Day 43. Wednesday 13 May.

A sound night’s sleep, albeit with an early awakening. We both thought we’d slept in until after 0900, but it was not even 0700. Serenity is profound…can’t hear a leaf fall. But by 0900, next door neighbour was out with a sawing device, dealing with heavy-duty pruning of trees on his fence line. This possibly explains why our host has some new tree plantings in her backyard, a bit deeper away from the side fence.

Another cold & cloudy day, so armed with coats, brollies & galoshes we got under way. At to the local train station D decided to check with the ticket office that the tickets he’d bought yesterday were OK and was not surprised to be told they were wrong. The train guy then started to prepare the right tickets but stopped to ask how old we were. When told, he asked if we had proof – passports were presented. He wasn’t interested in checking them, advising us that as we were over 65, all public transport was free, and we just needed to have proof of age. Sure enough, on the train into Prague the ticket inspector asked for tickets, took one look at, but not into, our passports and continued with a smile.

From the now familiar station we wandered towards old Prague, past the Powder Gate Tower, ready for a coffee, which we found at Art and Coffee. The brownie was OK but not as good as those from O’Halloran Circuit.

Refreshed and refuelled, we continued on towards the town square, marvelling at the architecture – T remarked that it was like a fairy tale storybook. We just gawked.

There were crowds, busily taking photographs and (grrrr) selfies. One group of five women each posed multiple times, in turn, in front of a door that D was waiting patiently to photograph without people in the frame: in the end he tersely (but politely) asked them to step aside to allow his quick photo, which they did before resuming their colonisation of the spot.

Meandered toward & through the Jewish quarter, passing by the Old Jewish Cemetery, without feeling the need to go in. T had a little peek in a vintage shop: lots of spray-painted jackets & leather.

 Feeling peckish, looked for something savoury to eat. Options were scarce but eventually found Kafka Hummus Café, which turned out to be a treat, including great service from a very personable, humorous (and pretty) young woman. She got a tip. T had a warming lentil soup, a flashback to her trip to Prague with Fiona many years ago (1999?) and a very real ginger tea after. D had falafel and chips (passed the small salad bowl to T) and a big beer.

On we walked, over one of the bridges, past the Kafka Museum which we’ll visit tomorrow. As we were passing a ‘pub’, we were drawn by some terrific group singing, so stepped inside, along with quite a few other passersby. Ten men and one woman were singing a Capella, sitting around a table, (with beers ) what appeared to be a well known, responsive song. What it was about. A rehearsal? Just a fun group? Unlikely tourist attraction? No idea. Took a video, but too big to post here.

Stopped at the Shakespeare Book Shop, selling titles in English. Didn’t have the book T was looking for (Niall Williams’ 4 letters of love). Back over the Charles Bridge with lots of other tourists and locals, & after a little provisions shop at Billa, headed footsore for the train home.

Passports again waved to the ticket inspector who just nodded. Internet had been down this morning and was still down. Hosts came over to fix the problem and we had a lovely chat with Helena while Lada worked.