home!

Filed under: Czech Republic, Photo of the Day, Prague, Travel in Europe — 7 Comments

October 3, 2013

I have been blessed to call this spectacular city my “home” since July 2011!

I still have to pinch myself to believe that I live in Prague! Can you see St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague Castle in the top right of the photograph? I see that out of our bedroom windows every day, from the other direction! Ordinary errands, like going to the dentist yesterday, are surreal. I picked Nate up from school, took a bus to the metro, went by metro to Staromestka in the Old Town, then hopped a tram which took us along the Vltava River with stunning views of the castle as we passed by Charles Bridge. We got off at our stop along the river, and walked five minutes to the dentist’s office, past a beautiful 400+ year old church in a neighborhood with incredible architecture. It was an evening appointment, so after the check up we took a tram home through the city as all the lights were coming on. Prague is truly lovely…you really must put it on your bucket list!

Tags: expat, family, family adventure, family travel, living abroad, metro, Prague, Prague Castle, tram, Vltava River

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Kutná Hora: don’t miss it!!

Filed under: Czech Republic, Prague — 2 Comments

August 3, 2013

Kutna Hora: view of St. Barbara’s Cathedral!

We are briefly back in Prague before leaving on our next set of adventures! This post is especially for future guests arriving soon. Kutná Hora is a lovely day trip from Prague.

If you saw my post on the Bone Church in Kutná Hora, you may be intrigued enough to see it for yourself. However, even if you think the Bone Church isn’t “your cup of tea” you should still go see Kutná Hora. The historical town center and St. Barbara’s Cathedral is a UNESCO world heritage site.

Kutná Hora has not one, but several stunning cathedrals, which more than make up for the gruesome Bone Church!

Cathedral of Assumption of Our Lady and John the Baptist.

The town began in 1142 with the settlement of Sedlec Monastery, the first Cistercian monastery in Bohemia.

German miners began to mine for silver in the mountain region in 1260, which the miners named Kuttenberg. The mountain was part of the monastery property.

These are the relics of St. Felix, donated by Pope Benedict X!V in 1742 on the occasion of the monastery’s 600th anniversary!

Kutná Hora’s wealth was built on mining. There’s a legend that goes like this: when a lazy monk named Anton woke up from a nap in the monastery orchard, he found three pieces of silver sticking out from the ground near his face. Anton laid down his robe (‘Kutna’, in Czech) to mark the place. Anton’s fellow monks investigated further and discovered what was to become the silver mines. Kutná Hora would later become the richest silver mine in the Kingdom of Bohemia.

It was wonderful to wander the streets and see the fine architecture.

The prosperity of Kutná Hora silver mines reached its climax in the 14th and 15th centuries when the city became one of the richest places in Europe. It was one of the most important political and economic centers of Bohemia at that time, second only to Prague.

My husband will confirm that I have a weakness for taking photos of cute window boxes:)

Unfortunately, we arrived too late in the day to take a tour of the silver mines. I’ve heard that the tour is very interesting, so we will definitely go back!

St. James’ Church

St. James’ Church is one of Kutná Hora’s famous landmarks. Construction of St. James began in 1330, and was completed in 1420.

This is the Church of St. James, built in the 14th century.

Inside the Church of St. James, built in the 14th century.

Pope Martin VI declared a crusade against the Hussites in 1419, shortly before construction of St. James was completed. The Hussites were followers of Jan Hus, a Czech priest who was considered the first Church reformer because he lived before Luther and Calvin.

St. James was the principal parish church of medieval Kutna Hora.

In 1420 Emperor Sigismund used Kutna Hora as the base for his unsuccessful attack on the Taborites (considered heretics by the Catholic Church) during the Hussite Wars…leading to the Battle of Kutna Hora. In that battle, the Taborites were encircled by the superior forces of Sigusmund; however, under the leadership of famous Czech general Jan Zizka they were able to break through the lines and escape.

St. Barbara's Cathedral in the background.

Thanks, Elsa, for these photographs!

According to Wikipedia, Jan Zizka is considered to be among the greatest military leaders and innovators of all time. He is one of six commanders in history who never lost a battle . There is an enormous statue of him in Prague, which can be seen from miles away. The surrounding area is called Zizkov!

