3.2 Prague - continuing to blend :)

Righto! After that Opera experience, my nerves were shot! It's been a long time since I felt so moved by a performance!

Never the hoo, Prague and all her blended beauty awaited - so there was little time to dwell :)

We set off for the Jewish quarter and found that it was closed, so we then set off for the little quarter for a potter, a church here and a sculpture there.. we crossed the Vltava river and went for tea and cake..Hmmm it was delicious! I had crumpets and berries with whipped cream.. Can't complain :) We sure are eating out a lot - one of my best things to do, such fun trying all the dishes.. My eyes are growing bigger by the country ;)

The little quarter is such a beautiful area, bustling and it seems older, more quaint.. we did a different section of it this time.. making our way to the museum of music, which was massive - filled with history and instruments - Mozart's piano and Dvorak's original music.. it was incredible! We could have spent an afternoon there, listening to music and 'ooing' and 'aahing' at everything! I'm definitely having a harp play as I walk down the isle, it is beyond magical!

After this we popped down to see the John Lennon wall, which was such a hoot - especially after something so sophisticated - you're suddenly listening to hippies play guitar and reading notes on freedom stuck with chewing gum on a graffitied wall.. Thats been a special thing about this trip and namely now in Prague.. we go from the Black light theatre to the Opera, or like today - from Mozart to John Lennon..I think all of us are learning a lot and also opening ourselves up to experiences that we might not do if we weren't on this trip together - three generations finding balance and common ground, interests and view points.. There's a book in this trip for sure ;)

Ofcoarse we then rushed home - threw on our best for the Opera house - to watch Romeo and Juliet (The Ballet) racing there only to be waaaay too early (this too seems to happen a lot, hurry so you can wait :) Anyhoo we had a fun dinner at Wenceslas Square - the food was, as per usual - Delicious! And nunu and I were racing with granny on the chair, doing wheelies as we were entering the Opera House with her shouting,"No no no stooooop!" Us laughing hysterically - aaaah god that was funny!!

The Ballet was sensational! As granny put it,"I've never seem such form in all my life!" We all loved it!! The whole cast was brilliant and naturally being Romeo and Juliet we knew exactly what was going on :) not that you would even need to as they express themselves perfectly! It really was such a treat! Oh and the Opera house was the best I've seen so far - rich in red and gold.. It was truly something to be able to be in there!!

Nunu and I went out on the town afterwards, bit of Pizza there, plenty of beer to go :) We had such fun, dancing the night away to some funky music - feeling free and inspired and full of life and love!!
It was a pretty rouge one though so we certainly suffered a bit the next day :/ And of coarse we had to push on through!

Luckily it was all super chilled, we went to the Jewish quarter and learnt about their history in Prague. It is all very tragic - man can be so cruel. To think what we do to each other - what evil we are capable of, it's all very unnerving.

That evening we had our last supper at Wenceslas square, in a very interesting restaurant where you watch the chef's cooking on big screens :) It was a lovely last meal - I had the Wenceslas sirloin which was out of this world! A great way to say goodbye to what has been an amazing 6 nights!

Prague is young and old, old and new, fresh and dated, historic and ever present, forward thinking, backwards reflecting :) and interesting. Completely fascinating - it is all blended to perfection!

Righto so I must pack and get to bed - Budapest awaits (after a train ride through Slovakia) yay!

3. 1. Prague..blended

Talk about a sensory overload!!

We arrived 3 sleeps ago and although we did the Venice to Prague venture in first class style, it was none the less an exhausting one.. so once we got into our apartment - Historic but has been given a very modern and chic revamp - think brocade sofa meets touch screen stove :) Well impressed! We relaxed and took the day off to recoup. We met Tesco - and while I've seen the Asian one, it does not do the Czech one justice! Meats of all shapes and sizes lay about the shelves, plastic gloves to make your choice.. clean and endless isles of food a plenty!

Granny and I cooked, with classical music playing to urban videos.. such an interesting juxtaposition of old and new. That seems to be the theme of this place!

So our first day out - let's go! After an amble - looking at a quirky gift shop here and an amusing bank poster there, we saw a completely over the top gothic church and then headed to old town square.. the astronomical clock's a hoot! The twelve apostles greeting the towns people :) To think that it has been running since 1490 - Hanus, the clock master who created it was blinded afterwards so that he would not be able to recreate such artistry anywhere else - the poor man!!

