Prague

Our first stop on our little Christmas holiday was Prague. It started out with quite the miracle. After our plane landed we headed to gather our bags. Ben found his bag and then all of a sudden we found ourselves looking at an empty carousal of bags. No more and I had no bag in hand. Ben headed over to the baggage claim desk and started the whole process as I sat with our bags. Generally speaking the little things never bother me when traveling. But, the longer I sat I realized this would be a huge bummer. The lady apparently found that my bag was still in London and they were trying to figure out how to get it to us here in Prague or our next stop. The longer I sat there, the more I found myself really wanting to wear clean clothes and have my winter coat. I said a pleading prayer, then all of a sudden the conveyer turned on and out plopped my bag. Praise. A Christmas miracle! Enough about my lost and then miraculously found luggage. On to the lights!

We headed straight to the Christmas market and it was beyond beautiful. One of the most well decorated trees I have ever seen with little Christmas carols sung by children in the background, a lot of fried goods, ornaments, and lights in every direction. It has the feeling of one of the scenes from The Santa Clause of whenever they are in the North Pole. A dream come true, really. 

Trdelník! These sweet rolls are rolled around a metal bar  spun over hot coals, wood fire baked, and dipped in sugar. Ben and I have now started called them turtlenecks because we don’t know how they are actually pronounced and frankly they resemble turtlenecks. 

We woke up Monday morning and headed to Old Town Square to meander through the market and stopping to watch the oldest working astronomical clock located in the square. Every hour little doors open with Apostles in the windows, the skeleton rings the bell, and other figures shake their heads. Really a true performance. 

And then coffee was a must. “Kerry”, close enough. 

The street musicians here might take the gold in my book. They are all so good and play instruments I had no idea existed. Extra points for the outfits.

Old Town Square!

Another musician playing… glasses of water?

Then we headed over the Charles Bridge to Mala Strana to take a look at the castle.

The architecture here is so intricate and truly different than any of the other cities we have visited. I’m a huge fan of all the pastel colored buildings, red roofs, and details in the windows and towers. I’m always reminding myself to look up when walking through the streets.

It has kind of been a joke that every city we go to we come to the conclusion that we simply must go get crepes, and yet we haven’t done so. When we passed by this little gem we knew we had found the perfect lunch spot. (Also, I’m not too fond of the whole dumpling/schnitzel/pig cheek meat thing they have going on here. I’m sure it is all so tasty though… if you are in to that sort of thing.)

Freshly sqeezed apple, orange, and pear juice to sip on and a beet and goat cheese salad to eat. My kind of lunch.

This place is breathtaking I tell you.

My favorite travel partner. I am so unbelievably thankful for this year to get to travel with him. It truly is such a gift and we are constantly being reminded of that. Ben and I enjoy traveling the same way. That is, finding what each city does best and doing it. We love wandering through the streets, finding the restaurants that you won’t find tourists in, and trying to accomplish all the adventure the city has to offer. I really can’t wait for some of the future trips we are starting to dream up for the spring and summer!

Love this guy.

The St. Vitus Cathedral had impressive stained glassed windows. I’ve realized I have the most interesting thoughts when traveling along the following lines: “How in the world did they…build this bridge, pick out the colors for their buildings,  find enough colored stones back in the day to make this patterned walkway, decide who had to make said walkway, and I appreciate the guy who had enough of the patterned walkway and made his own random pattern in a few of the blocks, make the inside ceiling of the church curve like that, create a ladder that would even reach that, figure out how to make an astronomical clock, survive in the cold, etc…” I told Ben I am going to take up watching documentaries to find out all these answers. Mind boggling stuff.

Christmas trees are everywhere here! 

It is so very cold too.

Whenever Ben takes the pictures they often they turn out like the one below. 

We validate all purchasing of market treats by saying we will “split them”. Generally speaking Ben and I work on a 1:3 ratio. For every one part for Carrie, there are three parts for Ben. Unless its one of those turtleneck treats, then I take the majority. Or ice cream. 

 

A castle over the water makes for a dreamy reflection.

Tuesday morning we woke up and headed to Cafe Cafe for some coffee and lunch and then made our way over the bridge to the Lennon Wall.

We spent the rest of the day wandering through the streets and eventually getting dinner at the Christmas market along with a crepe for dessert.

Prague at Christmastime is one to put on your lists ladies and gentlemen.

Next stop, Cesky Krumlov. Rumor has it there is a castle with a moat guarded by bears. You have no idea how badly I want this rumor to be true. I’m giddy with excitement. BEARS, PEOPLE, REAL LIVE BEARS. Then we are on our way to Salzburg!