Valentine's Day in the super-romantic city of Prague, capital of the Czech Republic

Easy Jet flight from Milan Malpensa (Stop 2)

Hotel (Residence Bila Kuzelka) booked through Venere.com is in the city center (Prague 1 - Mala Strana, Misenska 12/66, a few steps from Charles Bridge). Keep in mind that local standards are not exactly equivalent to ours. Their 4-star we probably would have been a 3 star. But the location is great, the rooms spacious and clean (unfortunately there is no elevator) and the international breakfast buffet.

We purchased the subscription "3 days" for transportation, but it was a bit 'useless most of the monuments are easily reachable on foot (or bicycle if the weather permits).

 

From Milan to Prague: a snowy afternoon

Here we are on board: the plane 20 minutes late and we are just curious to see Prague. At Malpensa, despite the snowy weather, the sun shines. Finally we're off!!
After about an hour and a half's flight landed in Prague, in the midst of snowy landscapes.
The airport and 'modern and efficient: the suitcase away and comes near the baggage claim there is' information office with maps and brochures. Proceed immediately with the withdrawal from an ATM (SEPA, do not need the credit card) and purchase public transport tickets (330 crowns each for 3 days, but soon find out that perhaps it's worth: Prague turns very well walk! !).
By Bus 119 reach the terminus of metro line A and after 2 stops are in the Little Quarter, not far from our hotel.
When we arrive the room is not 'ready yet and then we take advantage to a first round (it's less cold than expected) and for lunch from U Zlateho Precliku where dishes of the house cost around 200 crowns (10 euro) and the average beer 39 SEK (1.60 EUR). The environment is' cute (found in a cellar and the legend says is haunted by a ghost) and good food, and beer. Too bad that when we pay say clearly that credit cards are not frowned upon (although the reader on display).

Return to the hotel room and this time the 'ready on the first floor (no lift), spacious and very clean. I expect the hottest, but there'll be little (we find out how to regulate the radiators and the night we wake up in the heat !!!).

We begin our tour with the Little Quarter, following the route recommended by the guide. The Church of St. Nicholas and unfortunately 'already closed (during low season many sights close at 16) and then decide to come back tomorrow.

We went to the Charles Bridge, admiring the colorful houses in the meantime and the decorations on the doors and facades.

Charles Bridge and 'busy with the cold front of the statue of St. John creates the row of superstitious people who caresses the bas-relief (nor do I opt out of the tradition).

We continue towards the old town and we get lost along the narrow streets in search of Hard Rock Cafe (for the sticks of the drummer) and the gorgeous colored facades. We reach astronomical clock (we thought it was higher !!!), but the atmosphere in the streets makes you feel more cold.

Our tour continues to Namesti Republik, with an eye to architecture and one of the windows: Bohemian and Swarovski crystals (I know there are cheaper !!!), ceramics, matryoshkas, icons, and colored eggs, puppets and clothing (inevitable hats with long hair and ear )....
No wonder many theaters and offered to attend musical performances of various kinds. And the museums also abound: the chocolate, that of torture and even the ghosts ....

We begin to feel the cold and fatigue (among other things now, and 'dark) on the way back to the hotel we stopped at the Coffee Heaven, sipping a cappuccino (shot glass: 320 ml !!!!) on comfortable chairs, as we watch the street scene and hear the chatter of others (will be low season, but we hear so many languages: Italian, English, French, German ....).
Taking the turn toward the Little Quarter, but give up some nice pictures at night: like most of the countries of Northern Europe, the monuments are lit well and create beautiful landscapes, especially the Castle and the Charles Bridge.

Short break at the hotel and then off in search of the brewery U Fleku to get a taste of czech cuisine and taste the local beer. It is located in New Town and would not even walk away, but we prefer to experience the underground: modern and clean, only flaw in heating and air power 'so strong, that seems to be colder than the outside!
We arrive at the brewery and found a place in a non-smoking. The first round of beer (dark) is taken for granted, but we also accept the local drink: a bitter spices are quite heavy. The choice and 'perhaps' trivial pork shank (tender and tasty) for my husband, goulash and strudel for me to be divided in two. As soon as the jars are empty, the waiters ask if you want to pass the "refill" and for each new beer, a small bar in the package is put in orders (the Czechs at the next table are 5 and have about 15 arms on their paper! !).
In local (Spartan) alternate local musicians, first a duo (accordion and trombone) and then a solo (accordion). Obviously, playing popular music, because customers are busy place to sing and clap their hands ... The duo takes leave of the Radetzky March and a big beat of hands. It 's not just the New Year concert in Vienna, but not the usual restaurant or pub with music Truzzi.
If you want, there 's also a Minishop where to buy glasses and beer mugs and other souvenirs signed Fleku U.

