Cape Wickham calling
Cape Wickham is the northern most tip of the Island, 48 km from Currie. It’s a mostly sealed road with about 7 km of smooth gravel to reach the Lighthouse and golf course. Before settlement King Island was a heavily timbered island with thick tea tree scrub. There are remnants of this in the south-east, but in the north it has been largely cleared. It is now covered with beef and dairy cattle grazing on very rich pastures, many head to the acre.
KI all bull here
KI beef on the foot
Along the way we stopped off at a few of the beaches and rocky outcrops. One of the touristy things to do on KI is to visit the cairns and plaques that have been placed on the shoreline marking the areas where numerous ship wrecks occurred in the 1800 and early 1900s. Many of these occurred due to the lack of a lighthouse on KI. Ships coming through Bass Strait sailed too far south and, particularly during the frequent storms, ran into the numerous reefs off KI. The loss of the Cataraqui in 1845 prompted the building of the lighthouse at Cape Wickham in 1861. Over 400 free immigrants, half of them children, aboard the Cataraqui died. Many are buried in unmarked mass graves near the beach. There were only 9 survivors from the Cataraqui and to this day it is Australia’s worst ever peacetime disaster.
Porky’s Beach
Cape Wickham Lighthouse
At 52 metres the Lighthouse is the tallest in the southern hemisphere and is constructed of KI granite with 3 metre thick walls at the base. Quite a spectacular backdrop to the new links golf course which runs along the shoreline. The beach here is actually in play at one hole and serves as a bunker. The course is attracting golfers from all over the world, with charter groups flying in for lunch and a round of golf.
Cape Wickham Golf Course, with Lighthouse at back
Cape Wickham Golf Course
The eastern side of KI is more protected from the prevailing westerlies and the bays and beaches are long and sandy. We dropped in on Disappointment Bay, not a soul to be seen anywhere. There were large granite boulders strewn along the shore, crystal clear water and rolling waves would make this a good surfing spot in warmer months.
Disappointment Bay
Currie was calling and we needed to head back to Craypot Cottage for dinner. A lobster was in the fridge for dinner.
Splashed out on half a lobster each
Next day we are headed home to Brisbane. It’s been a great few days on KI. The food has lived up to expectations. Particularly, the melt in the mouth filet steak (with garlic butter sauce, Leanne had an equally good pepper sauce) at Admiral Benbow’s Restaurant in the Currie Golf Club. If you are ever on KI don’t miss it!
King Island time
The day after the Long Table we were a little sluggish. We also had to move house, so it was to be a quiet day.
We were off to Craypot Cottage, which sits on the hillside among the native vegetation overlooking the Southern Ocean. On a clear day one could see South America, if it wasn’t so far away. The local mayor has cornered the market and is bottling ‘Cloud Juice’, the clear unpolluted water from the skies. It is brought to the Island from across the sea by the roaring forties. He sends it all over the world. Much like the local lady who evaporates sea water and flavours the resultant sea salt with garlic, dried celery and seaweed. It is served at Parliament House in Canberra and is also sent all over the world.
Craypot Cottage
Nearby Craypot Cottage is Currie Harbour and the local Lighthouse. Beneath it sits the Boathouse Cafe. It is ‘owned’ by Caroline, our landlord at the Craypot Cottage. It is open to one and all for lunch and dinner. The only trick is that you bring your own food and use the BBQ and other facilities. It seems to do a roaring trade with someone in it most days. We took some Fish n Chips there for lunch.
Currie Lighthouse and BYO food restaurant
Inside BYO food restaurant
The Cottage is a great little spot surrounded as it is by the native vegetation, as well as resident wallabies perching themselves on the verandah looking in expectantly for their weet-bix.
In front of the fire at the Cottage
Sunset at Craypot Cottage
Resident Wallaby
Off tomorrow for Cape Wickham and the famous Lighthouse.
King Island Festival ‘Long Table’
We have previously heard about this event, not sure where, and had thought that it was one of things one should do. If the opportunity arose. One of the advantages of the Green Ponds cottage is that it is only a short walk to where the long lunch is held. In the morning we had gone out for a short drive over to Grassy on the other side of the Island, about 30 km away. Grassy was previously the main population centre but it is now fairly thinly populated. It had a scheelite (used in steel making) mine which had been closed a few years ago, throwing 700 or so out of work. Many houses abandoned. Anyway we rushed back to Currie so we wouldn’t be late. After sharpening ourselves up we set off on the short walk to the location of the Long Table.