All these photos came from Elsa's camera, since we forgot to recharge our camera before coming to KH.

On the way to St. Barbara’s Cathedral.

St. Barbara’s Cathedral was founded in the late 1300s by the rich mine owners of Kutná Hora. They were trying to compete with the grandeur of Prague’s St. Vitus Cathedral. Building plans were interrupted by the Hussite battles, so construction didn’t resume until 1482.

The stained glass windows are stunning!

Kutna Hora passed to the Habsburg Monarchy of Austria in 1526. Things went downhill after that…the mines were flooded, insurrection against the Holy Roman Emperor brought harsh punishment, followed by plague and the Thirty Years War. The city was devastated by fire in 1770. The mines were abandoned not long after.

The view from the balcony.

Kutna Hora remained part of the Austrian Empire under the Hapsburgs during the 1800’s. It became part of Czechoslovakia after World War I, following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The fun angels on top of the organ!

For more information about Kutna Hora, including how to get there from Prague, look here:

http://www.outsideprague.com/kutna_hora/kutna_hora_daytrip.html

http://www.myczechrepublic.com/kutna-hora/getting-there.html

So, if you are in Prague for more than a few days, definitely make a trip to Kutna Hora…you won’t regret it!

Tags: Bohemia, budget travel, cathedral, Europe, family adventure, family travel, Kutna Hora, Prague, prague day trip, silver mines, St. Barbara's, travel, travel with kids

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The Bone Church: the creepiest day trip from Prague!

Filed under: Czech Republic, Prague, Travel in Europe — 4 Comments

June 23, 2013

What? Bones in a church??

Last September we visited the “Bone Church” in Kutna Hora with my friend, Elsa. It was such a strange, creepy place!

Ahhh, another quaint European church…not!!

Looks can be deceiving. It looks picturesque and peaceful from the outside. But on the inside it is no ordinary church.

The graveyard on the church grounds.

It looks as if the Adams Family decorated the church! All of the decorations inside the church are made from human bones. Seriously?? Seriously!!

The next logical question is: Where did the bones come from?

The chandelier contains every bone in the human body!

The bones come from the victims of plague in the 14th century, and from victims of the Hussite wars in the 15th century. Thousands were killed in these events; apparently they were buried in mass graves on the church property.

This is the coat of arms of the Swarzenburger family.

This is the coat of arms of the Schwarzenburg family, who used to own the church.

Close up of the coat of arms above: worthy of Pirates of the Caribbean!

Why so many bones in one place, you ask??

The legend goes that the abbot of Sedlec monastery, known as Jindrich, brought back a handful of soil from his travels to Palestine, and sprinkled it on the cemetery. This made it a popular burial site for the nobility of Central Europe.

Creepy!

The number of burials outgrew the available space during the Thirty Years’ War in the 17th century. So they began to dig up the older remains and stored the bones in the chapel.

The decorations came from the bones of 40,000 people.

It is estimated that the chapel contains the bones of 40,000 people!

There’s an urban legend that a monk went crazy and made things from the bones. Another legend is that the bones were first piled in geometric shapes by partially blind monks who were taking care of the chapel. Sounds like an answer my nephew Aaron would make up while playing the game Balderdash (a game where you make up crazy answers to questions and try to get the other players to believe you)!!

The Schwarzenberg family bought the monastery in 1870, and they commissioned a local carver, František Rint, to get creative with the bones…as “a reminder of the importance of human life and inescapable death.”

Am I really posing next to a chandelier of human bones? Odd!!

Smile for the camera while we pose next to a chalice made of bones surrounded by skulls: STRANGE!!

You can find out how to get to Kutna Hora from Prague here:

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/prague/0063020751.html

A big thank you to my friend Elsa, for these photos. My camera battery had died on the way.

After you leave the church, shake off the creepy feeling, and walk on to the picturesque town of Kutna Hora, a UNESCO World Heritage site. I’ll write another post to show the “lovely side” of Kutna Hora!

