Petrin hill

On our second full day in Prague we started at Petrin hill - a nice park with beautiful views of the city that was just one tram stop away from our hotel.
Mia checked out the playground at the bottom of the hill

The cherry trees must look wonderful when the are in bloom in the spring

The views of the city were really nice

On top of the hill was a lookout tower from 1891 and next to it a more than 100 year old mirror maze

 After walking through the maze there were other mirrors that showed warped images

The views from the 63 meter high tower went all over Prague

We ended the day with a trip to Wencelsas square, The statue was inside a shopping center

Then had some more fresh Pilsener beer and Czech food

They were prepared for guests with a much bigger thirst than us - but for us three beers for two were the record

Trip to Prague

With a one week fall break for Mia and two public holidays in the middle of the week we decided to make a three day trip to Prague.  Conveniently a bus to the capital of the Czech republic leaves just a five minute walk from our apartment and goes there with one stop half way in Nuremberg. So after a seven hour bus ride we got there a three in the afternoon.
Once we got to our hotel in a nice neighborhood an the west side of the river Moldau it was just enough time for a little walk before it got dark

 For dinner we tried a fresh Pilsener beer

The next morning we started our sightseeing at the famous St. Charles bridge - which is beautiful but very crowded with tourists from all over the world even on a regular weekday at the end of October

Mia had the good idea to enjoy the view from the more than 600 year old bridge tower

From the bridge it was short walk to the market square in the old town

 

 At every corner there were stands for chimney cakes a local Bohemian specialty

Then we took the metro to the other side of the river to see the castle and the neighborhood next to it. Old streetcars made the way up the hill through narrow steerts

A break on he stairs up the castle

Guards outside the castle which is now the seat of the Czech president

To enter one has to pass a security check

 The view at sunset

After dinner in a traditional Czech restaurant we played cards in the library next to the hotel lobby

Pizzza Delivery

Mia was allowed to pick her dinner because she did well in school and her choice was - of course - pizza. She insisted on getting it herself from a place a few minute walk away

Bike Tour to Ladenburg

On one of the first warm weekends this year we did a 20 km bike tour tour to Ladenburg along the river Neckar - and on what was probably the last one we did one as well.
On the way there we stopped for ice cream in Edingen

When waiting to the ferry to Ladenburg a hot air ballon took off from a park on the river

There is a small beach in Ladenburg that is nice for playing.

Mia enjoyed hanging out with some children that played with a dog

At one point Mia could throw the Frisbee has well

The beer garden were we wanted to stop on the way back was closed but a cat was ready for a little petting

A little break on the way back when the front tire needed some extra air and the chain had slipped

 On the way back the ladies tried some tricks

Anther break at the university campus where Mia spotted a rock for climbing. It took several tries to figure out how to get up since it was kind of smooth but she finally found a way

And here the explanation how she did it from the climber herself