Friday in Prague and I once again played hooky from the company visits. I visited a memorial to the bravery of the Czech people during WWII and the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich. Then I wandered downtown to do se shopping, picking up some goodies for my nieces at the Lego museum. More walking and picture taking followed, and then lunch of a gigantic baguette with tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, as well as a rustic French fry dish with some kind of cheesy gravy on top. I have no idea what it was, but it was delicious. Beer goes down so well with lunch!
The group came back from the company visit and people headed their separate ways for the afternoon. Tina, Judy, Robert, Anu and I went to Hard Rock Cafe because they wanted to continue their tradition. Since I had already eaten I just drank a beer and people watched. (only tina could get me to a hard rock cafe!) After lunch Robert and I headed downtown to rent bicycles at Bike Prague.
What an adventure! Cobblestone streets, narrow walkways, lots of turning around and switchbacks, and even one run in with a car. We were riding on a sidewalk next to a high courtyard wall as there was no space between the trolleys and the curb. Suddenly a Mercedes Benz wagon pulled out of an archway right in front of me. No time to really brake so I hit his front quarter panel and sent my bike askew. I stayed upright through sheer will. The driver was a bit freaked and Robert just about had a heart stack but all was fine. We kept going and rode all over lesser town. There was consideration given to traveling to the top of the hill to get to the miniature Eiffel Tower, but the hill was too much for our sad mountain bikes and rubbery legs. A set of statues at the park showed a man in varying stages with pieces missing, signifying the impact of Communism on people's lives. Next Robert and I hefted our bikes up over our shoulders and up the stairs onto the Charles Bridge, which dates from the 1300's. It is filled with artists and street vendors and is pedestrian only. Back to the hotel and off to dinner.
Fast forward two hours and the group took two cabs across into lesser town with the intention of eating Thai at Noi. Without a reservation we were subject to the wrath of a rather bitchy server. So we ended up at a Mediterranean place a few doors down, Luka Lu. We sat in a sort of treehouse suspended above a lovely courtyard. Several folks complained that the food was bland but I really enjoyed my risotto with chicken and sundried tomatoes. We wandered around as a large group getting gelato and trying to go to bars. Then things splintered. First we were sent to U Prince to wait for the rest of the group. Then Melissa and I joined David, Lauren, Wendy and Jessica in a basement bar with some graphic artwork, illicit smoke and lots of graffiti. Then we headed to Roxy in Josefov where we danced to house and trance music while watching young Czechs dance like maniacal zombies in worship of the DJ. I confirmed that I am too old to go clubbing. ;)
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