While doing research for this post, I found this awesome quote by Greg, writer of Outside Prague, a great website about the lesser known towns and cities of the Czech Republic.

http://www.outsideprague.com/kutna_hora/kutna_hora_daytrip.html

Greg writes:

“Visitors to the bone church often describe it as macabre, eerie or creepy and I once asked the lady at the desk if she ever felt bothered to be working there. She flipped her hand in a dismissive way and said “Pfft! They’re only bones, they won’t hurt you; it’s the living who scare me”.

Good point.”

Tags: Bone Church, Europe, expat, family, family adventure, family travel, Hussite wars, Kutna Hora, Prague, travel, travel with kids

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My top ten list for Prague

Filed under: Czech Republic, Prague, Travel in Europe, Travel Tips — 4 Comments

May 29, 2013

From the castle walls!

We have hosted more than 50 guests since we moved to Prague in 2011! Many more will visit us this year. Below is my top ten list of things to see and do in Prague if you have only a short time. I’ve also included our favorite inexpensive restaurants (main dish for under 200 CZK ($10/8E) near the sites.

1. Prague Castle and Gardens

Take a picnic lunch with you to the gardens. Or stop at the outdoor restaurant on the way down the hill to Malostranska. It is surrounded by an ancient vineyard and has the most spectacular views of Prague. They usually advertise dessert and coffee for 99 CZK($5/4E)…other items are quite expensive.

See my post for insider tips about Prague Castle:

https://globalnomadfamily.com/2013/04/13/beautiful-prague-prague-castle-and-st-nicholas-church/

The view of the castle from the gardens.

2. Charles Bridge and Old Town Square

Going inside the clock tower is quite interesting. By some crepes (palacinky) from one of the food stalls in the square and enjoy the excellent people watching opportunities. Don’t eat at one of the cafes around the square unless you don’t mind paying exorbitant prices!

Charles Bridge

Old Town Square in 2010.

3. Jewish Quarter and Museums

Allow several hours to see this area, as there are six sites to visit in the Josefov district. Here’s a link to find out information about the ticket costs and other information:

http://www.jewishmuseum.cz/en/ainfo.htm

http://www.prague.cz/prague-jewish-town.asp

The Jewish Cemetery

My friend took this photo in the Spanish Synagogue before we were told no photos are allowed.

Find your way to the Cartouche restaurant for an interesting atmosphere and decor that makes you feel like you are in a tavern from the 1700’s. It has a pricier menu but there are a few Czech and other dishes for 199-249 CZK.

http://www.cartouche.cz/en/index.html

Inside the Cartouche.

Celebrating our 10th anniversary last year!

4. Wenceslas Square

It’s a pleasant walk from Old Town Square to Wenceslas Square.

This is looking towards Old Town Square.

Nate with dear friends Curt and Sandra, AKA Doc and Marmee.

Wenceslas Square with dear friends Curt and Sandra.

The Powder Tower and Municipal house are also a short walk away from Wenceslas Square.

The Powder Tower. There’s an interesting little museum inside.

This is the view from the Powder Tower.

If you have some time, stop in at the Museum of Communism…

LOVE this sign!!

If you are hungry, try one of our favorite restauranst in Wenceslas Square: O Balouna. It says “Traditional Czech Restaurant” on the outside. Here’s the website:

http://www.ubalouna.cz/en/

It’s a few doors down from the Thai Massage place with big tanks of water in the window, where tourists sit with their feet in the water, allegedly getting their dead skin nibbled away by the fish. I say allegedly because my friend Elsa tried it and didn’t notice a difference…but it was a great photo op!

She said it tickled!

Elsa attracted lots of attention...she is in photos of other random tourists who stopped to watch.

Elsa became a tourist attraction…she is in photos of other random tourists who stopped to watch!

5. Stroll along the river and rent a paddle boat.

Take a walk along the river from Charles Bridge heading south. After passing another bridge (Most Legii) and the National Theater (Narodni Divadlo) you’ll see a small bridge leading to a little island (Slovanski Ostrov) which is pleasant to walk around. You can rent paddle boats from here.

Our river walk in 2011.

When you are ready for a meal, enjoy one of our favorite restaurants, Club Cestavalu (Caravanserai on the sign outside, a mint green building across the street from the island). The food is Arabic and Lebanese, with Indian menu choices as well. They have unusual photos of exotic places as part of their decor. They also have some free exotic snacks for the brave of heart (which I was not)!

http://www.hedvabnastezka.cz/klub-cestovatelu-praha/english

What are they holding? Why does Nikolas look like he is going to throw up?

