Sunday June 7th 2009

Yesterday we learned how to return our empty beer bottles. Almost a third of the cost of their beer, is the deposit on the bottle. We loaded our bag with empty beer bottles, and made our way to our neighborhood Albert's grocery store.

We tried to get some information from a lady leaving the check out counter, but she motioned us into the store. We next tried the check out clerk, and she too pointed down behind the line of waiting customers. We figured, we were supposed to get in line, and when we were next, she looked exacerbated, and again pointed down the aisle. We looked where she pointed, but was confused, until I noticed a machine at the far end of the store.

We loaded the bottles one at a time onto a revolving tablet. Once all the bottles were loaded, we pressed a button, which issued us a receipt.



We bought our gorceries, as well as some more beer and wine, and handed the clerk our receipt.

After unloading our groceries, we strolled about some of the side streets that we had not frequented much. The details of the buildings never cease to delight the eye, and the cute small side streets are so lovely.

However, it was a cold day, with periods of rain. Earlier in the day, we had passed and interesting pub, and we decided to return and give it a try.

It was a very typical old fashioned Czech pub, with an elderly man playing wonderful music on his accordian. The slight smell of tobacco was not over powering nor unpleasant to our surprise, and it added to the feel of the pub.



Hera started off with a spicey sausage as an entree, while I had their Olomouc cheese, a cheese that reminds me of Oka cheese from back home. The portion of cheese they served was surprisingly large. I wish pubs back home offered similar portions. For our main dish, Hera had the house specialty goulash, while I had their wild boar goulash. Of the two, I found mine to have a much deeper and robust flavour.



We walked some more, then made our way home making it a short day.

Today, we awoke refreshed, and ready for another day. After some coffee and breakfast, we walked down Wenceslas Square, and again there was another pick up game of basketball for the youth, this time sponsored by MacDonald's.

We heard some music, and noticed a small band and parade that was walking to help with World Hungar.

For the past few days, we had been keeping our eyes open for the crystal shop that Hera had purchased her crystal last week. She had really liked their wares, but try as we might, we could not find it. There are hundreds of crystal shops all over the place.

Fortunately, we looked over our blog, and realizing what we did that day, we went back to the same area, and its streets. Finally we came across the crystal shop, and Hera picked up a lovely pair of crystal earings.

There was a nearby church that I have wanted to enter, so we walked through the Ungelt courtyard. We picked up a cookie from the same merchant we had bought previously, but today's cookie was not as fresh.

The church bells rang for noon, as we ate our cookie across the street. But as luck would have it, the church was closed from noon to 2 pm. So we backtracked, and crossed the Old Town square, and headed towards Charles bridge.

The winding medieval street just before the bridge is such a lovely street, but so crowded with souvenir shops. The hustle and bustle of tourists suddenly disappears as one enters the gateway to the Klementinum, a Jesuit building with four churches, that is Eastern Europe's largest libray.
We were just in time to catch the tour, and paying for our tickets asked if photos were allowed.

Many places charge extra for a photo pass, but unfortunately no photography was allowed. Very quietly, the elderly lady selling us the tickets said we can "secretly."

Hera managed to snap off a couple of photos along with the other tourists, but we were soon told by our guide that no photos were allowed.

The tour guide gave us a pleasant tour of the building, the Hall of Mirrors Church, the very impressive library holding the knowledge of the day, as well as the astronomical tower. It contained two mechanical machines that displayed both Tycho Brahe's geocentric (earth in the centre and the sun and planets revolve around the earth), and Copernicus' heliocentric (sun in the centre, with earth and the planets circling the sun). One must remember that Copernicus' book was part of the "prohibited books."

In the tower, not only were astronomical readings made of the stars, but the daily time of "noon" determined. A small hole in the tower, let a beam of sunlight fall on the floor, which slowly arced its way, and when it crossed a north-south wire, it was noon, and that was calleded to another person at the roof of the tower who signalled with his flag. This allowed all the clock towers to ring its bells to tell everyone it was noon, and a canon was fired across the river, to signal noon to nearby towns. How we take time for granted these days.

Climbing even more steps, we were allowed to venture out, and take in the awesome sights of the town that spread itself around us. Hera was thrilled, and felt the long climbed was well worth the effort.

Crossing the Charles Bridge, we again came across the band that we had met earlier in our trip. I must admit, the star of the band is the man with metal nail tips on his fingers playing his "washing board." A bit further along the bridge, a blind musician played his accordian. We gave both some change, as we enjoyed their music.

Hera had asked if I was going to make a wish at St. John of Nepomuk. One is only allowed one wish in a lifetime, and Hera had previously made her wish. So today, I joined the line, and made mine.

On the other side of the river, we decided to enter a small pub for some beer and a bite to eat. I had wanted their "pig on a stick" sausage, but they were out, so we both had sausages that was garnished with some freshly grated horse radish. Of course a good cold beer was enjoyed as well. The waitress brought Hera's plate, and at first I thought she misunderstood, and thought we were going to share a plate, when her young daughter came on my other side and served me my plate with a smile from ear to ear.

Soon after stepping out of the pub, it started to rain lightly, as we noticed a series of locks that seem to be wishes of lovers, and their relationship. I found the contrast of the barbed wire above the locks to be something to ponder.

I knew that there was a tribute wall for John Lennon nearby, and we started to head in that direction, when it suddenly got very dark, and the skies opened up,and the rained poured. Fortunately we had brought our rain coats, and ran under some large trees, which just happened to be in front of John Lennon's tribute wall.

Apparently when John Lennon was assissinated, people spontaneously drew their graffitti in memory of John Lennon. Night after night, it was cleaned up by the authorities, and day after day graffitti re-appeared. It was a place of hope where people gathered.

Although the rain still fell lightly, we started to make our way in the Little Quarter. We walked under Charles Bridge and enjoyed the views reminiscent of a canal in Venice.

As quick as the rain started, the clouds broke, and the hot sun came shining through. We followed the Vltava River towards the adjacent Legii Bridge. The buildings across the river, illumnated by the bright sun, against the back drop of dark storm clouds was a specatular sight.





Crossing the Leggi bridge, we were back in the New Town, and heading for home. We walked in front of the Louvre Cafe, and we remembered the wonderful night we recently shared with our friends.



Back home, it is time to relax and share some drinks.

Cheers,

Hera & Anthony