Magical Prague August 31 - September 3, 2018

Prague was a magical city for us.  After talking to Donna's childhood friend Susan who has lived in Prague for ten years, we decided to take a cab (we had read to beware of crooked cabbies), and our experience was a good one, and reasonably priced (about $25 to central Prague).  Our lovely and spacious two room apartment was located in the Castle District a half block from the great and affordable tram system and only a ten minute walk to the Charles bridge and "tourist central".  Our time here was a mix of visiting the touristed spots like the Charles Bridge (Rick Steve's favorite stroll in Europe), the old town square, the Jewish quarter (only 5% of Prague's Jews survived the Holocaust), the Saint Vitus cathedral and Prague Castle; and seeing the off the beaten path Prague with Susan and her friends.  I took some of my favorite night photos I've ever taken, especially the ones of old town square and the Charles Bridge late at night after and during a rain when we were walking back from the opera.  The opera was The marriage of Figaro by Mozart and we saw it at the Estates Theatre a few blocks off old town square.  Mozart premiered and conducted Don Giovanni at this theatre and we sat in Box 11!  It is now our most magical classical music event we have ever done (Just beating out seeing Vivaldi's Four seasons in Venice in a historic old church - sitting 8 feet from the cello).  The theatre was beautiful and intimate, the production was outstanding, and we were pinching ourselves at how wonderful the whole experience was.  Another fun outing with Susan was going to the John Lennon wall.  After Lennon was killed young Czech's began painting on this wall and the communists kept painting over it, and the cycle would repeat.  Susan brought paints and she and Donna painted on the wall.  It was very fun.  Susan's friends are a fascinating eclectic bunch and we enjoyed meeting many of them, and eating out in non-touristy eateries.  We really loved our time in Prague.  Here are many photos from our wonderful time there including perhaps the best night photos I've ever taken.