Beer is no effect and when we go out almost feel the cold. We decide to return to the hotel on foot and do the latest photos of the evening.

We fall asleep a bit 'tipsy but happy: Prague is proving all the positive comments (if not enthusiastic) that we had received.

Between the castle, the new and the old quarter

We woke up early to do on a hearty breakfast (although the buffet is not exactly rich and varied) and we immediately put in motion to visit the castle.

We decide to go by tram (number 22 is convenient) and walking down by the descent into the Little Quarter.

The castle complex is vast, but this season it shrinks to the only buildings in the gardens because they are covered by a blanket of snow.
Gets or tickets for the tour short and the audio guides (1300 crowns in two) that will prove to be very (too?) Detailed (also available in Italian).

We start the visit with the St. Vitus Cathedral (the Cathedral reminds us of Vienna): The interior is so wet as to be cold, but also very bright thanks to the wonderful stained glass in many colors.

Leaving the Cathedral, we head to the Old Royal Palace but no great beauty, if not the vague memory of the Defenestration of Prague.

Then go to the church of San Giorgio, simpler and collection of the Cathedral, but equally majestic.

Continue to the Golden Lane with its tiny pastel houses (in one of them had lived there Kafka) now used as craft shops. Upstairs there is a museum of armor and a little target practice.

Leaving the alley, there remains the Dalobor tower, with some instruments of torture and cages for prisoners.

A few photos and go back to the scene to return the audio guide (ask to return after a maximum of 2 hours, but we think it is too little.)

Descending towards the Lesser Town, where we buy some souvenirs (including a couple of local beers) and eat at the restaurant L'Aquila Nera (great for those who would want to duck or roast pork shank).

While we're in the area, we support the buying and go back to the hotel in the Old Quarter: the sun came out and we take advantage to make the photos that we failed to do yesterday.

At 4 we see the Astronomical clock for the passage of the 12 apostles (a bit disappointing) and then to visit the Old Town Square. In a kiosk in the square acquire a taste of Prague ham (cooked and smoked on site) and a glass of grog (mint smell, taste neutral).

Next stop: the Municipal House (now home to concerts) and the Powder Tower, before continuing on to the long Wenceslas Square.

The fatigue is felt and so does the cold ... Returning to the hotel my husband decided to make the romantic Valentine's gift as it takes me a beautiful necklace from Swarovski!!

After the stop at the hotel we decide to dine in a restaurant with live music, including the old town hall square and Namesti Republik, but when we arrive, we find it empty empty and we lose the inspiration.
We try to find an alternative on the road, but we cooked for too long arguments (among other things, here too there is the beautiful smoking ban!) And eventually go on the safe side: burgers at the Hard Rock Cafe! !

Back at the hotel, greeting the magical lights of Prague by night, because tomorrow we will have only the morning the Jewish Quarter and a Bohemian last meal before returning to Italy.

The last walk to say Goodbye to Prague

Last half day in Prague: 17:15 to restart the plane to Milan.

From the window we seem to glimpse the blue sky and a city map tells us that lack the Jewish Quarter.

Quick breakfast at the hotel, leave the room and leave your luggage at reception, to be free to roam.

We arrive at the entrance of the Jewish cemetery to discover that the ticket for two (full turn) costs 960 crowns, but do not accept credit cards or foreign currency. Wander in search of an ATM and we find it close to the Spanish Synagogue.
After removing and without a ticket, start the visit and now we are amazed by the wonder of this building, so simple in the external as it is rich and impressive inside (too bad they can not take pictures).

Upon leaving, we admire the famous statue in memory of Kafka (a small man on a great man without a head) and then we head towards the square with the cubist houses.

Then we reach the Old New Synagogue (more intimate and simple) and the Jewish Town Hall (on the driving front is pink, but blue seems to be alive).
We conclude the tour of the district with the Old Jewish Cemetery, very impressive with the game of snow and sun.

It 'time to complete meals bohemian. We choose a room in a medieval style that is called U Sadlu.

Tracing back to the hotel for the last time the streets of downtown and the Charles Bridge. Prague greets us with a beautiful sunny day.