Arriving right on time at 12.30 pm. It seemed a bit quiet. Anyway we eagerly climbed the stairs and burst through the doors to be met by puzzled looks from some wait staff mingling near the door way. They said we were early. And they were right, we Queenslanders hadn’t put our clocks back for the end of daylight saving. They didn’t kick us out, just sent to the verandah to sit it out with a glass of wine.
Soon the masses were arriving, about 160. Three long tables. The guest of honour was Martin Clunes, of Men Behaving Badly and Doc Martin fame. He was on the Island doing a documentary on Australia’s Islands.
It was a great afternoon of eating and chatting with one and all. All life long buddies by days end. There were 6 courses (modest sizes) showcasing seasonal Island produce, followed by a KI cheese plate. All rather good.
A few snaps tell it all.
First course,fish and abalone
2nd, KI smoked eel and lobster tail chowder
3rd, KI beef tataki with KI seaweed salt
4th, KI lamb balls with tomato and red pepper salsa, roasted almonds
5th, KI milk braised pork, gnocchi, roasted pear, walnut and blue cheese
The 6th course featured a desert of Cinnamon bread pudding with local poached quince and clotted cream. This was followed by a plate of KI cheeses.
It was a great lunch. Maybe something to do again. It also makes one thankful to be able to enjoy such great food. It was a long slow walk back to Green Ponds.
King Island
We have been here on King Island now for a few days. For those loyal readers who don’t know where King Island is, it is at the western edge of Bass Strait which separates the mainland of Australia from the island state of Tasmania.
It’s a wild and woolly place with very variable weather; sunny one moment, rainy the next, super windy one day, calm the next. We are staying in a small cottage, Green Ponds, in the middle of Currie, the largest town on the island.
Green Ponds cottage
The main reason for popping down here from Brisbane was to attend the annual Long Table Festival. This 3 day event has as its main attraction a ‘long table dinner’, which runs from 12.30 pm to 4.30 pm (technically). We actually finished about 6pm. But more of that later.
Our first day was fully occupied by a tour of various farms and agricultural pursuits. A biodynamic organic farm operation that produced some great little carrots and just the sweetest beetroot and tomatoes. Then onto the KI Cheese factory, little needs to be said about this, just some great cheese. Next was the seafood processor where we saw some fresh southern rock lobsters and giant crabs that had not long been brought in by the fishing fleet. One significant lobster specimen was about 3.5-4 kg and would bring close to $400 when it hit the end consumer. Octopus and eels are also a bi product of the catch.
Giant Crab
Big Lobster
Other spots along the way were at a beef cattle property. A stop at a wool, possum hair spinner, cum feral cat skin processor establishment in the forest. She was an interesting lady to say the least. Leanne subsequently acquired some of her wool for a scarf project, would not come at a cat skin though.
Robyn Eades, spinner. An icon of the Island
Also learnt something of the abalone industry on the island and the difference between black lipped and green lipped abalone. And, yes the difference is that one has black lips and the other green lips. The green ones though seem to be more sought after.
Green Lip and Black Lip abalone
Cows looking at us in the bus
In between all this we fitted in a lunch, which show cased a selection of these various products. A long day ended with ‘welcome drinks’ and canapes at an art gallery. Unfortunately, we missed out on the crayfish sliders which were gobbled up fairly quickly while we were outside admiring the view.
Next morning we set off for a drive down to Stokes Point which is the most southern point on KI. The road gets progressively worse all the way to the end. Starts with bitumen, then gravel, then a sandy type track, then stones. It winds it way along the coast, in some sections it would seem that the sea would come across it in a storm.
Leanne at 40 south
Turkey
The main attractions along this route include the cliff top look out at Seal Rocks and the nearby calcified ‘forest’ of tree roots that date back about 7000 years.
Seal Rocks
Calcified roots
Closer to Stokes Point is the Sealers Wall, constructed in the early 1800s by sealers to herd seal up against to assist in the slaughter. We couldn’t quite get to Stokes Point, as there is a small watery causeway to cross.
Sealer’s Wall
Stokes Point
The road back didn’t seem quite as arduous and we arrived back in Currie in time for a KI scotch filet at the local hotel. Not a bad end to the day!
Zoo time
We are about to leave from LA for Oz and here are some snaps from our time at the Houston Zoo. It’s not a big zoo but has most of the main beasts and a few unusual ones. The new gorilla display is particularly good with a few of them wandering around in a jungle / savanah type environment. Only 2 Aussies, a couple of tired looking kookaburras and a cassowary.
