A trip to Prague. Visit to the Czech Republic capital, part 1

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Week in Prague
ferny Forner

Has long wanted to visit Prague, I was talking about all the friends, and every year in May I make a trip a week, I started work on the Internet.
Search cheap flights, hotels, reading blogs and travel diaries.
On the flight, no problem, suddenly SkyEurope flights from Turin (40 euros per head per package and per person), to find a 3 star hotel, the Residence Bologna (100 euros per night) managed by Italians, near Charles Bridge.

10 May, starting with my wife from Turin. Flight Duration approximately 1 hour.
Arrival in Prague 14 hours, despite having started late you arrive early, we waited for our shuttle to the airport with the usual sign with the name.
The hotel is in an excellent central location, close to Charles Bridge, the construction of some 'anonymous, comfortable accommodation, full bathroom with bidet, satellite TV, (a few channels, in Italian only channel 5) rather large room with sitting area, kitchen, wifi (only on the first floor).
We arrange our few belongings and start touring the city, aided by a wonderful weather (the weather was bad), visiting the Charles Bridge (construction began in 1170), which is a symbol of Prague, famous throughout the world, at 19 visiting quietly and you can admire the 31 statues of saints placed along the sides, it is said that by tapping one of these (I forget which), good luck, even at this hour are queuing up to pose and be photographed, When passing, however, has magnificent views of the castle, the river with many bridges and admire the magnificent tower, note that in the immediacy of the bridge is a nice corner: the museum and the monument dedicated to the great composer Smetana.
We are reaching the Staromestske namesti (Old Town Square) where you can find the famous astronomical clock (dated 1410) and that every time (even at night) attracts a lot of people, you will always see the nose upward and cameras ready to shoot.
The whole area is closed to traffic, it circulates freely in the dozens of small streets, full of life until a late hour, shops open until late evening in addition to bars, pubs.
Security? never had any problems.
They are made of 21, we head for the brewery Kolkovna located about 500 meters, the road to Josevof, the Jewish quarter, has no place, tell us that you should book.
We book for the next evening, however, we see a young and very cheerful.
Folded in an unnamed restaurant in the Old Square, I can not remember the name and in any case is not worthy of being remembered.

May 11: buffet breakfast at the hotel, an exploratory tour of the city to realize the situation, we are at about 400 meters from the Stare Mesto (Old Town), passing by the church of St. Nicola, Klementinum, the Old Town Square, we visit the Church of Our Lady of Tyn, with its impressive towers, then move on to the fourteenth century church of San Giacomo, and the elegant Celetna Ulice with its shops and Karolinum.
Lunch at Restaurant U Supa, located on Via Celetna, we eat fairly well, we've got a tomato soup with basil puree (euro 2.80), and an old-fashioned bohemian goulash, served in a loaf of bread without a bowl (euro 3.50), salad (3.30), apple strudel with vanilla sauce (€ 4.40), chocolate fondue (€ 4.80) all at a cost of around 13 euros each, beer and coffee in the afternoon continue the tour without any particular goals, I had also brought my pda with navigation system, but I can guarantee that we do not need to Prague is oriented perfectly
In the evening we return to the Charles Bridge (the hotel is nearby) and go to the brewery Kolkovna,
menu interesting and rich, with Czechs dishes made with chicken, rabbit, duck, pork, soups, eat plenty of soup with potatoes and mushrooms served in a loaf of bread, meat and potato goulash, rabbit with garlic and spinach and an excellent dessert , spending about 27 euros in two large beer and coffee.
I note also that the different flows (abundant), generally form a single dish, so even the noodles are served with chicken, two choices are many, but wanted to sample the cuisine Ceka, all with beer like water, wishing you can have wine CEKO.
At about 23 we leave the room for a stroll and we are unwittingly in Wenceslas Square.
The square, very popular, has the shape of a rectangle a little narrow and long, has a modern, boutique shops and large windows, the massive presence of large stores (Renaissance style), there are restaurants, bars, even outdoors , discotheques, the square is open to traffic

May 12: usual breakfast, we start to visit the environs of the modern Wenceslas Square, full of buildings and Art Nouveau, piazza created in 1300 to accommodate the horse market, then the Powder Tower, taking advantage of the beautiful day we spend on the Square Republic, Charles Square, we visit the church of Our Lady of the Snows.
Interesting, although almost all churches of Prague seems to me that present a predominantly internal Baroque style.
Let's go back in Wenceslas Square for lunch at the Grand Hotel Europe, taking 2 courses per person with beer and wine, we will caviamo with 27 euros in two the environment is a little 'formal.
In the afternoon we go to Stahovica Monastery (built in 1140), nice room and the rooms of the Philosophical Library, then go for a drive in the old Jewish Quarter (Josefov) and take a look at the old cemetery, pretty even colorful stalls selling souvenirs , placed between the synagogues, reserving a more detailed tour, let's waterfront, which in this neighborhood makes a wide loop.
In the evening the other pointed at Kolkovna, choice of menu based on traditional cuisine, I am also groped by wine (a bit expensive) Bohemian, we spend 26 euros for a meal, well prepared, soup, roast duck, fettuccine with chicken, dessert , beer and coffee for 26 euros. (Continued)