On November 28th a group of fifty from various branches throughout the country departed to Prague for a three night trip to the Prague Christmas Market. On arrival in Prague we were met by our guide Sarka who gave us a brief introduction to the city before departure to our hotel The Clarion Congress. In route we got a bit more insight to the various treats to look forward to during our stay.
Our hotel was excellent lovely bedrooms, the breakfast buffet was first class and our location was perfect as we were located beside the metro station, and a nice surprise for anyone over seventy they were entitled to free travel on all public transport .
After a good night sleep we departed on a city tour most of which we walked, Sarka was excellent and we all learned a lot.
Prague Castle which has been an important symbol of the Czech State for more than a thousand years was our first stop, it is dominated by the Saint Vitus, Wenceslas and Adalbert Cathedral which dates back to 1344. Charles Bridge is spectacular and building began in 1357 by Charles 1v. The bridge is dominated by thirty statues of saints and the views of the river and city are a sight to behold.
A must for all our group was a visit to the Church of Our Lady Victorious to see the statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague, the statue was originally from Spain and donated to the Carmelites in 1628.
The old Town Hall and Astronomical clock are spectacular and date back to the 14th century. The Christmas markets at night were a must visit for the atmosphere, a feast for the sights and senses.
Some of our group also enjoyed a classical concert in The Municipal House, a cruise on the river and a traditional Czech night.
Overall we packed a huge amount of all the delights the city has to offer in our action packed three days.
As we bid a very fond farewell to Prague it was agreed by all who travelled it was a truly wonderful trip and they were looking forward to the next adventure.
Marie Roche – Social Committee Member
