Laowai

Well I mentioned that Prague was big and it was busy. I had no idea it would be so overrun by sightseers and groups of stag-do men. The famous Charles bridge seemed to be covered – shoulder to shoulder people – all the time.

One of our first stops was The Museum of Communism. After that all I could think about was the contrast between the communist time and the opulent architecture that is everywhere. I guess I didn’t realize that Prague was such a big power going way back in time. And then I was struck at how the communist occupation was a short time but it had a huge impact. Probably naive thoughts, but it’s the stuff that went through my head as we walked around.

So here’s Brian with a gas mask at The Museum of Communism. Yikes.

And then we went to a place where you can paint an enamel cup and then they put it in the oven (800˚C) and it’s ready to take home in just a few minutes. 

Time for a bunch of pretty architecture pictures. Prague seems to have a lot of interesting architecture to look at. From Gothic to Baroque to Art Nouveau – and brutalism (which we didn’t really see in the city center).

I learned that the informal name for the Czech Republic is Czechia. Although maybe that is debatable? 

On our second day we went for a boat ride on the Vltava River and learned some of the older history of the city.

Prague was a fun place to visit for a few days. We ate lots of delicious baked goods and I had some great goulash. The weather was amazing – even hot. I’d love to go back with just Brian. I’d enjoy eating out and maybe let Brian take me to an opera. I think our family is getting older and we need a vacation with less architecture appreciation and more adventure. But I don’t want to sound negative. I’m so grateful we got to see Prague and all it’s fall beauty!