London 🇬🇧 - Prague 🇨🇿

Well, hello 2024 🎉. My watch confirms 2hr 53mins sleep, and so, a little slow when the alarm went off - said good bye to Harley my gorgeous housesit doggy who raised one eyebrow and went back to sleep on my bed.  To the bus stop to the train to Gatwick - half filled with party goers and half with suitcases.  The cheapest flights are usually at the uncomfortable hours 😂

A few hours later I'm in Prague, Czech Republic - new language, new currency and public transport.

I emerged from the underground station at the huge memorial honouring those who died in the school shooting a week ago 😥 

A short walk to my hostel in the Old Town to drop off my pack and then off to explore.

I've been to Prague before for work and had a little sightseeing time too.  I decided to have a cruisy afternoon wandering the markets in the Old town square,

treating myself to a Nutella trdelniks (chimney cake) after watching it being made,

enjoying the buzz of many nationalities and then went to the Jewish area.  

The Jewish area is identifiable by the footpath paving which the Jews were not allowed to cross. 

I visited the graveyard which, as a result, houses over 100,000 bodies,

buried 12 persons deep as well as some Synagogues that are now museums.

Then a wander down to the river side as the sun set and seeing the castle beautifully lit up on the hill on the other side of the river. 

The famous Charles bridge with its medieval towers at each end and then walked up to the castle on the hill for great views and saw the final changing of the guard for the day.

I went to a restaurant near the castle and had a table down in the cellars for my goulash, served in a bread loaf and a glass of the local beer.  Czech has the highest beer consumption in the world, beating Germany by 10%! I chatted with some British girls at the next table for an hour as they had been to Albania in the last few months and avid travellers.  Then to my hostel.  A mixed dorm and have had a great shared travel tips chat with the 3 guys in my dorm tonight - Spanish, Korean and French.  

A long and fabulous day and feeling thankful to continue this adventure into 2024 🎉😊

London 🇬🇧 Day 9

 

Happy New Year from London!

Today I decided to visit some of the classic sights.  I started with church at St Martin in the Fields church at Trafalgar square as my friend Papa said it had good acoustics.  He was right 😊

Then on a double decker bus up The Strand past St Paul's Cathedral to London Bridge.

A wander on the bridge and then along the Thames to the Tower of London before walking to the beautiful Tower Bridge. 

The sun came out but the temp has plummeted today with a biting wind 😊. I walked across the bridge and then along the Thames past colourful food markets and lots of fun sculptures.

I headed to The Borough Markets as recommended by Sarah and they were buzzine with quality produce stalls with tasting plates.  Then the restaurant stalls with foods from around the world.  A sample plate of indian snacks and a Falafel wrap 😊

Then back home to play with the dog and clean the house as I head off in the morning.

Then on the train to my vantage point for the fireworks on Vauxhall bridge by 6pm.  Closer to the London Eye is the ticketed area.  Freezing winds and some rain keeping people away till about 10pm (could have stayed home for 4 more hours 😳) but I chatted with a lovely Spanish girl, an Indian family, a group from the Netherlands, and many others.  Helped to pass the time while shivering.  My early start meant I had front row of the bridge with views of the amazing fireworks and drone display.  A night to remember.  Then the fantastic London public transport had me hop straight on to a train that met a bus and in bed for 1am! 

Happy New Year! 🎉🎉🎉