We got up at 4:30 a.m. and made it to the train station in Salzburg and got on the train to Linz with no problems. The train from Salzburg to Linz was another one of those great Railjet trains, so it was super-fancy. The one we got on in Linz was a little iffy. Then we noticed that on the windows of the car we got on, were "reserved" signs. David said we should just sit there and see if someone came. A train agent came on the train and told us we had to move because the car was reserved for 55 people in a group. Ok, so we moved to unreserved seats. The train left the station...and our car was completely empty except for the three of us and one other person, and the "group of 55" never got on.
So we go to Ceske, get off the train and go looking for what track our next train is on. The sign says "bus". David goes to talk to a ticket person, who of course doesn't speak English - and we know absolutely no Czech. He goes and stands under the sign again as if the word "bus" will disappear. We are standing there like that and some guy with one of those orange vests comes up to me saying something in Czech. I say "no", and he keeps insisting, saying something. Then I realize I'm hearing the word "Praha" (Prague). So I finally say yes, and he motions us all outside where there are about 7 buses lined up at the curb crammed full of people. They led us all the way down the line to one that had open seats and an underneath baggage compartment. At this point we aren't completely sure what is going on, but Kate thinks she heard them say they are taking us to another train. Even longer story short, they took us to another town (including a detour that took 45 min.) to get on a train. And this train was like something out of a bad movie. I was afraid to get on the thing. But we made it to Prague about 2 hours late.
Our taxi driver gave us a running commentary about Prague, its' beer, its' wine and places of interest. Our hotel is near a landmark called the Charles Bridge. Our taxi driver described it as "only 600 years old". He dropped us off, not in front of the hotel, but across the street. He said "there is the hotel", took our luggage out of his trunk and left.
Once we got into the hotel, though, all was well. This hotel is one of our favorite hotel companies that we always stay in. The people are so helpful and do everything to make us feel at home. The terrace where we ate lunch looks across the river to the old St. Nicholas church, (also "only" 600 years old) and the palace. This is a beautiful city. The buildings are all old. Prague was not bombed during WWII so the "old city" where our hotel is located, was not damaged and everything is original architecture. We walked by a square where a large screen showed the televised world cup matches and had a party atmosphere, where we had a beer and relaxed.
95% of restaurants in Prague are Italian. so we went to this great little italian place near the jewish district. When the meal was over, David says to the waitress, "I think we are finished, could we get our check?" Kate and I started cracking up and David was clueless as to why. Well, for the slower crowd, the people here are called Czech, pronounced the same. So we were joking that the waitress was going to bring us a Czech person to take home with us. haha. Tomorrow we will have a private tour of the city and will be able to take more pictures and actually know what we are looking at.
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