Elephant
Can’t remember its name
But its an easy place to get around and Piper enjoys it greatly. We had a good time and enjoyed some cup cakes over dinner while we waited for the zoo lights to come on. These were really tremendous. An enormous amount of work must have gone into lighting the place up with fairy lights. Not sure what the animals thought about it.
Can’t remember it’s name either
This is a gorilla
Indeed that is one of the things I wonder about zoos. Who is looking at who. The animals at us or us at them? The lions look regally disinterested, the gorillas nonchalant, and the giraffes just seem above all the fuss. Who cares anyway, the animals don’t seem to.
A lion
Fake zebra under lights
We are now not far away from boarding, Piper had her picture with Santa today, quite calm and composed! Not a bad effort!
Under lights
Until next time………..
Not many turkeys survive
Thanksgiving has passed and not many turkeys survived this year’s festivities. A few on special in the stores but by now most have passed into various turkey left over dishes, along with the remnants of the pumpkin and sweet potato pies.
We were invited over to one of Mitchell’s friend’s friend’s place for the festivities and it was great time for the gathering of various overseas visitors. As well as us, there was a couple from the UK visiting family and they would soon be off to NZ to see some grand children there. Others present were well traveled (including to various parts of Australia) and we all had some interesting tales to tell.
This is the way, not hard
The removalists
As always the deep-fried turkey was good and Allthego is learning the technique, apparently the secret is to drop it in when the oil hits 350 degrees F. Allthego was subject to some eating supervision and partook of modest portions only, leaving the party as fit as a fiddle. A new man!
Ready to go!
Not the best look
David, our host, had not long ago constructed a herb box on wheels. A very interesting build and one that we might try to recreate back in Oz. It is pretty heavy and could do with larger wheels to move it around, but a good idea and should help us beat the possums as well as make it easy to pick the herbs.
Herb box
Today was also Piper’s 3rd birthday and before heading off to Thanksgiving we had a parcel opening. She was quite excited with big smiles. Particularly when watching the video, which Libby had emailed to Mitchell, of her Australian cousins singing ‘Happy Birthday Piper’.
Birthday girl
Birthday girl
There will be more birthday celebrations tomorrow when we head to the Houston Zoo. It seems Piper thinks birthdays go on for a week!
Holed up in Houston
Here we are in Houston with Mitchell and Piper. After a couple of days hanging around recuperating from a hectic trip along Interstate 15 from Bryce Canyon down to Las Vegas and then peak hour traffic in the city where the party never stops we are now ready to continue the adventure. Piper has helped decorate the Christmas tree with Grandma (aka Homealone) and is all excited because it is her 3rd birthday tomorrow. It is also Thanksgiving and we are off to the celebration at one of Mitchell’s friends places.
Near Zion NP Camp Ground
Piper dressing the tree
Today we have been down towards Galveston to visit the San Jacinto Monument and the old WW1 battleship USS Texas, which is moored on the river nearby. San Jacinto is where Sam Houston leading an ‘army’ of all sorts……..Texas rangers, farmers, mercenaries, adventurers as well as the Texas Army finally defeated Santa Anna the leader of the Mexican forces who were trying to recapture Texas. Santa Anna and his troops were the chaps who slaughtered the inhabitants of the Alamo, in San Antonio, which we visited about 4 years ago. After Texas’ independence from Mexico it later joined the United States. The city of Houston is named after Sam Houston. So much for the potted history.
San Jacinto Monument
USS Texas
The USS Texas, built in 1914, was nearby and we spent an hour or so wandering around its decks, playing on the guns. The deck of the ship is wooden planks and Sopwith Camels were launched from a couple of its gun turrets. A massive ship for its time, it was decommissioned after WW2 and has been resting here in Houston ever since.
USS Texas 14″ guns were the biggest at the time
Gunners Mitch and Piper, Homealone in support
Piper’s birthday and Thanksgiving are tomorrow. An early night is needed to cope with the turkey and condiments.
Bryce Canyon NP
There was a major blunder in the last blog! Homealone spotted the error and it is now corrected. You get into Zion NP at the bottom of the canyon not the top! At Bryce Canyon you come in at the top and look down a long way! It is cold at Bryce, snow still on the ground and below zero at night. Parts of Bryce are at about 8000′ whereas Zion is more like 6000′. Today was a good day with clear blue sunny skies, crisp air no wind about 14/16 for most of the day.
Smokey Bear was warning of a small chance of fires, Allthego thought there was zero chance.
