Day 6 - wandering in the rain in Praha

Started the morning with a run down to the water. It was quiet and overcast. Once again I ran to the bridges then got a bit off track, only to find myself in front of the Lego museum! I sprinted through Wenceslas Square and back to the hotel in time for breakfast with some colleagues. A few envied my playing hooky. I spoke to Merrick, our guide, to find out where we would be headed to for our full day tour on Saturday. We agreed that Old Town and the Jewish quarter would be a good place for me to visit today. A quick shower and out into the rain to go explore.First I headed to Tesco to get chocolates for our friend Caleb (he taught English here a while back). It was huge, basically a department store. I tried to take a photo in the grocery section and got busted by security. When I came out of the front, I found myself back at the Lego museum so I did some browsing.Fast forward through 20 or so minutes of walking, I was finding Prague and the weather a bit dismal (sort of like London on Boxing Day). I was enjoying getting lost but taking very few pictures because it was raining too hard and I was handling my umbrella, backpack and guidebook. (International access on he iPhone would have helped here). Hot chocolate and free Internet at au gourmand in old town and I was refreshed and ready to go.Bought a ticket and climbed all the way up into the old Clocktower. I was able to see all sides of Prague, as well as be there for the playing of the trumpet at 12 noon from all four sides of Clock tower. W would have really liked to see this. I took photos of some British tourists and they returned the favor. Afterwards I paid the equivalent of 10 cents to use the WC and almost got stuck inside with an unwieldy lock. Then I continued to wander through Jewish town and went into the old new synagogue. There was no photography allowed inside. It is amazing that they're today less than 6000 Jews left in Prague after all of the progroms from the end of the 19 century through World War II. These ancient pieces of history all around the Jewish quarter are surrounded by high-end stores like Elie Saab, Gucci, Marina Rinaldi, and more. Odd. Everything is negotiable in Prague, exchange rates, tour fees, everything. I got rid of my Euros and change and got 500 off my audible tour guide through the museums by accident. Went to two money exchanges near the clock tower to get three different rates that ranged by 200 czn or $10. It's crazy how the prices increase as you near the museums. There are lots of street vendors. I had to navigate through them while visiting the many areas that make up the Jewish History museum. More later on the museums...I sobbed at the exhibit of children's art from the camps. Things are so different when I put things in perspective as a parent. It also made me miss my boys. That and seeing all of the little cutely clad munchkins wrapped up against the rain today.Visited a store that had some cute art of cats and picked up a present for someone in the family. Actually met the artist too! On to visit some of Zane Lamprey's haunts....poor W....so wish he could be here. U Vejvodu - home of the beer hall and the stinky cheese. I walked in to find two crusty guys at the bar. They referred me to David, the designated English speaker. He questioned my ordering of beer cheese informing me that it had a "strong smell." Bring it! Yummy! Cheese, onions and mustard, big farmhouse bread and a large Pilsner Urquell. Writing my blog and people watching. Walked back to the hotel to catch up with the group just getting off of the bus.