Drive to Prauge

We hit the road at 8 am. Prauge is five hours away. We wanted to get there so we could tour the Jewish section of town in the afternoon It is not open on Saturday and Sunday so we need to make sure and see it by sundown on Friday.

Well let me say this......we made it. Ok it took about 7 hours but we did it. Mostly without directions. Again that darn gps would be handy. We have printed out instructions from google maps and everything was great for about 3 hours. We must of missed a turn.....next thing we know I am getting directions in German on how to get to the czech border. I buy a map....we gather some hope and we do not take Han's advice. We ended up right were we needed to be. The drive through Austria is just beautiful Little quaint towns....al the houses in great condition. ....lots of flowers....great architecture. Then we cross the Czech border (btw, no border guards......nothing....not even welcome....) and the drive goes to slumville. the communists did a great job in the hinter lands. It was an unbelievable difference.

Anyway....we get off too early for downtown Prague .....now we have no directions....we stop two cops who give me wrong directions.....then we stop in a hotel...and they get us going in the right direction. Now we are in downtown Prague and have no idea where the hotel is....no map...nothing. (great planning right?......nope these cities are crazy, even with a map it's nuts). It's Vienna all over again. We know we are close....so I ask someone and they tell me the hotel is about 100 yards behind us....but you cannot drive there....this is starting to sound familiar.....so I walk to the hotel and the girl tells me that I have to go all the way around the downtown and come in the back way.....oh cripes....1 1/2 hours later we make it to the right side of the hotel where we can drive to it.

What took 1 1/2 hours you may ask....driving down a pedestrian court.....being corned in one way streets constantly and lastly being pulled over by the police for driving in the train lane....to say the least, the ride was interesting.

More about Prauge tomorrow ....one thing....it's a truly beautiful city.