Prague, Czech Republic

Back in August 2019 we went to Prague! I LOVED IT! It was VERY HOT.  We spent 2 and a half days there. I’d love to go back now that Alex is a little older.

He was only a year and a half and didn’t understand the hot or why he needed to be in his stroller if he wasn’t going to hold our hand. Lord. But now he’s so much better!

It’s crazy what 6 months can do for them! Honestly, we went to Ely a few weeks ago (post is coming) and he was PERFECT with no stroller and no Tula!

 So Friday we leave for the airport around 4AM. With a 19 month old. We’re all tired. He slept the whole flight so can we just say, THANKFUL! Once we get there it’s another whole adventure to our hotel.

The bus that we were on from the airport (since we went with a large group) couldn’t exactly get to the hotel. UGH! Nightmare. So here we are tired, had to pack his carseat for the bus rides.. SO the bus stops we get off get our bag, our carry- ons, stroller and carseat. They tell us to start walking. Um. The whole city is cobble stone. So you’re just trying to push a stroller with your tired toddler, pull a carseat bag, carry your camera bag, AKA carry on, carry your child’s diaper bag and pull a large suitcase. We had everything the little one needed in the suitcase along with shower things and we knew wed get souvenirs. It was hot. we were all sweaty and just ready to shower after that 15 minute walk that felt so much longer lugging all of that.

So we finally get in our room, turn on the air because THANK GOD! The UK doesn’t have air con and it was well loved that day. We showered and decided to just eat downstairs in the hotel.  Which let me tell you that pasta was bomb! So was our beer!

 

 

 

 

 

We went out exploring but we were also just so hot and tired and having the toddler we didn’t do much. Ill share the photos below. We walked around old town square, we explored the jewish quarter and just took in as much as we could with the baby. If we didn’t have him we probably would’ve powered through more to just do more. But Prague also isn’t the best baby friendly city. We found that out by the looks of places and a handy little book we got that had like three things listed for kids.

All of the doors and buildings were just beautiful to me.

 

The astronomical clock. The clock was first installed in 1410, making it the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest clock still operating. The clock mechanism has three main components — the astronomical dial, representing the position of the Sun and Moon in the sky and displaying various astronomical details; statues of various Catholic saints stand on either side of the clock; “The Walk of the Apostles”, a clockwork hourly show of figures of the Apostles and other moving sculptures, notably a figure of a skeleton, representing Death, striking the time; and a calendar dial with medallions representing the months. According to local legend, the city will suffer if the clock is neglected and its good operation is placed in jeopardy; a ghost, mounted on the clock, was supposed to nod its head in confirmation. According to the legend, the only hope was represented by a boy born on New Year’s night.

Inside the astronomical clock. 

Below is The Church of Mother of God before Týn, often translated as Church of Our Lady before Týn, is a gothic church and a dominant feature of the Old Town of Prague, Czech Republic. It has been the main church of this part of the city since the 14th century. The church’s towers are 80 m high and topped by four small spires. It along with the clock are right in old town square.

Our final breakfast before leaving and it was so good! We had wished we ate there the previous day because it wasn’t even a far walk from our hotel. We were walking the day before and saw the cafe and thought let]s just try it this morning. It was called Choco Cafe. Id give it a try for sure if you’re in Prague and close to it.

Old town square. My favorite part honestly. The Jan Hus Memorial stands at one end of Old Town Square, Prague in the Czech Republic. The huge monument depicts victorious Hussite warriors and Protestants who were forced into exile 200 years after Hus in the wake of the lost Battle of the White Mountain during the Thirty Years’ War, and a young mother who symbolises national rebirth. The monument was so large that the sculptor designed and built his own villa and studio where the work could be carried out. It was unveiled in 1915 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Jan Hus’ martyrdom. The memorial was designed by Ladislav Šaloun and paid for solely by public donations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the only cemetery in ALL of Prague Jewish could be buried. With that being said there’s up to 15 people on top of each other in one plot.  The jewish cemetery was the saddest part to me. I paid my respects as we walked through it just how awful it was.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Jewish quarter. Josefov (also Jewish Quarter; German: Josefstadt) is a town quarter and the smallest cadastral area of Prague, Czech Republic, formerly the Jewish ghetto of the town. It is completely surrounded by the Old Town. The quarter is often represented by the flag of Prague’s Jewish community, a yellow Magen David (Star of David) on a red field.

We did learn on our group tour on our first full day to be VERY safe when it comes to the ATMs you use and where to go to exchange money. They will take advantage of you. NEVER exchange money with someone on the street since you don’t know the currency that well they will give you currency that you can no longer use and will not be accepted anywhere. That being said DO NOT USE the exchange that’s in town square they up the exchange rate ultimately ripping you off. This video will explain more on the ATMs. Those guys are local to Prague and have SO MANY helpful videos on the local scams. I watched a few before we went and our tour guide talked about a few. Just be safe!

Also don’t worry about not being able to speak Czech. A lot of people speak both Czech and English! Our tour guide informed us that their language is so hard even locals have a hard time with some of it! You can learn a few easy phrases  but you don’t have too.

