Charles Bridge from St Vitus Bell Tower

St Vitus stained glass window -

this cathdral is in the Prague Castle Grounds

Charles Bridge

I was warned that Prague would be flooded with tourists but after my very quiet saunter around the south part of the Czech Republic for seven days (where twice I was the only person in the hotel) I don't think I was really able to comprehend the sheer number of people I would encounter. At first I thought I might hide in my lovely hotel in the Old Town Quarter but thought I better venture out and see why seemingly half the world had descended on the city. I thought I would be immune to castles after seeing so many in Moravia but after walking about three hundered metres to the Charles Bridge and looking up at the pride of the city I decided this was what everyone came for - the view of the castle.

So after visiting the castle, climbing 300 steps to the top of the St Vitus Bell Tower, riding the trams and the funicular railway and viewing the Communism Museum (ironically found sandwiched between a McDonalds and a Casino) I left Prague content that the people seem to be responding to their freedom relatively happily. But just between you and me I would love to see a dicatator say enough already with the street hawkers on the Charles Bridge.