I%26#39;ve started to post a detailed trip report several times, but am afraid it may be too detailed (read: boring) so instead I think I%26#39;ll post some highlights from the trip.
First an overview: our little family of 3 (DH, myself and our 14 month old daughter) spent 6 days in Prague in mid-October. We also spent 4 nights in London on the return and I%26#39;ve already posted a report for that portion of the trip. We used AA miles and HHonors points and were traveling on a budget with the understanding that we wouldn%26#39;t be able to include fine dining or theatre on this trip due to the little one.
Prague has been a city that I had dreamt of visiting since I was in middle school and read a historical fiction series set in WWII Europe. I turned 30 this year and we decided to celebrate in the Czech Republic. I spent tons of time doing research on this board and found so much helpful information that it really just made the trip so much easier and less complicated.
Prague was everything I%26#39;d hoped it would be (and more). It was magical and beautiful and like being transported back in time or onto a movie set. The crowds were manageable in mid-October and the weather was ideal. In fact, we had lunch al fresco every day we were there but one.
We found the public transportation system easy to navigate and the metro %26amp; trams to both be stroller friendly. We had been warned that the cobblestone streets would be difficult with a stroller, but found the opposite to be true - our little girl went to sleep every time we hit the cobblestones which made it so much easier to just plug on and keep walking.
We also found that the people we encountered were friendly and always had a smile for the baby. It is funny how children manage to transcend any kind of language barrier. Some of my best memories of the trip were watching her play with the Czech children on the playground at the Prague Zoo and again at a little playground on Zofin Island.
Because we packed as lightly as possible we were forced to do laundry while we were there and found a nice little laundromat called Laundryland on Na Prikope in the Cerna Ruze shopping center. The best part was that the side entrance to the shopping center was across the street from the Mucha Museum and we walked down to see the museum which ended up being a highlight of the trip while laundry was going.
The expat website www.kidsinprague.com was also helpful in planning meals at child-friendly, non-smoking restaurants. Some of the restaurants that we enjoyed and would recommend to others traveling with small children were: Ambiente Pizza Nuova on Namesti Republiki, Klasterni Pivovar at the Strahov Monastery and Cafe Louvre.
Prague Airport Shuttle picked us up at the airport and while we brought our car seat for the plane they were kind enough to provide one for the ride to our hotel. For the return ride to the airport we caught the Cedaz shuttle which leaves on the 1/2 hour from just next door to our hotel (Hilton Old Town) and is only 120 CZK per person.
Our favorite place in the Old Town was the little Ungelt Courtyard behind Tyn Church. We returned here several times during our stay to browse the marrionette shops, the bookshop and enjoy coffee (for him), cocoa (for me) and strudel outdoors at Ebel Coffee.
The self-guided tour we did of the Jewish Quarter was sobering and impactful and the 500 CZK admission ticket to all 7 sites was worth every cent. I was touched by the Terezin Children%26#39;s Art Exhibit in the Pinkas Synagogue and seeing the 77,297 handwritten names of Czech Jews who perished in concentration camps made me hold my little girl a little tighter.
The best photo op we found was right next to the Smetana Museum just south of Charles Bridge. I have a great picture of our little family with Charles Bridge %26amp; Prague Castle in the background. On a side note - the Smetana Museum was a nice treat. Very small, but well done and staffed by enthusiastic Smetana lovers who are eager to share their love of his music.
Our last night in Prague we took the tram back up to Prague Castle to walk around and were amazed how few people were there. The castle grounds are open until 11PM and the nighttime views of the city were amazing. We probably didn%26#39;t see more than 20 people total in the hour that we were there. It started raining just as we got back to our hotel - the first rain we%26#39;d seen in the 6 days that we%26#39;d been there. I told DH that I thought it was city of Prague speaking to our hearts and telling us to make sure to return someday. He of course told me that I%26#39;m crazy.
I apologize that my thoughts are so scattered. It was a fabulous trip and a city that I look forward to visiting again!
|||
Great report - It is true that children make a huge difference when communicating with others, plus they tend to get preferential treatment in restaurants!
|||
Lovely report! One day you will be back.
|||
So glad everything turned out so well for you,like Penny says You Will Be Back!
TORII
|||
Thanks so much for the great trip report! We%26#39;re going in 7 weeks, and although our kids are older (10 and 11), you had some very good suggestions.
I was seriously considering skipping the Jewish Quarter sights given the price, but I%26#39;ll have to reconsider given your comments.
|||
-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-
This topic was inactive for 6 months and has been closed to new posts. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.
To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html
We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.
Removed on: 9:17 am, August 16, 2009
No comments:
Post a Comment