Today was all about visiting some of the major tourist sights of the city. We began by making our way to the palace/cathedral which overlooks the city. We'd heard all this hype about it, so it was at the top of our list to go see.

First of all, the prices are quite steep, and we just really took a stab in the dark at what to buy. It was about $15 each for the inclusive ticket, plus another $15 each for the audio guide. We decided we could share the audio and opted for the cheaper tickets of $11 each. If we'd known then what we know now, we'd have only bought the ticket to enter the cathedral and not even bothered with the Palace. It was just a large stone building with bare furnishings. Maybe I've seen too many other palaces here in Europe, but this was a big letdown. The cathedral was beautiful inside and out, and was worth visiting. I don't know why the palace is such a huge attraction.

After we left the main gates of the palace, we were in a square that overlooks the city. There was a building to the right that is under restoration, and there was a guy in a harness painting. He had been there a few days before, too! I can't imagine being strapped in all day up that high. At least the weather was cooperating for him!

We began walking down these enormous steps toward an authentic Czech restaurant we'd been told to try. I had a beef stew with dumplings and Rich had another version that was served with cranberry sauce. Both were delicious! The dumplings are so different from anything I've ever eaten. They served us with a fork, and at first I thought the broth would not be thick enough for a fork, but it worked well.

We were just around the corner from the famous Charles Bridge, which is a pedestrian only crossing of the river. It was pretty crowded by the time we arrived, but I still enjoyed strolling along and just absorbing the atmosphere.

Once off the bridge, we made our way to an exchange office we'd seen the other day. We have quite a bit left in Bulgarian money that we need to get rid of, and most of the places we'd already tried either wanted a ridiculous commission or wouldn't take it at all. This place was no different. So, we will try again in another big city.

We were near the famous astronomical clock, so it was next on our must-see list. The tower that houses it is currently under renovation, so most of it was under scaffolding and a blue tarp, but the clock itself was able to be viewed. Unfortunately, it only strikes on the hour and we got there about 1:20, so we just decided to try to see it in action on another day.

By this time, we were both weary and ready to call it a day. All the walking on cobblestones is tiring. We found the subway and after a quick trip to the grocery store, we were tucked in for the evening.

One thing I have to say is that Prague is one of the most beautiful and well cared for cities I've ever seen. The buildings are all so clean and the architecture is so pretty--very few buildings are in need of repair. Even with the hordes of tourists, it's still a very charming city.