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The day the four of us, YS JY Derek & I, bid Hazel and Ben goodbye, it snowed. It started as what looks like specs of dust flying around, so we were quite skeptical. It's coming end of March, we thought it's Spring and won't see snow again.

Then suddenly, all these white specs started falling faster and faster and I heard someone shout from behind - "It's snowing!!!".




Well, it stopped for about 10-15mins later, but heck. I just saw snow falling from the sky for the first time in my life! Nice :)

On the last day in Prague, we decided to do everything Czech - Czech food, Czech souvenir hunting, Czech marionette performance...

Early in the morning, we headed to Kava Kava Kava again. haha. Just had to go back to the hot choc the others ordered the night before.


Then went back to the Easter market beside the Astronomical Clock Tower. We tried this snack called "Langose". It's a large piece of dough (which I can't finish) with tomato sauce and cheese spread over it. I think Hazel and Ben started first, when we saw em eating... we just gotta try it. Then gradually it became a Czech food trying session in the market. hehe...


Yisi and I each having a piece of Langose, which i eventually couldn't finish and had to share w other guys :P

Strawberry & banana covered w choc...

which Yisi cannot resist :)

JY having a huge hotdog for breakfast

Deep fried bread sticks covered with cinnamon and sugar - super-duper yummy! haha...


After that we walked back to Charles Bridge again. Yes, AGAIN. sorry to kp bringing you to Charles Bridge, haha.. actually wanted to catch change of guards outside the palace, but cuz were lazying around in Kava, and taking our time to try Czech snacks, we missed it. One of the end towers of Charles Bridge is accessible to visitors i.e. you can climb up the tower to get a panoramic view across the river. We found out that we gotta pay, and being students on budget... we took photos from openings of the tower along the way up. hehe.

the tower on Charles Bridge where you can go to the top





Crossing the Charles Bridge to the Castle...

Up to the top with a really nice view of Prague Again...

somehow the 3 of us just look spas in this pic.

Ben trying to act cool in his aviator shades =P

There's a lot less visitors to Prague Castle cuz it's a Monday.


And amazingly, weekdays DO make a difference. The day before, you'd have to queue at least an hour to get into the Gothic cathedral. Monday - nobody! This Gothic church looks impressive on the outside, and the stained glasses are really pretty.







view of gothic cathedral from outisde

Gargoyles perched on the edges are characteristic of gothic cathedrals. They're not to scare pple or devils away, there really there to drain water off cuz the mouth of gargoyles are pipe openings :)

As night falls, we indulged in Czech dinner! Found a restaurant at the top of the hill, and the view overlooking Prague was breathtaking.




I tried Czech dumplings. Really different concept from Chinese dumplings. It's nice eating the first one.. when i reached the last one, i was so tired of it cuz they're just too starchy. Well, but it's still a nice meal :)



Some night pics courtesy of YS and JY :





'Don Giovanni' is called the 'Operas of Opera' composed by W.A. Mozart. Since it's specially composed for the Czechs and it's a marionette performance, we had to watch it! Killing 2 birds w 1 stone~ :)
This is the stage of the marionette performance. These marionettes, unlike the souvenir kind sold at shops, are size of 8-9 year old kids. Really big. Just imagine Sesame Street, but these marionettes are controlled from the top. The entire opera was sang in its original language - Italian. The entire performace was quite funny, and puppeteers controlled them very well, injecting humourous scenes in between.

Puppeteers showing themselves at the end of the performance :)

The city of Prague is uniquely colourful and rich in culture and at the same time dark and mysterious when night falls. Czech Republic is one of the city not occupied during WWI and WWII, so most of its architecture are untouched and retained their old splendor. Our journey to Prague started by taking DB train from Berlin. Oh did I mention DB trains are like the best and most efficient in Europe? Even their train stations are huge! macham stacking Citylink in multiple levels :)

This is the bottom most level which we're taking our train.

Our train gg to Prague, aka Praha Waiting for our train + train tracks :)



Checking into our hostel - 6 bed bunk all to ourselves :)

Our first sight of Prague outside our hostel.

interesting toilet :P

View from National Museum

This cross on the grounds in front of National Museum is a memorial for a protestor who burnt himself alive in his protest against Communist invasion

Along the streets of Wenceslas Square



Hazel researched on a well-known cafe called 'Kava Kava Kava' (Kava = coffee). We thought this was the one, so went in to take a look

Aiyo... from the background u can tell it's a SUPER ARTAs cafe. lol... we stared at the menu. Too ex. Walked out. haha

There's 2 Easter markets when we were there. Markets here are much nicer than our pasar malams cuz they decorate up for Easter! hehe... they sell souvenirs, loads of local snacks and food.

Super huge grilling pork

different stalls at the Easter market

VERY PRETTY Easter eggs! Guess what I'm having for breakfast? :P
Super long hotdog! lol... ok i still look v sleepy. ZZzz..

This is one of their very popular local snack. Basically bread rings with sugar on top. We see these kinda stalls repeatedly around the market.



More pretty eggs~~


On our way to Old town square :)
OOoh~...Sex museum. Kinky~ =x


The ever so famous and over-rated astrology clock. I'll show u why later.


Paiseh, i stupidly took the video in portrait. haha. ALOT of tourists will gather around the square to catch the 'amazing' action when the clock strikes the hour: Keep your eyes on the rectangular openings at the top.

This is what makes Prague beautiful. Cobbled streets with buildings neatly packed together side by side, each with their own design and colour :)

Easter Market no. 2


As we walk further on, we keep seeing these puppets:

They're called 'Marionettes'. a form of puppet art. There's Marionette performances too, which we caught on the second night :)


View along Charles Bridge





Finally walked to the end of Charles Bridge. Through this entrance leads us to Prague Castle





When most of the people are illiterate, all they need to do is look at the picture on top to tell em what the shops are selling. Picture speaks a thousand words...

This sells violins...

and this sells horses :)



Road up to Prague Castle which is the highest point...
Then lo and behold...!




Prague Castle gate...


The guard look so =_="


Flag's up! President is in :)

Impressive Gothic church within the castle






The road down to have beer in a medieval pub :D




Walking back along Charles Bridge again








Marionette peformance theatre...and more marionettes :)


Cool antique sight-seeing cars

and horse-carriages


This statue is taken outside the theatre which Mozart first came and performed. Oh, Mozart is VERY well-loved in Prague. And alot of the marionette performances are Don Giovanni - the opera Mozart composed especially for Prague :)


Super cute kid!

Walked back to the Old Town Square to explore the Easter market.



Gingerbread pastry stall




I got no idea why these sheeps and goats are here...



a lady at her stall decorating eggs


This street is called Parizska - Paris Street, where all the really artaz brands are.

cartier...CarTier...CARTIER~

Walked up this hill called Letenske Sady






Charles bridge is the one with many arches and statues

Really huge pendulum/metronome on the peak


Sunset...

Walked back to Old Town Square. haha...we're like walking about in circles.

Anyway, night falls and the market lights up :)


chocolates and popcorns and nuts

and a Really beautiful sunset sky


After that we found the real Kava Kava Kava - offers free internet, free wi-fi, and great coffee :)

Had a glass of iced-choc-machiato before we retreat for the day.

Yawnz...End of Day 1 in Prague.