Big photography day as we drove up and back down the rim. The rim stretches about 20 miles with 19 stop off points to catch the views. These stops are simply fabulous look outs over the canyon and formations. The dusting of snow they have had provides great highlight to the underlying rock colours. Various walks run away down the canyon from these spots. We did not have the time to wander off, tempting as it was. Half way through we enjoyed a sandwich at the picnic tables under the conifers, snow under feet.
Returned to the motel rather tired, ready for dinner and an early night in preparation for the drive back to Vegas. The next day we fly down to Houston for a week with Mitchell and Piper.
PS There have been only 2 brother & sister singing acts. Donny and Marie and the other one (according to D & M) was Richard & Karen Carpenter.
Zion NP
It was a cold night at Zion, even colder on Monday night at Bryce Canyon where there was a big dump of snow. We head for Bryce after dropping into Zion NP for a few hours to have a look around. Zion is an interesting place because unlike many of the other canyon parks in the south-west you arrive at the bottom not the top! At Zion a road runs up the base of the canyon beside the Virgin River. There are various stop offs to look up at formations and to wander off on walks. This suits Homealone who doesn’t like being up and looking down. We only had time to drive up and down the road with a couple of brief stops. Some wonderful rock formations in this place. A few of them are here.
Getting out of the Zion Canyon to head for Bryce is a different story. It is a long climb up the canyon on a series of switchbacks. The road is good, but it is not guard railed and there are some enormous drop offs. Allthego was even a bit edgy. About half way up you enter a tunnel that runs for nearly 1.5 km through the side of the Canyon and you pop out near the top. It was constructed in the early 1930s, so its not quite as flash as our modern day tunnels. There are windows out the side of the tunnel that give views over the canyon. But unfortunately you can’t stop, so it’s just a quick look-see as you pass by.
From there on the road to Bryce is fairly flat as you pass among the rock formations atop the mesa, caught a close up view of some mountain goats and buffalo.
Arrived at Bryce as the sun was setting and got a quick view of the canyon, quite amazing but that is the story for the next blog. Snow still on the ground and at about 7 pm it was 1 below zero, clear sky and not much wind. So that snow will be there tomorrow!
Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam is only about a 30 minute drive from Vegas and has been on Allthego’s bucket list to see.
View of Lake Mead from Information Centre
We have never seen a real Roadrunner, this one is stuffed.
This was a seriously big dam to first plan and then build it back in the 1920/30s. It broke many records and developed new engineering techniques. The Dam wall acted as the roadway from Route 93 which connects Las Vegas and Phoenix in Arizona. It was a real traffic bottleneck and lead to the construction of the bypass bridge. This bridge has a walkway for tourists to stroll along looking down into the Colorado River and across to the Dam wall itself. It’s a great view. You can then look back from the Dam wall to the bridge and down the Dam wall to the river far below.
Hoover Dam taken from the overpass bridge, the shadow of which is on the Dam wall
The Colorado River dammed up behind the wall to form Lake Mead.
Looking down the Dam wall, the Colorado below and the overpass bridge.
Lake Mead behind the Dam wall is well below its historic high points which are marked by the white canyon walls. One suspects it will never reach these levels again because of the demands for water from Vegas and the surrounding agricultural regions. This and the 3 other dams on the Colorado have certainly tamed the river. Now a bit over 80 years old one wonders whether it would have been built in today’s environmental times. We left the Dam and drove around Lake Mead’s edge heading for Zion National Park for the night. This was a great drive along the Park road through the bad lands type desert environment.
Desert Landscape on our way to Zion NP.
Lake Mead again from further up the flooded valley.
The Nevada police are very nice chaps alerting Allthego to the 25 mph speed limit through one of the small towns along the way. He was so friendly he advised us to visit one particular desert park on our return trip. We thanked him for his advice and slowly moved on.
Its getting colder as we head further north and to higher altitudes in Utah. Nice and warm in our Best Western at La Verkin about 20 miles from Zion NP.
Big night out
We have now come back to earth. Time to do a bit of wandering around at street level to see a few more things from that angle. There are all sorts of characters on the streets, including us. You come across Micky and Mini Mouse, Elvis in a scooter, Superman, various police women trying to arrest you, ticket scalpers, go-go dancers, street musicians (a loose description), Transformers. The list goes on. Hard to avoid some of them. All part of the never-ending party.