What are they holding? Why does Nate look like he is going to throw up?

Fried grubs! Nate and Andy said they tasted like fried styrofoam!

Another favorite restaurant of ours is Grosseto’s Marina. We love taking guest here because the views of the city and of Charles Bridge are spectacular, and the prices are reasonable.

http://www.grosseto.cz/en/marina

It looks like a boat but it isn’t.

6. Take a boat cruise on the Vltava River.

There are many different companies with a variety of cruise options, from a quick one hour spin to a several hour dinner cruise. Our favorite is Prague-Venice, because it is a one hour cruise on a small boat which takes you through some hidden canals as well as along the Vltava. Currently it costs 290 CZK ($14/11E) and includes a drink and ice cream. You can buy tickets from the guys in white sailor suits at the end of Charles Bridge on the Old Town side.

http://www.prazskebenatky.cz/en/cruise

You can see the boat sign behind Nate. We also went to a concert in the church behind him.

This is the area to buy the tickets. Taken in 2010

Cruise with Grandma and Grandpa, summer 2012.

There are several other options. I have heard good things about the Jazz Boat.

http://www.pragueexperience.com/sightseeing/river_cruises.asp

We did a dinner cruise with the Zidek family. That’s Vikki and me:)

Sunset is a great time for a cruise!

There’s also another cruise option, free with your transportation ticket! It’s a little boat that zigzags along the river; especially fun for kids. We found it when we were walking along the river and hopped on.

The free boat (with your valid public transport pass).

7. See an opera or ballet.

We have seen three operas and one ballet and have really enjoyed them…even Nate (although he looks bored in the photo below)! You can pay a lot of money to sit up close, or you can sit up high in the middle for 480-530 CZK ($25/20E) at the Prague State Opera. You will have a great view of the stage and orchestra, and the acoustics are great.

If you forgot to pack your opera clothes, it’s ok…at least in the cheap seats:)

The Prague State Opera House.

Buy your tickets from Bohemia Tickets. They don’t add a surcharge like other sites. You can purchase them online, or get them when you are in Prague. Go to the Mustek metro stop and follow the Na Prikope exit. The address is Na Prikope 16. If they try to tell you they don’t sell the lower price tickets, tell them a local friend told you that they are available (unless they are truly sold out, which you can verify online).

http://www.bohemiaticket.cz/WBS/ang/contact.php

In front of the Estates Theater.

8. Go to a classical music concert in one of the beautiful churches or other historic buildings like the Rudolfinum or the Municipal House.

We went to one at Saint Salvatore Church and loved it! The music, acoustics, and atmosphere were outstanding.

Waiting for the concert to start.

9. Take the funicular up to Petrin Hill.

It’s free to ride the funicular with your valid transportation ticket. Take a picnic lunch and enjoy it in the gardens at the top. Climb the “Prague Eiffel Tower”.

There’s a nice view of Prague waiting…

Kids–big and small–will love the mirror maze at the top. Taken in 2010.

Head down the hill…

Quench your thirst with the world’s best beer–or apple juice:)

10. Take a day trip to Karlestejn Castle.

The castle was founded in 1348 by King Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor. It is easy to get here by train from Hlavni Ndrazi. See the websites below for how to walk to the castle from the train station…it’s good exercise! The town below the castle is very picturesque, with many options for restaurants and shops. Souvenirs are cheaper here than in Prague.

http://www.hradkarlstejn.cz/informations-for-visitors-2013/

http://www.myczechrepublic.com/regions/karlstejn.html

Taken with our friend Vanda in summer 2010.

This was taken in March...the views are more spectacular in spring, summer and fall.

This was taken in March 2012…the views are more spectacular in spring, summer and fall.

It’s pretty fun to stand on a real drawbridge!

So, that’s my list! There are so many more wonderful things to see and do in Prague. I’ll get to them in a future post. Are there any other places you would count in a top ten list?

