Munich to Prague

Thursday 26 July 2012 –Munich to Prague

Day 104 and 55 to go

Well it has been a long day we are now sitting back in the van at 8pm. We have camped up in someone’s back yard that is supposedly called a campground. We are not alone there are a dozen campers and half a dozen in tents. It seems to be the way it happens with this whole strip housing camping. ODD.

We started our day like any other with the usual get up. Paul had a phone call in the early morning from Mercy Care so he was attempting to ring Tina and find out what was wrong. Having no luck he rang Jaden and asked him to go and find out and let us know.

With breakfast done I went for a shower, one of the oddest shower blocks with a row of showers in individual small cubicles and a shower curtain for privacy. It was a struggle to keep the curtain shut while keeping your things dry. When I returned Paul had been able to get a hold of Tina and everything seems ok thankfully so with one less worry we paid up, unplugged and got back out on the motorway. Our destination today was Prague in the Czech Republic, a 4 hour drive.

It again was fairly mundane driving on the highways with a fairly consistent flow except for a merging spot about 30min in and then we stopped for fuel adding more time to our ETA. Germany’s landscape is not as dramatic as that of other places we have been to. There are rolling hills and wide plains, wooded areas and watercourses. We drove through an area that was growing hops. I have never seen so many of the plants in one place all reaching for the heavens on long lines tied to poles.

We continued our drive North East stopping before the Czech border for a motorway pass and then it was clear sailing into our next country. With no Czech Crowns, they don’t use Euro, we stopped at another fuel station hoping to find an ATM machine with no luck. We drove on closer to Prague again stopping at a fuel station, putting in fuel and hoping for cash out. No luck.

With Paul determined to find a cash machine we followed our course with our eyes peeled. I eventually spotted one so we pulled in around the corner and I went to use the machine only to have no luck. It was out of order. Grrr.

Back in the van we drove through suburbia skirting through the edge of the town. It was busy with vehicles and trams. In place it was a bit tight and with the shaking of the cobblestoned streets we were soon over driving and glad to pull into a street lined with camping. We picked one pulled in, signed up and parked it. Here at last.

We set up and had lunch, worked out a plan of attack, grabbed our things and got out on the street. We had to go to another camp ground to cash some Euros and then it was on the 112 bus to the metro where we caught the underground to Florenc.

Once up on the street we asked for directions and began to walk in the direction of the main centre finding it about 15min later. Our mission was to find our Segway tour meeting point so that we would be ready to go tomorrow. It proved to be a bit of a farce. Prague is a lot like Florence and Venice, streets in all directions, some with names that match the map I have. Most of the time I am left to guess and I am not usually right and I wasn’t today. We did make it to the old town square and passed the astronomical clock on the old clock tower of 1410.  Then it went pear shaped as I made a wrong turn heading to Charles Bridge and we did unnecessary walking in the sun, getting hotter and hotter.

Eventually we did managed to make our way back following the hoards and we walked over the long bridge that has many statues adorning it. Once over, we were able to navigate towards the Segway meeting point, but again a wrong turn and we found ourselves in front of the Lennon Peace wall. We turned and went around another corner to finally find our destination after an hour walking. I am sure it was not meant to be that hard. The receptionist took pity on us and gave us a drink and then worked out the easiest way for us to get there tomorrow. With the info in hand we were now able to wander back over the bridge taking in the sites. It was a very beautiful bridge and the view to the river and beyond was lovely.

We returned to the old town square catching the 5pm astronomical clock chimes and then we stopped at one of the bars for a drink and a sit down. Phew. Some of the sights were interesting. I realise we are in a bohemian city, but some of the dress sense leaves a lot to be desired. Bunch of misfits seems to fit quite well I think. If it’s not the mung beans it is the gangs of men here on boys trips, particularly stag events.

We moved on down the road stopping at a restaurant for diner. We shared a risotto and pizza that went down well. With both of us looking at each other over the table with our eyes hanging out of our head we decided to head back to the van.

We made it to the Republic Square to catch the 14 tram as we had been instructed by the camp staff. I read the list of stops but ours wasn’t listed. We got on anyway. Everything was ticking along right until we arrived at the metro stop we had used earlier. Suddenly the tram became a 24 and was heading in another direction. Grrrr.

We got off once we realised what had happened entering the subway to catch it back to our metro point where we decided it was just easier to get back on the 112 bus. It arrived soon after we got to the bus stop and we took it to our street. Finally in the right place! PHEW. Czech public transport not the easiest to use.

We walked back to our camp after getting off finally getting in at 7.15pm.

We sat in the van, trying cool down. I check the net while Paul read up on Prague.

We had another Aussie family parked up next to us. We organised ourselves for tomorrow and then played cards. The local baker came by selling his wares at 9.30pm. I bought some coconut biscuits for breakfast before heading to bed. 

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