Transformers and friends
Struggling with the cottage pie
Mini Mouse and Mitch
We have also entered into the spirit of things by going to some of the attractions at the various hotels……….Titanic memorobillia, Body Parts (actual dissected humans, various cuts to show the bits) and CSI (solve the murder mystery). Madame Tussauds wax museum.Unfortunately, we couldn’t get to the Zombie Apocalypse or the Zombie Burlesque show. But we did manage to fit in ‘O’ one of the Cirque du Soleil shows and just couldn’t miss Donny and Marie (of Osmonds fame) at the Flamingo show room. What a night of nostalgia that was. Here is a question for my readers. How many brother and sister singing acts have there been? Can you name them? Answers in a later blog.
Spider man was here too
Protected by The Hulk
The ten of us on tour had a bit of a flash dinner at the Steak house in the Flamingo to celebrate Leanne’s 60th. A great meal and company was ok too for that matter.
Enjoying the 60th
Still enjoying the 60th
Well it is now time for us to all move on from Vegas and leave the party. Allthego and Homealone head off in a car for a week. Hoover Dam is the first stop and then Zion and Bryce Canyons to get a fix of the great outdoors.
Up up and away
Well, when in Vegas you can go along the Strip, down the strip, up the strip or you can go ‘up up and away’. Vegas is a flat place so to get up and see the place you have to get up. This can be in all sorts of ways. Tall hotels and attractions, helicopters and small aircraft.
We chose to go up a couple of ways to see things from above.
Allthego went for a balloon ride, Homealone was just not into this and stayed at the hotel. It meant a 4am rise, to be all over by 8am or so. It was just great drifting around to the east of the strip. Landing in a new ‘field’ of rock and dust behind the latest IKEA. Great views. We got up to 4000 ft above sea level, actually 1600 feet above the ground at Vegas. It is only where water is available that there is greenery. So the golf courses have green fairways and greens but the rough is just dust and rock.
Golf Green from the Balloon
Getting the gas going in the balloon!
Our two fellow balloonists over Vegas
Now, most of those in the basket were a bit younger that Allthego. But, Allthego knew the name of the 60s (or was it the 70s?) famous ballooning song. Our pilot thought no one would know it! UP, UP AND AWAY IN MY BEAUTIFUL BALLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON. He played it loud on some sort of gadget, transmitting it to the other two balloons up there in our group. The Fifth Dimension would have been thrilled!
Later in the day , it was up the High Roller to get a closer look at the Strip. This was a bit like being in a balloon. There is little sensation of movement. Takes around half an hour, rises to 550 feet so you get great views of the Vegas skyline.
At the top of the High Roller
Cheryl and Marie looking out of the High Roller
The Eiffel Tower at the Paris Hotel was the next site for going up. It looks over the Bellagio and the famous water fountains. It certainly goes up and is a great look over the city. They provide you with an I Pad that shows the skyline of Paris from each angle. So you can pretend you are in Paris. Mitchell and I didn’t do this, just happy we were in Vegas!
Eiffel Tower
Bellagio water fountains looking down from the Eiffel Tower
From the Eiffel Tower
By this time Mitchell had joined us from Houston: Peter, Cheryl and family from Queanbyan, as well as Stuart and Marie. They had arrived for Homealone’s 60 th celebrations. Not sure where these were to beheld but they certainly weren’t to be up!
Sinatra is 100 in December
Made a mistake in the last post. Vegas is not the ‘town that never sleeps’ that’s New York. Vegas is the town where the ‘party never stops’.
Anyway, Frank Sinatra turns 100 this year and one of the reasons for coming to Vegas was to see him in a comeback concert at the Palazzo. The Palazzo is actually built on the site of the former Sands Hotel which is where he performed in the 50s and 60s along with the likes of Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jnr and Tony Bennett. In fact Frank told us at the concert that where we were sitting was actually where their old concert room used to be. It’s a pretty good spot for a concert and Frank looks pretty good too for 100. Now for those of my readers who might be a bit puzzled it wasn’t Frank in the flesh but a chap called Bob Anderson. He actually looks a bit like Frank, sounds a bit like Frank and moves a bit like Frank. If you shut yours eyes you might even think he is Frank. He was pretty good at being Frank. And the band was good too. There were a few in the band, including the band leader, who were actually in Frank’s last band. These guys weren’t spring chickens but they were good. Bob Anderson at the end said he wasn’t actually doing the show as a ‘tribute’ type entertainer but more as a tribute to Sinatra. It was a great night’s entertainment.