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Six insider tips for getting around Prague

Filed under: Czech Republic, Prague, Travel in Europe, Travel Tips — 6 Comments

April 27, 2013

View from the Powder Tower

Make sure you read these tips before arriving in Prague! They will save you money and help you to enjoy your trip more.

1. Choose one of these three options to go from the airport to your accomodations:

A. When you exit with your bag, look for AAA Taxi Kiosk. Give the taxi driver the address of your accommodations written on a piece of paper: avoid misunderstanding because you don’t know how to pronounce the street name! A 15 minute taxi ride to where I live costs about 450 Crowns/CZK ($23/18 Euros). They will give you a coupon for 47% off your return trip to the airport (which we think means you pay regular price). This is pretty reasonable for taxi fare, but read on to save more money…

B. Leave the terminal to the outdoor parking lot. You will see taxis of other companies coming and going. Call Speed Taxi (see number below) and ask them to pick you up from the terminal parking lot (specify exactly where you are). Doing it this way costs me 150 CZK less($8/6 Euros) than using the official AAA taxi. Read on for the most cost effective way…

C. Buy a public transport ticket and take the airport bus #119 to Dejvicka. You can then enter the metro and proceed to your destination. Alternatively, you can take a tram from Dejvicka or nearby Vitezne Namesti to your destination.

View from Prague Castle

2. Take public transport from Hlavni Nadrazi (main train station) to your accomodations:

NEVER use the taxis waiting at Hlavni Nadrazi Railway Station. It will be double the cost! Instead, go upstairs and exit by Fanta Kavarna. Call a taxi from one of the recommendations below and ask them to pick you up at Hlavni Nadrazi outside of Fanta Kavarna. See the link below so you know where to go:

http://www.360cities.net/image/fantova-kavarna-cafe-in-prague-czech-republic#-624.62,-11.73,110.0

However, it is really easy and much cheaper to arrive at your destination by public transport. There is a metro station at the train station, and you can easily reach all parts of the city.

Basilica of St. George at Prague Castle

3. Use a reliable taxi:

Never !! call a taxi that is waiting on the street. You will be overcharged! Instead, call or send a SMS to one of the two taxi companies below. Generally taxis are not expensive, from about 150 to 300 CZK.

Speed Taxi: +420 722 234 234 (my favorite, most reliable)

Taxi Nejlevnejsi: +420 736 300 299

SMS: Please pick us up at ________address________. My name is _______________.

The company will send a confirmation SMS with the make and model of the taxi, and its arrival time.

St. Vitus Cathedral

4. Get these three free apps for your smart phone!

MHDapp: You can enter your location and your destination and it tells you exactly how to get there on public transport. You need to enter the name of the tram, bus or metro stop and it does the rest. The app even tells you how many minutes before the bus or tram comes, so you know if you need to run!

http://mhdapp.cz/

CG Transit: Similar to MHDapp, and it also shows you on the map how to walk from your current location to the bus, metro or tram stop.

http://www.topappstoday.com/apps-travel/430848814/cg-transit-ndash-public-trans

Tripadvisor city guide for Prague: I love this app! It gives you suggested itineraries, restaurants, and descriptions of the top attractions. You can download it with WiFi, and use it offline. It has a great map feature, and helps you find your way using your smartphone signal.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/apps-icityguides

Prague at dusk

5. Get a Czech sim card at any Vodafone office (airport, Vitezne Namesti, Wenceslas Square and more). They are only 200 CZK ($10/8Euros) and include prepaid credit for calls, sms, and you can add data for 175 CZK ($9/7Euros). You avoid roaming charges, and you can use the travel apps and Google Maps online using 3G. Any calls or SMS you send will be at the local rate.

Charles Bridge

6. Don’t bother with expensive tours or the Hop on/Hop off bus!!

Prague’s public transport system is excellent. Trams are fun to ride as they wind their way around this beautiful city! Get a good map with the metro and trams marked, and you can navigate the city like a local:)

Here is the website for the transportation system. You can find tariff prices, and you can use Journey Planner to figure out how to get from one area to another.

http://www.dpp.cz/en/fares-in-prague/

If you stay for more than 6 days, consider purchasing a one-month pass. You can buy them at most major metro stations, including Hradcanska. The pass is transferable, and you can make someone’s day by giving it away at the airport or train station when you leave, to a tourist who is just arriving!

