My second to last entry on Prague - I've sorted out all my photos here and then I can move on. Prague was one of my favourite cities but I feel like I've been writing about it forever.
I have been up to my neck prepping for the future, writing emails, thinking up various ways to be subserviently obliging without seeming obsequious, and maintaining my sanity. Fortunately in this world most people seem to look upon fawning rather more favourably than I had presupposed. Everyone likes people fawning over them. Well, most.
My last day in Prague. Visited the Castle district, Prague Castle, or Pražský hrad. Took the tram from my hostel, which was about a 20 minute journey, walked up the VERY steep slope which took about 10 minutes though it certainly felt longer, and hey presto we're on top of the hill, a la Jack Dawson - "I'm the king of the world!"
The VERY steep pathway up to the castle.
The whole place was teeming with tourists, no surprise there. Especially elderly Chinese and Japanese tourists who just kept snapping away. There was a very nice panorama of the city to be had from the hill, but for some reason it just doesn't look that marvellous in pictures. Nonetheless, I think I took about 50 pictures of the skyline. To be fair, so did all the other visitors. That's another thing; it seems like everyone left their manners at home, the amount of pushing, jostling and shoving that went on for "best photo spot."
Decided to leave the madness, and proceeded into the castle grounds. The poor castle guard looked really hot in that garb. I was wearing a blouse and even then found the weather ridiculously stuffy. I can't even begin to imagine how stifling their uniform must have been.
The palace gardens, as such. This part of the castle grounds are free, but there are other sections where you have to pay for admission. I walked around the free parts since those were quite big enough for me.
The castle square.
I was lucky enough to be there JUST in time for their changing guard ceremony. It's almost exactly like the one in Buckingham Palace, except that these Czech soldiers are a lot more disciplined..well they were a former Socialist state after all.
I was originally squashed in the second row, but an elderly Czech couple in the front row motioned at me to come squeeze in front of them, which I appreciated very much. Me, the diminutive Asian. Every time I'm in one of these crowds I feel like a hobbit.
Back to the main square.
More to come soon, when I manage to snap out of brown nose mode again.
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