Two big cities
After visiting a nature reserve and two smaller towns we have ventured first to Prague for a day and now to Vienna on our way to London. So what I think of as the three city middle phase of the trip.
We began our trip in Prague with a ride on the Metro to the Castle. We watched the changing of the guard and then had our lunch in the palace gardens before waling in the castle. This actualy a very large area of building including two churches: St Vitus Cathedral and St Georges.
We then walked down from the Palace passed St Nicholas's Church to the Charles Bridge over the Vlatva. There was lots to see and the time was short - never a good combination. Fortunately although there was a heavy shower of rain this passed and the weather improved. We continued our walk through the old Town square and the Astronomical Clock to Wenceslas Square where everyone has some time to shop and look around.
Today after tearful farewells to their hosts we left Pardubice - it was great to spent time in such as pleasant Czech town with really good hosts.
We arrived in Vienna after a 4 hour drive. We crossed the border with no problems and arrive in Vienna around 1 pm. After some instruction we set off in groups to walk into St Stephan's Square. All the groups managed this activity showing the skills of the geographers and orienteers in the party. Each group went to the top of the tower of the cathedral - this was in alift - a good thought in a gothic cathedral one student thought. However this cathedral was damaged in the war and has been reconstucted so it was not the medieval stone masons who put in the lift - though they would probably have appreciated it. The Mozart Museum was our final visit for the day - again an extremely interesting place to visit. Very well presented with a audio tour but also amazing to think this was where the Marriage of Figuro was composed and to a feel for the actual man. The house the street all being basically as when he lived there.
After the walk back I don't think there will be any problems keeping to our own rule and the hotels request for silence after 10pm!
After visiting a nature reserve and two smaller towns we have ventured first to Prague for a day and now to Vienna on our way to London. So what I think of as the three city middle phase of the trip.
We began our trip in Prague with a ride on the Metro to the Castle. We watched the changing of the guard and then had our lunch in the palace gardens before waling in the castle. This actualy a very large area of building including two churches: St Vitus Cathedral and St Georges.
We then walked down from the Palace passed St Nicholas's Church to the Charles Bridge over the Vlatva. There was lots to see and the time was short - never a good combination. Fortunately although there was a heavy shower of rain this passed and the weather improved. We continued our walk through the old Town square and the Astronomical Clock to Wenceslas Square where everyone has some time to shop and look around.Today after tearful farewells to their hosts we left Pardubice - it was great to spent time in such as pleasant Czech town with really good hosts.
We arrived in Vienna after a 4 hour drive. We crossed the border with no problems and arrive in Vienna around 1 pm. After some instruction we set off in groups to walk into St Stephan's Square. All the groups managed this activity showing the skills of the geographers and orienteers in the party. Each group went to the top of the tower of the cathedral - this was in alift - a good thought in a gothic cathedral one student thought. However this cathedral was damaged in the war and has been reconstucted so it was not the medieval stone masons who put in the lift - though they would probably have appreciated it. The Mozart Museum was our final visit for the day - again an extremely interesting place to visit. Very well presented with a audio tour but also amazing to think this was where the Marriage of Figuro was composed and to a feel for the actual man. The house the street all being basically as when he lived there.
After the walk back I don't think there will be any problems keeping to our own rule and the hotels request for silence after 10pm!