Bubbles blowing humpty dumpty sized bubbles of joy.. bursting all over the place.. children running to catch them, amused when they pop on peoples heads.. medieval music playing, singing and dancing.. all while we enjoy a hearty meal of goulash, rabbit, fillet steak, duck and dumplings in many forms.. my tummy loved all the yummy - too much?? (The portions are large) Oh!! But never!! Not here..with home on my plate!!

After a lazy lunch we went to the Salvidor Dali and Andy Warhol exhibition - how lucky we we're to have that on now!! AHHHHHH it was truly an unforgettable exhibition and it was endless.. my granny enjoyed it too which was marvellous - it's nice to think that she is so open minded and can enjoy and revel in these new experiences with us!

Who could end off an afternoon without a chop chop ride around the city? ;) In a darling little toy train we clippitty clopped around getting a story book overview of what was to come :)

Speaking of new experiences, that night we went to the Black light theatre - "Wow" And they said that after the show we would understand why that name was given. As true as Bob, when it ended, the audience stood up and gasped,"WoooooOOOooow" :) The theatre is pitch black, and with neon lights these eight performers create a fantasy world of colour and magic, where your imagination knows no bounds and your inner child comes out to play!

That night my granny couldn't sleep - thinking of neon feet coming out of no where and pink people doing cartwheels in the air.. How they do it I do not know, but that's the beauty in magic isn't it?

The following day, after a leisurely picnic at the Royal Gardens we ventured off to the Prague Castle (Granny had now acquired a wheel chair - her new carriage, the rest of us being the horses :) It was such a pleasure, it has made us relax about the fact that if we didn't get her one, this trip might by the very end - put her in one anyway..

It was so easy to get - welcome to the first world people!! Speaking of - my mum and granny have both been to the doctor and been put on muti and so forth (Bronchitus bound) and have both not stopped gushing about how first class the service here is, clean, friendly, knowledgable and efficient!! EAAAAAASSSSSYyyyyyy louiiiigyyyyy ;) It just goes to show how conditioned we have become in South Africa.. so used to uselessness and needles dropping on the floor and being re used, hospitals with day long ques and everything a muck. Hell I think of my rabies experience in comparison to the hospitals/doctors rooms here and I can't fathom the difference in care.

Anyhoo - after the castle we did Charles bridge at sunset and of coarse there was more music, jazz here..flutes there..artists and comics filling in the gaps..all while the statued saints stand in glory, some blackened over time, one covered in moss they create quite the backdrop over the vlatava river. We then had dinner at a traditional Czeck restaurant and tried to fit as much as we could into our belledatius - hmmm..

And theeeen - my it has been a busy few days!!Mummy and Granny went to the doctor - for granny this time - mum forced her to go and we're so happy - as it was well needed! Mum also did some grocery fufillments while nunu and I did what girls to best - SHOP!! Ohhhh I cannot tell you how in love I am with my new things - the excitement knows no bounds - retail therapy may not be the best kind, but it is most certainly my favourite! We got some delights and I cannot wait to show my Prince Andrew when I get home!! He's diiiieeeee!! :)

Then mum Nu and I went for a lazy afternoon stroll while granny rested, sat in old town square watching bubbles bubble, and banjos banjo..

After a well deserved siesta - the four of us had dinner at home and theeeeen..got all dikkied up for the Opera.. I was so looking forward to this - being a first for me, I didn't know what to expect - and I surely did not expect to be so moved.. In the first half I cried a little - but in the second I had to hold myself back from flooding the orchestra I was so moved. La Olimpiade.. at the Estates theatre.. it was an experience I thought I would try and then have done it, but I am officially obsessed and hope to go to plenty more Opera's in my lifetime - it lifted up my heart and gave her a few shudders..

I can barely breathe..

Prague is one of the most interesting places - if not - the most interesting - that I have ever had the privilege of seeing.. it mixes old and new in a way that works, blends and becomes something..It's something alright!!

My sister has had the urge to die her hair pink, and I for one have thought I might like to wear a purple hat with feathers on my dress and perhaps a vintage jackwa could join!? It's edgy, historic, underground, with it, chic and forward thinking - all blended with so much more that I could possibly do justice!!

Feeling inspired? I know I am!!

Time for bed - I'll lay and listen to Prague sing :) xoxo