Prague the story continues

Having had a beautiful first day where we wandered around this chocolate box city it was somewhat fortunate that on our chosen museum the heavens oponed and it poured with rain all day.  Having set ourselves up with a good breakfast including killer hot chocolate we started our museum day with the Alfons Mucha museum.  Mucha, who, although you may not have heard of, produced some of the most famous posters of the Art Nouveau style in the early 20th century.  Lots of swirly lines and women with hair strands that seem to have a life of their own.  It was a joy to wander around and I was stunned to discover what a massive output he had and what a prolific craftsman he was.  His works included not only graphic design, but also drawing, painting, furniture and even money design (he designed the new banknotes for the newly formed Czecholovakian rebublic after WW1). 

 

After warming ourselves up with a hot drink we then went on to the Communist Museum, which surprise, surprise is a museum dedicated to the communist period of Czeck history.  |t included information on political ideals, daily life under communism, the secret police, soviet propaganda and a video of demonstrations against soviet occupation which took place from the 60s onwards.  Again, fascinating and a small insight into what it was like. which was mostly repressive, scary and a long way from the Ideal Socialist World it was supposed to be.

 

Following a much needed siesta we ventured out again to our last musem of the day... The Sex Machines Museum!  An entertaining place containing all sorts of eye-watering contraptions (some dating from 17th century).  I think my favourite was a machine for easing the frustrations of female prisoners! 

After dinner (yes, we had no problems eating after that) we went to a jazz club to listen to some live jazz.  Located in a cellar it was very atmospheric and the music was pretty good too.

 

Today we hired a car and drove out to a couple of towns outside of Prague.  Andrew drove brilliantly (not once going on the left side of the road), I on the otherhand nodded off while I was supposed to be navigating - oops!  still we found our way around and drove through lots of pretty villages, some of which seemed to consist of 3 houses and a dog.  The weather is once again warm and sunny and it was nice walking around.  We went to the castle of Arch Duke Ferdinand (the one, whose assissnation sparked off WW1) the outside of which was lovely (we were too lazy to go inside and do "The Tour". 

 

Overall Prague has been enjoyable, though with so many tourists it doesn't feel like a real town at times.  Tomorrow we head for Berlin which while also being formally communist (well half of it) will be a big change from what we've seen so far. 

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