Away We Go: Dobry den!

Apologies for the delay in posting. We arrived in Prague on Friday the 5th and we still don't have internet in our apartment...

That said, after about a week and a half of wide-eyed absorption, I think I'm ready to share a bit about this place.

Czech Repubic

bordered by Austria, Germany, Poland, Slovakia
6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time
1.00 USD ≈ 20.84 CZK

A little bit about our new neighborhood: Vinohrady, Prague 2

Topographically the city seems to be shaped a bit like a basin with the more touristy, "historical" areas set lower along the Vltava River and other districts situated along inclines on either side.

Our apartment is on a small side street situated between a large, urban park (Riegrovy Sady) and a public square (Náměstí Míru). The front windows overlook a large avenue, Vinohradská, which is lined with multistory buildings - commercial at street level and generally mixed residential above. The area reminds me of the Manayunk section of Philadelphia because most of the shops on this street seem to be upscale design boutiques and furniture showrooms. There are also little fruit and vegetable stalls tucked in along the way.

From our fifth story you can see the Žižkov television tower over in the next district. On the west you can see the spires of Prague Castle midway up the embankment on the other side of the river (nearly invisible in the horizon of the lefthand shot).

Public transit here is really great. You can take the metro or tram from Náměstí Míru, a two-minute walk from our apartment. In fifteen minutes or so you can be in Staré Město, Old Town, checking out the Astronomical Clock or the Powder Tower.

Náměstí Míru has sights of its own, with gardens, restaurants, a great Gothic church, and theater all within or around the square.

On the other end of our street, Riegrovy Sady has paved trails, two restaurants, and hillside views across town. People often come with a picnic or bottle of wine to watch the sun set over the city.