Goodbye Poland, hello Czech Republic

Tuesday, June 07, 2016
Prague, Czech Republic
After our great breakfast I was prepared to tackle the walk back to the station. Allowed plenty of time and got there about 45 minutes early. The train to Tanvald was another small modern one. The track was across the Jizera Mountains (and the Polish/Czech Republic border). For the most part we followed the Jizera River, not much of a river yet, and we had glimpses of poeple fishing, canoeing and sunbathing. This train took less than an hour.

We then had a 2 hour 17 minute wait at Tanvald . It is more an industrial area than a tourist town. The small bar at the station would only take cash and we didn't have any. The time went relatively quickly - had a short stroll around the flat area of town, read the Bundaberg Newsmail which Bryan downloaded earlier, did the sudoku; and generaly stressed about the next train!

We could've caught a train at 12.27 but it had 4 stops with only 3 minutes connection time at one place - scrapped. Then there was one at 12.28 with 2 stops but I'd heard bad things about changing trains at Usti Nad..- so scrapped this one too. The one we went for was the Os5425 at 13.40 with no changes. HOWEVER, the timetable on the wall at Tanvald said this train stopped at Tumov. Should we wait for a 9 minute later train??? I wrote the two train details down in 2 columns and used hand gestures - the ticket lady seemed insistant we take the early one.

Many trains arrive and leave. The electronic signboard is blank . A man puts little sign boards on platforms. One reads Zeleny Brod... we will go through that station. On further inspection we find a carriage marked Prague and R1147. It appears the two trains, Os5425 and R1147, are now combined. Our carriage traveled with a variety of other carriages, but it went to Prague alright. It wasn't air-conditioned but was comfy enough. And not crowded. It moved fast but not too fast. Very enjoyable. Arrived in Prague spot on time at 16.39.  

An easy 20 minute walk to the hotel. Diagonally left across the park, carry on left on Ople.., then right on Vaklavske and follow it right down. After checking in and taking a breather (and getting on the internet), we went exploring. We were only a few minutes away from the astronomical clock; hung around there for a few minutes to watch it strike 6 pm. Then along a variety of narrow streets to the Charles bridge; walked across and admired the Vltava river.

We had to make sure any restaurant we went to accepted card or Euros. Found a nice place that had a garden and a guitar player. I had ribs again and Bryan had deer. Yum. Back to see the clock strike 9. Bed about 9.30.
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