The “green” or “A” line will take you to almost all the important sights in the city center. Here are some of the stops and what you will find at each of the stops:

Hradcanska: You can walk to the castle in about ten minutes from the metro at Hradcanska. Walk down K Brusce to the right of the old gate (Pisecka Brana, now a café), out to Marianske Hradby. You will see the Summer Palace (now a porcelain museum) across the street. Go in the side gate and you will see the castle gardens. It is a lovely walk through the gardens to Prague Castle…and no steep hill to climb! Note: the gardens are closed in winter, so instead take the tram one stop from Kralovsky Letohradek to Prasky Hrad.

The Summer Palace

You can also walk to Letna Park from Hradcanska. It has lovely walking and cycling paths, with lovely views of the Vltava river and the city.

The views are stunning!

Fall 2011

Malostranska: You will be around the corner from the bottom of the path to the castle. There is also a lovely walled garden, Wallenstein Gardens, which has its entrance next to the metro. Walk to Malostranska Namesti to see St. Nicholas Church and Charles Bridge.

Wallenstein Gardens

St. Nicholas Church in Mala Strana

Charles Bridge

Staromestka: You can get out here to walk to Old Town Square, Charles Bridge, and the Jewish Quarter.

Old Town Square

The Jewish Cemetary

Mustek: This stop takes you to Wenceslas Square. You can also change to the yellow line. From here there is a nice walk to Old Town Square. You can also enjoy all the shops, and walk to the Municipal House and the Powder Tower.

Wenceslas Square

The Municipal House

The Powder Tower

Muzeum: Prague State Opera is here. You can change to the red line here.

Prague State Opera with Mom and Dad

Tram Stops:

Malostranska Namesti is the stop to see St. Nicholas Church, and the Mala Strana side of the Charles Bridge is a short walk away, just around the corner.

The tower at Charles Bridge

Ujezd is the stop where you can take the funicular (included in your public transport ticket) to the top of the hill. There are pretty gardens, the Prague “Eiffel Tower”, cafes, and a mirror maze (great for children).

The Prague “Eiffel Tower”

Ok, so there is a lot more to tell you about, but I’ll save that for another post. What are some of your favorite places in Prague? What tips do you have for getting around Prague in the most efficient and enjoyable way?

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Insider travel tips: Prague Castle

Filed under: Prague, Travel in Europe, Travel Tips — 2 Comments

April 13, 2013

My husband, son and I moved to Prague in July 2011. During the time leading up to the move, Andy and I would look at each other and say, “We are moving to Prague!!” What a crazy, fun adventure! Now, 18 months later, we still look at each other and say, “We live in Prague!” I still feel wonder when I see the Vltava River and all the lovely buildings. I still feel like I am perpetually on holiday:)

This was taken on a dinner cruise we did with the Zidek family in June 2012.

We really enjoy hosting people in our flat. We have hosted new teachers, missionaries, college students, couples,and families who come from a variety of countries such as the U.S., Hungary, France, Spain, Italy, the U.K., and Argentina. We have many more guests scheduled for the upcoming year. So this post will be the first of a series, especially for our future guests…our top pics of what to see in Prague, along with some insider tips for transportation, food and entertainment.

1. Prague Castle and Gardens.

The best way to get to Prague Castle is to start at the Castle Gardens. You can walk there from the Hradcanska Metro/Tram stop, or take tram #22 to Kralovsky Letohradek for the gardens, or to Prasky Hrad to go straight to the castle. If you go this way, you will walk straight in…..instead of walking up a million steps coming from the other side. Note: the gardens are closed in the winter.

Check this link for the many ways to get to Prague Castle:

http://www.hrad.cz/en/prague-castle/prague-castle-tourist-information/how-to-get-to-prague-castle.shtml

The gardens are the perfect place for a picnic.

Summer Palace in the fall:)

You will end up at the gates of Prague Castle. Be sure to see the changing of the guard, on the hour, every hour until 8pm in the summer or 6pm in the winter. The short tour, which includes Golden Lane, is sufficient in my opinion.

