29 May - Day 75
When the communism collapsed in Czechoslovakia, it took just 2 weeks to dispose the government in a fatality free "Velvet Revolution". There used to be huge statue of Stalin on top of Letenska Park but they blew it up with 800kg of explosives in 1962. In 1991, a huge metronome was erected on the largely vacant pedestal. Apparently, Michael Jackson kicked off his 1996 HIStory tour in this park.
We climbed to 100 or so steps up here for a look. Sadly the metronome was broken. The park looks like a favourite hangout for skateboarders, and has a great view of Prague city across the Vltava river.
We then decided to visit the Technical Museum about 500m away. Marcus got hungry on the way there so we stopped for lunch. There was a food kiosk selling beer making the park a natural beer garden. We decided on dining alfresco at the restaurant, Czech goulash with steamed bread for me and veal schitznel for Marcus.
The museum carried an eclectic collection of transportation, printing, astronomical and design technologies.
So we had car, trains, bikes and planes.
The very beautiful Supermarine Spitfire was there.
After this we decided to visit the gratis Czech military museum. They had the iconic Russian T34 tank outside.
This museum gave a run down of Czech involvement during WW1 and WW2, supported by some very nicely preserved artifacts.
We then went to the movies to see Dark Shadows. While movies are subtitled, the posters of the movies are in Czech. We can usually tell the movies from the posters, so choosing the right one at the ticket counter is not a problem. However, this cinema was under renovation with nary a poster in sight. We had to resort to a bit of verbal charades to get the right tickets.
30 May - Day 76
Wenceslas Square is the Champ Elysees of Prague. It is full of touristy shops and fully represented by the luxury and American brands. It fact I didn't see any brand missing. At one end is the national museum. This square has held 800,000 people, about 2/3 of Prague's population, you know for revolutions, uprisings, state funerals, when McDonalds first opened and the like.
On the way to lunch at Lokal restaurant, where they serve traditional Czech food and unpastuerised Pilsner Urquell, we went past the very ornately decorated Municipal House which is a concert hall inside.
We then took the metro to the riverside for a view of the Frank Gehry designed "Dancing House". Because it looks like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing. Gehry is the guy who designed the Gugenheim in Bilbao. This building is an office, so it is not possible to go inside unless you wish to eat in the restaurant.
We walked across the Jiraskuv bridge, and took the furnicular to the top of Petrin Park.
They have a smaller Eiffel tower here.
The kids in school outings in Europe have to wear vests, very cute.
We then walked down the park through the many features - observatory, castle walls, water falls - down the the main road and took a tram and bus home.
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