Praha - a new experience....thankful for a tour guide

If I was worried about the language barrier in Berlin, wow, was Prague a totally different story.   As a reminder, I have never been anywhere I didn't speak the language, at least a little.  My Spanish isn't great but I never once felt out of place in Costa Rica, Nicaragua or Mexico.  Even in places they didn't speak English.  But while, the Czech language is difficult.  Even in Berlin, German and English are so very similar that you can figure out words.  Not in Prague.  I am lucky to have had an English tour guide - good ole Phatt helping me out.  (Phatt's a missionary in Prague, visiting and living there for nearly 10 years now).

Phatt picked me up at the train station and helped me navigate the tram and bus system.  Though, I believe I got the hang of it before I left and obviously google maps works just fine, the added security was a good confidence boost.

Prague is a lovely city and I had a great Airbnb in Phatt's neighborhood that had many restaurants, bars and shops.  But we went nearly immediately to a Monastery brewery near the castle with a fine overlook of the city.  Followed by a Beer Garden and a local bar where the bartender felt the need to feed me some local shots.  I then introduced Phatt to his new favorite beer bar.  Maybe one of the best selections of bottled beer I have ever seen and a nice liquor selection including Tito's!

The weather was lovely so the next day we took a train to Karlstejn to see the castle there and go for an over 10k hike around some small towns and overlooking some old quarry's.  Amazing scenery, definitely in the top 10, I only regret not going for an impromptu swim in the first quarry we met.

The next day, I was not in good shape.  It's so amazingly hard to get water in Europe, no one serves it at dinner without having to buy a bottle.  So after over 10k of hiking in high 80degree weather, and a few beers, I believe I was simply very dehydrated.  So it was a slow day with a handful of naps but I believe my body was trying to tell me to take it easy so I listened.

We then toured the Pilsner Urquell brewery in Pilzen.  Though sometimes brewery tours are all the same, the underground cellars at this brewery were amazing.  They harvested Ice all winter and stored with a series of run off tunnels for the meltwater to keep the cellars cool.  They have only stopped doing this recently.  We then got drink unfilterd beer straight from the keg, which is always a treat.

Prague was truly beautiful.

I am now on a bus from Prague to Munich and then a train from Munich to Salzburg.  You would believe how great this bus is, comfortable seats, WiFi, onboard entertainment and straight to Munich with no stops.  Plus, the scenery through the countrysides of Czech and Germany are amazing.

View while hiking
This Hotel saved us.  We took a wrong turn and it was late and hot and we needed food, beer and water!

Karlstjen Castle

Need favorite beer bar off Krymska street - all the beer you can imagine and Titos

This is a "new" church


The sidewalks are so beautiful

Charles Bridge, very beautiful

The Gate on the Plsner Urquell bottle

View from Karlstejn Castle
This was the large quarry from our hike

This is the small quarry I wish I had gone swimming in

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