Here’s the link to Prague Castle’s website:

http://www.hrad.cz/en/prazsky_hrad/navsteva_hradu.shtml

Nikolas and Grandma being goofy!

St. Vitus Cathedral is stunning! The entry fee is worth it. Don’t forget to come back here at night and enjoy Prague Castle by night.

The outside of St. Vitus Cathedral.

Inside the cathedral

Construction was begun in 1344!

Climb the tower to get this pic!

The view from the castle walls.

Elsa and me!

Once you have taken your dozens of photos at the castle walls, walk down the hill to Malostranska. Go right at the bottom. Walk through the small gate on the left of the metro station to stroll through the Wallenstein Gardens (spring and summer only). Exit out the gate on the left to Malostranska Namesti.

Prague Senate Building

Alternatively, take a tram to….

2. St. Nicholas Church in Mala Strana

Tram stop: Malostranske Namesti

Mozart played the organs here in 1787!

Construction began in 1703.

This is a beautiful location for a classical concert.

Check this link for classical music concert information: http://www.stnicholas.cz/en/concerts/

Are you hungry yet? Try Malostranska Beseda Restaurace, just across the street from the Malostranska Namesti tram stop. Or try the kebab shop to the right of it. Prices are reasonable!

http://www.malostranska-beseda.cz/en/restaurant/menu/menu.html

After a good meal, you walk it off on a walk across Charles Bridge…just around the corner! For a future post…

Thanks to Elsa and the Zidek family for some of the above photos 🙂

Tell us about your favorite places in Prague!

Tags: classical music in Prague, family travel, insider tips in Prague, Malostranska namesti, Prague, Prague Castle, Prague Castle gardens, St. Nicholas Church in Prague, St. Vitus Cathedral, traveling to Prague

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One Year Anniversary of Living in Prague!

Filed under: Prague — 16 Comments

July 19, 2012

Yesterday my husband Andy and I celebrated our one year anniversary of moving from the U.S. to Prague with our seven year old son. What an adventure it has been! During the school holidays we’ve been to Barcelona, Krakow, Venice, Florence, Herrnhut, Germany; Vienna, Leipzig, Wittenburg, and “Czech Switzerland”. And each time we come “home” to Prague!

But WHY did we move to PRAGUE, you ask? The short answer is because Andy got a teaching contract at an international high school. The long answer is because I’m an adult Third Culture Kid (TCK) with an unquenchable wanderlust, and Andy is now also addicted to travel.

David Pollack developed the following description for third culture kids:

“A third culture kid is an individual who, having spent a significant part of their developmental years in a culture other than their parents’ home culture, develops a sense of relationship to all of the cultures, while not having full ownership in any. Elements from each culture are incorporated into the life experience, but the sense of belonging is in relationship to others of similar experience.”¹

“Children are TCKs for many reasons. Some have parents with careers in international business, the diplomatic corps, the military or religious missions.”²

I am a TCK because I grew up in India for four years of my childhood, from age seven to eleven. Why did I grow up in India? That’s a story for a later post.

There has been much research done on TCKs, and one finding is that many TCKs have an unquenchable wanderlust, which stems from the cross-cultural and high-mobility aspects of their upbringing. That’s me! I am a travelholic. I feel more alive when I am in another country, in another culture. I love being part of an expat community, learning a new language and how to get around in a foreign country.

Prior to our move to Prague, we were living in Wisconsin, raising our son and our daughter, Samantha, now 18. Sam is eleven years older than our son as she is my husband’s daughter from his first marriage. So we decided that when Sam graduated from high school and went away to college in 2011, we would look into finding jobs teaching overseas.

Long story short, Andy got a job offer from an international school in Prague. So we sold our three- bedroom house and most of our belongings, packed up six suitcases and three carry ons, and landed in Prague on July 18, 2011!

It has been a truly amazing year, with so many great memories. Our son is thriving in his international school and he absolutely loves traveling and experiencing new adventures. Our son doesn’t realize it yet, but he is now a TCK, growing up amongst other TCKs. Hence my desire to finally start this blog, with the help of our daughter and technical advisor, Sam…who, by the way, we will be meeting in Paris on Wednesday!

Tags: expat, family, global, international, living abroad, moving overseas, nomad, Prague, TCK

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