Traveling on an Empty Stomachs

The Beer Prayer

Our lager,
Which art in barrels,
Hallowed be thy drink.
Thy will be drunk, (I will be drunk),
At home as it is in the tavern.
Give us this day our foamy head,
And forgive us our spillage,
As we forgive those who spill against
us.
And lead us not to incarceration,
But deliver us from hangovers.
For thine is the beer, the bitter, and
the lager.

– Barmen

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC

July 16 – 18, 2012

Prague in 10:

1. Beer
2. Gothic
3. Pork
4. Castles
5. Hearty
6. Cool & Rainy
7. Dumplings
8. Cabbage
9. Ancient
10. Mozart

Nothing more dramatic than arriving to a city surrounding by romanesque and gothic architecture just as a rain storm begins to hit.  Grumpy from the long flight and time difference, I opted for a bit of breakfast and a long, necessary nap.  After waking to a charming and cheerful new hubby, I snapped out of my sleepy slumber to enjoy the city and embraced the fact that I would need to buy an umbrella and a sweater to make it through the remainder of the day.

Lucky for me, I think rain is romantic.  It makes you snuggle close to the one you’re with – especially if you are sharing one umbrella.  It forces you to stop and seek shelter when the storm picks up.  This all leading one to forget about where you’re headed and immerse yourself in the moment at hand.  Jonathan, being the best hugger and comforter I know, made the rain feel like a blessing.

Sounds gushy, I know.  But hey, it was the first day of our honeymoon.  I’m allowed to go a bit overboard on the love stuff for now!

Two of the best memories I have of Prague:

Exploring the grounds of Prague Castle on day one (after the storm passed) all the while playing around with our camera…impromptu photo shoot, why not?

Prague Castle

Check out the door hinge…it’s bigger than Jonathan’s head. And who is that carved in the door? Maybe we should have gotten a tour guide.

Captivated by the architecture…

Man down!

The Honeymooners

Taking a break…

Wasn’t unusual for us to be caught staring straight up – with views like this is would be a shame to not stop and take it all in.

Another memorable moment captured in photos is a late night at the Beer Museum.  This is a must do for anyone who loves beer.  To be honest, I have no idea if any part of this pub resembles a traditional museum or not.  We never made it past our table near the front door – the beers were just too good to leave.

Beer tasting at Beer Museum. Na zdravi – cheers!

Beer annihilation…

Beer love…

Beer dilemma…what to eat with beer?

Beer fog…am I really eating beef jerky? First time for everything!

Beer feistiness…

Silence of the beers…

Beer aftermath…hidden on the second shelf are omelettes too. Oh boy!

And for the food!

My (our) favorite meal in Prague was at Le Degustation Boheme Bourgoise.  Jonathan reserved us a table weeks before the wedding.  Le Degustation was awarded a Michelin star this year.  It was a well-deserved earning and for that reason I will save my pics and thoughts for a post solely based on our experience there.  So here’s how we filled our bellies elsewhere….yum!!!

Street food in old town square – a proper lunch! Klobasa, halusky, and slovak donuts, with beer of course

Slovak donuts

Local cheese and honey with wine jelly and Moravian wine

Prague sausage for breakfast in Wenceslas Square

Smažený sýr (breaded and fried cheese on a bun) in Wenceslas Square

Guláš polévka (goulash soup)

Vepřo & zelo with bramboráky (roasted pork & sauerkraut with potato pancakes)

Svíčková na smetaně (marinated beer with dumplings)

Indulging in some czech varieties of cream cheese with crackers while touring the city…

Koláče – pastry with poppy seeds and strawberries

Bílá rajčatová polévka (white tomato soup)

 

In Summation ~ Prague, Czech Republic – 3 nights

• Hotel Kempinsky – SLEEP HERE
• Prague Castle
• Old Town Square
• Jewish Museum & cemetery
• Charles Bridge
• Le Degustation – EAT HERE!
• Museum of Communism
• Dali Exhibit
• Wenceslas Square
• Beer Museum – DRINK HERE!
• Vinograf – DRINK HERE when you need a break from the beer
• Klub Lávka – DON’T EAT HERE but have a drink and people watch

Verdict ~ Travel here…stay in the Jewish district (known as Josefov), eat the local dishes and save room for plenty of beer!  All you really need is two full days.