Getting a close look at Frank
Las Vegas iconic sign
Earlier in the day we had caught the bus up to the iconic ‘Welcome to Vegas’ sign. This rates like the ‘Hollywood’ sign in Los Angeles. Long queue to get a picture under it. The bloke in front of us took ours and we took is. It turns out he was from the Gold Coast and formerly of Newcastle. He said he felt he had to escape Newcastle lest he was caught there for the rest of his days.
It was then back to the Flamingo. Along the way we stopped off at the M & M shop.
The M & M Nascar racing team
The M & M 3D movie
Green with envy and a grin
Amazing array of merchandise and M & Ms. We picked up a few items for later and saw the 3D movie short ‘I lost my M in Vegas’. Somewhat amusing. Back to the Flamingo to continue the party.
Vegas at last……………….here we go again
We have arrived in Vegas, been here a couple of days actually. Internet a bit frustrating here in the Flamingo Hotel so Allthego has been a bit slow in getting on the air.
We had a good trip over from Brisbane to LA aboard the Qantas Longreach. Only half full, so we had 4 seats to our self to stretch out in and enjoy the in flight entertainment and lovely airline food. The granola yogurt was pretty good, the mini meat pies and hot dogs ………..well they were so so and should be a no no for Qantas!
Left LA on South West for the short 40 minute hop up to Vegas, just time to sink a coke before we landed around 10am. By 11.30 were in our room at The Flamingo looking out the window at the High Roller. Biggest ferris wheel in the world. A touch on 500 ft high I think, to be confirmed. Takes half an hour to go around. This is a must do.
These 2 flamingos haven,t moved since we have been here
The Flamingo Hotel, Donny and Marie have been singing here every night for 6 years.
Met the flamingos in the garden and had a short walk around the hotel. Harrassed by hustlers ‘giving away’ free shows and dinners as part of a ruse in getting you to go to presentations flogging real estate and hotel loyalty programs. Hard to avoid them but we have. Early dinner and off to bed.
The High Roller from our hotel room
One of the flamingos, there is another species here that has 2 legs
Next day, after a long sleep in we were off for more wandering around town catching the sights. Last time here was about 3 years ago and there have been a few changes, some buildings are down, a few more vacant allotments, new buildings and revamped hotels. We found ourselves in Caesars Palace at the Trevi Fountain among the statues for a rather late lunch. Pizza and salad under the dome watching the clouds change colour.
Trevi Fountain under the Dome
Leanne took this picture of the Vegas roman.
We trudged back to the Flamingo for a rest and snooze to ready ourselves for the next days action in the town that never sleeps!
Prague
We made it to Prague after 8 hours on the bus. It was something like 550 km across the 3 countries, 3 stops to stretch legs and have lunch. One of the stops was at a petrol station which involved most of the gang descending down some steps to the WC. This visit costs 100 FLR (Hungarian Florins, they don’t use the Euro), about 50 cents. Now this petrol station has a neat deal, you can give back your WC ticket (after use of course) as a credit against purchases in the cafe. I’m not sure what this is meant to stimulate, the WC or the cafe. But rum balls in the cafe are 99 FLR and lo and behold everyone swapped their ticket for a rum ball! This run on rum balls exhausted their supply. Such is the APT tourist.
In Prague we have ventured off on the usual bus and walking city tour. Our guide was a walking encyclopedia on everything Prague.
Charles Bridge
Is this Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on the river?
Prague is a pretty big place and very cosmopolitan. By this time we are all hankering for some simple food. So we find just up from our hotel the biggest Irish pub in Prague. We actually have two dinners here of traditional Irish fare.
Old Town Square
12 Apostles appear in the windows above the clock each hour on the hour
Old Town Astronomical Clock dates back to the 1400s
Day 2 in Prague involved getting on the bus for an full day in the Czech countryside visiting an old Chateau. It is owned by descendents of Czech royalty going back hundreds of years. The Chateau was knocked about by the Nazis and fell into disrepair during the communist era. The current owner got it back after the communists were removed and has slowly restored it to its former glory. The interesting thing we saw here though was a falconry display with various types of birds…….falcons, hawks, eagles and owls. A real highlight of the visit.
Falconry master . The horse has appeared in movies with Angeline Jolie and Russell Crowe
A hawk
Golden Eagle
Eagle Owl
Back in Prague we had a late afternoon lie down to rest weary bones and get ready to pack up for the flight back to Australia the next day. Which is actually later this afternoon. I have finally caught up time in the blog! I now have an hour to pack before the bags have to be out. How is that for timing! We have had a great time away but are looking forward to returning home to do the washing.
Allthegobro 