Weeknote 168

Birthday trip to Prague

• For my birthday we headed to Prague last weekend for a relaxing five night stay. It was our first visit to the city and to Czechia . Weather was mostly warm and pleasant throughout. The old town is mostly pedestrianised and free of traffic, so quiet and pleasant to walk throughout.
• We stayed localy at a fairly average and somewhat dated hotel. There was no air condition, so rather stuffy in the room and some rather unfriendly breakfast room staff, but it was nevetheless a comfortable stay.
• An unexpected highlight of the trip for me was taking an afternoon stroll over to the main train station which has been beatifuly restored with its palacial café/bar and old ticket office. We enjoyed some cool refreshments there whilst watching some trains come and leave.
• We visited the Museum of Communism on my birthday which I enjoyed. We later took a ride on one of the iconic Soviet-era trams of Prague across the river. Concluding the trip we had dinner at a Michelin Star restaurant, 420. Delicious food and quite reasonably priced.
• Returned home to a cheery letter from the building management with my latest service‑charge bill. Surprisingly, it was somewhat lower this time because they’d underspent.
• Managed to go cycling after half a week of windy wet weather here in the UK. I returned to my favourity spot in Hertfordshire with a visit to Spokes Cycle Café near Stevenage following a 30-mile ride by myself.