Jičin to Prague

The breakfast at the ReStart Hotel was outstanding! There were scrambled eggs, fried eggs, bacon, sausage, wiener type sausage, oatmeal with fruit, polenta porridge and that was just the hot food. The staff even came around offering Prosecco! There was also the usual sliced meats, cheese, vegetables, cereals, yogurts, pastries and more but this was what started Norm’s day, including a mimosa made when he poured his fizzy glass into the orange juice.

Pancakes with fruit and real maple syrup! Not quite  as good as homemade buttermilk ones. My breakfast more traditional, muesli and yogurt. But Norman finished with an orange theme! 

As we hiked down to the bus depot, first we had to take a photo of the spectacular blossoms on the street! Reminded us of Victoria.

Then we came upon a Saturday market. So many vendors selling plants and the dragon keeping tabs.

Off to Prague by bus and Yellow Bunny was very excited. 

Once we arrived in Prague we were a bit surprised to find that we were let off quite a ways out of downtown. So we bought a ticket for we thought was the metro and hoped on. Turns out it was the wrong ticket but no one checked and we were able to just walk off. Then using good old Google we found our way to the hotel. Dropped our bags and decided today would be a shopping day. First!!!! Norm has run out of books to read. Yay for Shakespeare, the book store, just over the river and down the hill from Prague’s Hradcsmy Castle.

Four books later he will be ready for the 9-hour bus ride to Ljubljana. 

An update on the wild life in Czechia. We were surprised to find hardly any wildlife  in all the woods, meadows and hills we walked. In total we saw 2 deer, one stork, one tree frog and a couple of beaver or muskrat-like rodents called nutria ( not well liked in Prague where we saw them). 

Apparently they carry disease, can bite if too close and are eroding the shores! 

Off we headed to buy some Prague souvenirs.

A bike T-shirt with Czechia beer! Time for tea and a latte

And everywhere you look the buildings are quite spectacular. (Norm too)

Back to our hotel. Unfortunately the previous room we had a week ago has some plumbing problems so the front desk manager apologized and said we have to move to the 6th floor. The room is a bit bigger but we won’t be charged more. It is so big it has a hallway! 

Two bedrooms, three TV’s.

And a full kitchen 

Views from the windows

That’s the castle! Other direction 

More spires. We were home in time to catch some of King Charles’ coronation! Yellow Bunny and Norm while BBC talked to a Canadian.

Time to gather some food for our road trip and a final meal in Prague. We went to the Food Lab, blending traditional Czechia food with creativity and modern design! I had a beetroot risotto with mushrooms (really good)

And Norm had Duck-stuffed caramelle  pasta, served with red cabbage purée and potato chips. Plus a glass of Pinot Grigio. A perfect farewell dinner

Back to our luxury suite where the hotel offers free tea and pastries so up to our room for our dessert.

It has been a great visit to Czechia, a small country with outsized scenery and amazing natural and human-made attractions. Before, had no idea about this place or plans to ever come this way. We’re glad we made this long detour.