Day 4
Day 4 of the tour marked our last day in Prague. It was a bittersweet day for me as Prague was the 1st European city I had ever visited, and even after 6 days, I was not ready to let go! The morning started with the Velvet Revolution Tour, and then the group had free time until later in the afternoon. In the evening, there was a surprise planned in the Smetana Museum, followed by the Farewell to Prague dinner. For my free time, I squeezed in one more museum visit, shopped at a local bookstore, and finally tried the ubiquitous chimney cake!
Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution walking tour can best be described as a "walk through Prague's history." This morning, Honza led the group through the streets of Prague, discussing the impact communist rule had on the city and sharing insight on key historical moments such as the Prague Spring and the Velvet Revolution. The tour ended in Wenceslas Square, the site of mass demonstrations during the Velvet Revolution.
What made the walking tour interesting and meaningful was Honza's sharing of personal stories about how communist rule affected his family and personal accounts of historical events he witnessed as a child.
This marked the end of our time with Honza and the end of our sightseeing activities in Prague.
Coffee Break
Mid-way through our walking tour, the group was treated to coffee and a treat at Cukrarna Mysak. This lovely café in New Town, not far from Wenceslas Square, was a wonderful respite from the heat and walking. Wearing a long-sleeved black top was definitely not a good choice for today!
Národní Muzeum
My final sightseeing adventure in Prague was a visit to the Historical Building of the Národní Muzeum. This museum was wow in every regard: impressive history and science exhibits, exquisite murals, beautiful glass ceilings and dome, and stunning marble floors and columns. The Historical Building also has an observation deck that offers great views of Prague. I only had about two hours to visit this museum, which is a shame because one can truly spend hours at this site!
View from the observation deck: below is Wenceslas Square, and in the distance, you can catch a glimpse of St. Vitus Cathedral, the Clock Tower, and the Church of the Lady Tyn.
Shopping
Knowing I collect books as souvenirs, Andrea recommended I stop by Academia, a local bookstore near Wenceslas Square. It was a wonderful suggestion, as I found three books to add to my collection, plus some lovely postcards and bookmarks.
Definitely recommend this bookstore if you are in the area!
Snack Time
There is no escaping the chimney cake in Prague! Everywhere you turn, there is a stall selling these delectable desserts, and I finally got around to buying one on my last day in the city. I love, love Lotus biscuits, so I opted for number 9.
Chimney Cake Rating: 8 out of 10; overall, not too bad, but the cake portion was a little dry.
Surprise
This evening, there was a planned cultural surprise at the Bedřich Smetana Museum, which turned out to be an opera concert. The performance featured a pianist, soprano, and baritone. Music transcends language, and while we could not understand the words, the beauty of their voices and the passion in their movements moved many to tears.
The opera concert was one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences and a major highlight of the tour.
The soprano, Sona Godarska (pictured below talking to fellow tourmates), is active on social media, so you too have the opportunity to listen to her amazing voice!
Dinner Time
After the opera performance, the group headed to Národní Kavárna for the farewell to Prague dinner. We were seated in a separate area of the restaurant, and some tables were a tight squeeze, but we made it work!
This evening, I traded my usual lemonade for a glass of white wine to commemorate the wonderful time I had spent in Prague! The meal at Národní Kavárna was delicious, especially the split pea soup. My tourmates shared that their food (I believe it was chicken) was exceptional.
Both Prague restaurants selected for the tour offered a wonderful atmosphere, excellent food, and great service!
On the way back to the hotel, we spotted these cool butterfly sculptures made from the fuselage of Spitfire airplanes. And yes, the wings move!