Snowdrops in Stromovka Park © Ricky Yates
During the past three weeks, we’ve had numerous bright sunny days, enhanced by the hours of daylight getting longer each day. This has encouraged Sybille and I to get out walking and exploring again, especially on Mondays which are meant to be my regular weekly day-off.
As I wrote in an earlier post, three weeks ago on Monday 16th February, we made a round trip to Prague Zoo. A week later on Monday 23rd February, late in the morning, we left the flat, took the tram and travelled to Hlubocepy in the southern suburbs of Prague. From the tram stop, we made our way down to the side of the Vltava River and then walked all along the river bank to the village of Zbraslav.
The Vltava River with Central Prague in the distance © Ricky Yates
Our walk started, a little beyond the more distant of the two bridges in this photograph.
Barabizna Mexican Restaurant & Café © Ricky Yates
Just as we were entering Zbraslav and were about to walk into the main square, Sybille spotted this beautifully decorated building in a street off to our left – the Barabizna Mexican Restaurant & Café. It was just as beautifully decorated inside as on the outside. Here we enjoyed a most delightful very, very late lunch 🙂 Sybille’s only disappointment was discovering that none of the staff hablaba español 🙁
Last Monday 2nd March, got somewhat taken over by preparation for my presentation the following evening for our Lent Course on the Bohemian Reformation, about the writing of the early English Church Reformer, John Wycliffe and its influence on Jan Hus. But with the sun still shining in the late afternoon, we set off and walked up to the top of the wooded ridge called Baba, that lies behind the complex of flats where we live. As I’ve previously explained, we live in Podbaba. ‘Pod’ in Czech, means ‘under’ or ‘beneath’ – hence we live under the ridge called ‘Baba’.
Residence Podbaba and Hotel International © Ricky Yates
On a clear day like last Monday, the views from the Baba ridge are outstanding. In the foreground of this photograph is ‘Residence Podbaba’, where the Chaplaincy Flat is located. Beyond, is the wonderful example of Stalinist-Baroque architecture, now once more known as ‘Hotel International’ (formerly the Crowne Plaza Hotel). The tall white chimney belongs to the plant that supplies our hot water and heating.
Stadion Juliska, the home of FK Dukla Praha © Ricky Yates
This is the view to the right of the first photograph and shows Stadion Juliska, the home of FK Dukla Praha. With Spring on its way, the Czech football season resumed a couple of weeks ago, following the regular mid-season break.
Kaufland supermarket, Hotel International & Prague Castle © Ricky Yates
Whilst this view, shows our nearby Kaufland supermarket with a large red ‘K’ on the side of the building, with Hotel International directly behind and Prague Castle in the distance.
Farmer’s Market © Ricky Yates
This past weekend, the weather really has become Spring-like, with warm sunshine during the day. The nights are still cool because of clear skies, but the temperature hasn’t been below freezing for several nights. Yesterday, Saturday 7th March, under these blue skies, the regular Farmer’s Market at Vítezné námestí resumed, after a break of over two months since Christmas. No market in the Czech Republic would be complete without flowers….
Beer stall at Farmer’s Market © Ricky Yates
…….and certainly not without beer!
Štefánikuv most with the yellow spire of St. Clement’s Church beyond © Ricky Yates
This morning, the warm sunshine meant that it was warmer outside the Church than within it! Following worship and Coffee Hour, Sybille and I decided to walk home. We crossed Štefánikuv most and then climbed the steps and steep path to Letna Park. Drinking Czech beer in a beer garden, with warm sunshine and a perfect view. I think Winter is over – Spring seems to be arriving!
Welcome refreshment in Letna Beer Garden © Ricky Yates
Hooray for spring! It was interesting to hear about the Podbaba area. I definitely have not explored this little slice of Prague but the photos and its location near the river seem really nice… I bet you don’t get very many tourists over that way 🙂
The Mexican Cafe looks like a gem… at least the exterior does. I’m always on the lookout for some authentic(ish) Mexican in Prague!
Hooray for Spring indeed, Cynthia!
The Podbaba area is a very pleasant part of Prague in which to live. Easy access to the Vltava, various parks and wooded areas, yet only 15 minutes on the tram into the city centre.
We do get tourists, staying at Hotel International. They mainly are bus loads of older Germans, or parties of Japanese or Koreans. They tend to get taken off to various places as a group but some of the Germans will come into our local bar-restaurants. The Japanese & Koreans often go to our local Kaufland supermarket to buy a few things, then want to pay in Euro (which they can) but then get their change in Czech crowns. It’s advisable not get behind such a group in a check-out queue 😉
The Mexican Cafe is a gem. The only pity for us is that it is right on the southern edge of Prague when we live in the northwestern suburbs 🙁
How nice to see photos of areas of Prague I didn’t get the chance to explore, as well as of Podbaba, which I can second as a very pleasant and convenient place to visit and live. These posts bring back happy memories. 🙂
Glad you enjoyed them, Perpetua. I presume you’re particularly referring to the photos of the Vltava south of Prague & the Mexican Bar-Restaurant in Zbraslav. As I said in reply to Cynthia, Zbraslav is right on the southern edge of ‘Greater Prague’ & thus takes quite sometime to reach from where we live in Podbaba. Always pleased when I can help to provide some happy memories 🙂
Ah, what refreshing Springtime photos and words! Do you live in the new-ish flats on Lileova in Podbaba? Or up in the white 1930s villas? BW and I have been considering a move to that area, as it’s between both of our school campuses. Your views look positively amazing!
Hi Em – We don’t live up on the 1930s model Baba Estate from where the fourth, fifth & sixth photos in this post were taken, but in what you call ‘the new-ish flats’ below – in the foreground of the fourth photo. We actually live in Pat’anka rather than Lindleyova, which is what I think you meant by ‘Lileova’. Lindleyova is the street below us. But it is only a short walk up the hill to where you do get these amazing views.
[…] writing in early March, that Spring seems to be arriving, winter has been somewhat reluctant to release its grip. There were several occasions during the […]