Heres a good list for you:

Basic Czech Phrases

YES = ANO (ano)

NO = NE (ne)

PLEASE = PROSÍM (proseem)

THANK YOU = DE^vKUJI VAM (dyekooyi vam)

GOOD MORNING = DOBRÉ RÁNO (dobrye rano)

GOOD AFTERNOON = DOBRÉ ODPOLEDNE (dobrye odpoledne)

GOOD NIGHT = DOBROU NOC (dobroh nots)

HELLO = DOBRY’ DEN (dobree den)

GOOD-BYE = NA SHLEDANOU (nas-khledanow)

WHAT IS YOUR NAME? = JAK SE JMENUJETE? (yak se menooyete)

MY NAME IS… = JMENUJI SE… (menooyi se)

HOW ARE YOU? = JAK SE MÁTE? (jak se mahte )

FINE THANKS, AND YOU? = DE^vKUJI DOBR^vE, A VY? (dyekooyi dobrzhe, a vi)

I UNDERSTAND. = ROZUMÍM (rozoomeem)

I DON’T UNDERSTAND. = NEROZUMÍM. (nerozoomeem)

DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH? = MLUVÍTE ANGLICKY? (mlooveete anglitskee)

I DON’T SPEAK CZECH. = NEMLUVÍM C^vESKY. (nemlooveem chehskee)

NICE TO MEET YOU = Těší mě. (tyeh-sheee mnyeh)

Basic Phrases

If you learn nothing else, try these phrases:

1. Prosím (pro-seem) = Possibly the most useful word in Czech. It means: 1) Please, 2) Here you are, 3) You’re welcome, 4) What did you say?, 5) I’ll have … and can generally be used in times of doubt.
2. Děkuju (dyeh-kooyoo) = Thank you
3. Ano (ah-noh) = Yes. Ano is often shortened to no, sometimes resulting in cross-language confusion.
4. Ne (neh) = No. Fairly straightforward and direct.
5. Dobrý den (dob-ree den) = Hello, Good afternoon.
6. Nashledanou (nus-hle-dah-no) Good bye.
7. Ahoj (ah-hoy) = Hi. or Bye. Much like Aloha this word can be used both when meeting and leaving. You will often hear Czechs saying hi while waving you goodbye. Čau is another informal equivalent.
8. Kdejetoaleta? (kdehyehtoh-ah-le-ta) Where is the bathroom? Obviously useful but getting you into the realm of phrases where you need to understand the answer.
9. Kolik to stojí? (koh-leek tohstoh-yee) How much is it? Ditto.
10. Co je to? (tso yeh toh) What is it? This phrase is especially useful to expand your vocabulary.

ENGLISH = CZECH (PRONUNCIATION)

How do you do (exactly ‘Good day’) = Dobry den (dobree den)

Good morning = Dobre rano (dobreh rahno)

Good evening = Dobry vecer (dobree vecher)

Good night = Dobrou noc (dobrow nots)

Goodbye = Na shledanou (naskhedanow)

Please = Prosim (proseem)

Thank You = Dekuji (dyekuyi)

Excuse me = S dovolenim (s dovolenyeem)

I´m sorry = Lituji (lituyi)

Excuse me = Prominte (promintey)

Yes = Ano (ano)

No = Ne (neh)

Do you speak English? = Mluvite anglicky? (mluveete anglitsky?)

I don’t understand = Nerozumim (nerozumeem)

Please, write it down = Prosim napiste to (proseem napishte to)

Where is (a bank) = Kde je (kde ye) banka (banka)

Currency exchange = Smenarna (smnyenahrna)

Bathroom = Toaleta, Zachod (toaleta, zahkod)

Men = Muzi, Pani (muzhi, pahnyi)

Women = Zeny, Damy (zheny, dahmy)

How much does it cost? = Kolik to stoji (kolik to stoyee)

Waiter! = Pane vrchni! (pane vrkhnyee)

One beer, please = Jedno pivo prosim (yedno pivo proseem)

Waitress! = Slecno! (slechno)

The check, please! = Platit, prosim (platyit proseem.)

Fun Czech Phrases

Z technických důvodů zavřeno. = Closed due to technical reasons.

Volané číslo neexistuje = The number you are calling does not exist.

Ukončete výstup a nástup, dveře se zavírají! = Stop getting off or getting on, the doors are closing! (Prague subway announcement)

Příští zastávka: Náměstí Republiky = Next stop: Náměstí Republiky

Máte přání? = May I help you?

Dám si jedno pivo prosím. = I’ll have a beer please.

Kolik to stojí? = How much does it cost?

Zaplatíme. = We’re ready to pay. (asking for the bill at a restaurant)

Je tu obsazeno? = Is this seat taken?

Smím prosit? = Would you like to dance?

 

I hope you enjoy your trip to Prague if this makes you want to go and you haven’t been yet! As always I use this blog as a diary to keep up with our travels, but I don’t mind adding in a few helpful tips that helped us! 😊