Day 16: 16 degrees in Prague

For the third time in a row, we were able to explore a new city well-rested. It was still quite chilly outside around half past eight, so we each needed a vest and our softshell jacket. Slightly hungry, we crossed the still sparsely populated old town and maneuvered ourselves into a cozy restaurant for breakfast. Bacon and eggs for Mini and a healthy cereal for Steffi made us ready for the day.

We wandered through the beautiful streets on foot, covering a considerable distance. Our first destination was Prague Castle, which could be reached through charming alleys. Before reaching the castle, we visited the well-maintained Wallenstein Garden with its many fabulous statues. After passing through it, we climbed up the streets paved with small cobblestones, surrounded by beautiful old and highly ornamented buildings. Many street musicians accompanied our march with various styles of music. From violin to harmonica to groups with multiple instruments, there was everything. Just before reaching the castle, the sun illuminated the last hundred meters of our way. Its rays even made us sweat a little, so we took off our outer layers. Compared to the early hours of the morning, there were now hordes of tourists on the streets.

Once we reached the top, we had a beautiful view of Prague and the front of the fortress. Curiously, we passed through a security checkpoint and saw plenty of tourists wandering around the site. Initially undecided whether we should explore the largest castle complex in the world from the inside, we ultimately decided against it as an extensive stay would have exceeded our time frame and we still wanted to see other parts of Prague.

So we went back out and a bit further up to a park, which we then descended back down to the old town. Along this route, we rarely encountered tourists, and the stone-paved streets exuded a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere. The closer we got to the center, the more activity there was on the streets. We strolled back to the center across the beautiful Charles Bridge, passing by caricaturists, jewelry sellers, and huge crowds of people moving slowly. We had beautiful sights to admire along the way. We took a short break at a café and continued wandering through the city. Along the way, we passed the National Theater, the Dancing House, the National Museum, and the Powder Tower with the beautiful Municipal House next to it.

By that time, our feet had already carried us several kilometers and were longing for a break. Our stomachs were also starting to rumble, so we looked for a suitable restaurant. We had initially planned to eat sushi, but the slightly higher prices led us back to the Czech restaurant where we had breakfast in the morning. Sushi turned into grilled salmon and gnocchi, and we didn't regret this decision at all. Since we had already explored a large part of Prague's old town, we strolled through the Jewish Quarter, along more streets, and finally back to our accommodation without a specific plan. We ended the day, prepared for our onward journey, and snuggled into bed.