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THE PRAGUE EXTENSION OF CHAMONIX TRIP
by Sandy Saadi
Click here for all photos
February 2007 |
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Chamonix was over for all of us but not for those of us going on to other destinations.
We all managed to meet our bus back to the airport at the unruly time of 4:30 a.m.
Some of us went to the Air France terminal to go onto Paris and about 16 of us headed
to Lufthansa for our flight to Prague. Our bus driver was a bit late picking us up but he
did arrive and with a small trailer attached. We sure needed that with all the luggage
and skis we had. We were beginning to wonder about our hotel as he drove us out into
an industrial area and past the water treatment facility. When we pulled into the gas
station we were all pretty sure this guy was lost. Finally we arrived at our beautiful
hotel in the center of the old part of Prague--A perfect location for walking and seeing
many of the historical sights like the famous clock tower and Charles Bridge.
Georgiana Rudge was our personal walking guide much of the time. She showed us the old town and explained the history of many of the buildings. Georgiana and Rich Fisher arranged for a fantastic meal for all of us the first night. In the basement of this very medieval style restaurant, large platters of all kinds of food were laid out before us. The following day many of us went on a trip to a small town outside of Prague, Kutna Hora, which is known for this beautiful huge church and another little known church, The Ossuary, which is decorated with the bones of thousands of people who died during wars and the plague. "It has reminded visitors of the limits of human life and the fact of death. This fact is intended to lead to the mutual harmonic coexistence and to the respect for life..." It really is a very interesting place to see. The next day most of us went to the Prague Castle and had quite an interesting experience with a guide who just did not take NO for an answer. We all thought we could see the Castle on our own and didn't need a guide. Well the guide thought otherwise. He followed us around for almost 30 minutes trying all the time to have us hire him. He finally pointed out what we had missed and we changed our minds. He won.... None us will ever forget this guy, quite persistent. Many thanks to Georgiana and Rich for all the information they provided to the group on places to go, things to see and eat.Chamonix was over for all of us but not for those of us going on to other destinations. We all managed to meet our bus back to the airport at the unruly time of 4:30 a.m. Some of us went to the Air France terminal to go onto Paris and about 16 of us headed to Lufthansa for our flight to Prague. Our bus driver was a bit late picking us up but he did arrive and with a small trailer attached. We sure needed that with all the luggage and skis we had. We were beginning to wonder about our hotel as he drove us out into an industrial area and past the water treatment facility. When we pulled into the gas station we were all pretty sure this guy was lost. Finally we arrived at our beautiful hotel in the center of the old part of Prague--A perfect location for walking and seeing many of the historical sights like the famous clock tower and Charles Bridge. Georgiana Rudge was our personal walking guide much of the time. She showed us the old town and explained the history of many of the buildings. Georgiana and Rich Fisher arranged for a fantastic meal for all of us the first night. In the basement of this very medieval style restaurant, large platters of all kinds of food were laid out before us. The following day many of us went on a trip to a small town outside of Prague, Kutna Hora, which is known for this beautiful huge church and another little known church, The Ossuary, which is decorated with the bones of thousands of people who died during wars and the plague. "It has reminded visitors of the limits of human life and the fact of death. This fact is intended to lead to the mutual harmonic coexistence and to the respect for life..." It really is a very interesting place to see. The next day most of us went to the Prague Castle and had quite an interesting experience with a guide who just did not take NO for an answer. We all thought we could see the Castle on our own and didn't need a guide. Well the guide thought otherwise. He followed us around for almost 30 minutes trying all the time to have us hire him. He finally pointed out what we had missed and we changed our minds. He won.... None us will ever forget this guy, quite persistent. Many thanks to Georgiana and Rich for all the information they provided to the group on places to go, things to see and eat. |