Prague (3)

This was the first of our free days that we had deliberately booked at the beginning of our trip and we wandered out in the vague direction of the old town. Happy to say we found it and by happy chance came across the astrological clock just as it was about to strike. Also more shops selling garnet jewellery than you could shake a stick at. This developed into a bit of a theme and I certainly looked at a lot of it, without ever actually buying myself any. 

Astrological clock.

There were some beautiful Art Deco details on some of the buildings

and, as always at the World Congress it seems, a weird  statue.

 We crossed the river as we had planned to look at the castle area in the afternoon. We started off finding somewhere quiet and shady for lunch - not as easy as it sounds in Prague in June. 

It was a long steep walk to the top of the hill where the castle precinct is (quite naturally) situated. Great views on the way up though. 

This is the outside of the Cathedral. We  peeked inside at the truly magnificent stained glass but couldn't get far in without paying  that was as much as we saw. There are several things to see up there but you can't buy tickets just for the bits you want to see, just an overall ticket for everything. We decided against because it  was very very hot and some things we really couldn't be bothered with. (I know - shocking. And I used to be such a culture/history junkie as well) 

We also didn't have totally unlimited time as we were due at the opera that evening. The opera house has been recently restored to its original rococo magnificence. Those of  you who know me In Reel Life as it were, will know that rococo isn't really my thing, but for what it is, it is magnificent. 

 We saw The Flying Dutchman. Wagner would never be my first choice but that was what was on so that was what we saw and it was very good. Conductor let his orchestra play a bit too loudly for the comfort of the singers but apart from that all was good. It was a weird production but since it was Wagner that didn't bother me. It was weird but it worked. 

And then to bed. We'd decided on a boat trip on the Vltava the next morning followed by conference registration in the afternoon and the first session in the evening. The work was about to begin.