Today was a big day!
We started by heading out to Prague Castle. We jumped a couple of trams, with a short walk to each one, then on Tram 22 and up the hill. We planned well so knew to get off uphill from the castle and walk downhill to it. We were there by 10am and it wasn't too busy. Interesting the castle is free to enter and roam around, and you pay to get into certain areas. We did not know this and purchased the "basic package" but it was worth it.
Firstly we entered the main church which was huge and like any major cathedral we've visited, simply amazing.
Next we went into an area which was a sort of medieval experience. They had a large array of old armour, the kind of stuff you see in the movies and wonder how much of it was in real life. Well, there was plenty of both armour and weapons.
There was an opportunity to try using a traditional crossbow. I had three shots and hit the target with each, but none hit the bullseye.
Next we passed an array of other small building, old shops, residences, workshops for blacksmith, seamstress, doctor and many more.
There was also the tower with a spiral staircase down the dungeon where people were imprisoned and tortured. Things like the rack, iron maiden, and one where a person is hung over an open fire. Very brutal.
We then went into the main hall of the old castle, not much to see to be honest, then we made our way out of the castle.
Being at the far end, it was a good 20 minutes to exit. We exited out the main entrance, different to the way we came in. By chance there was what looked to us like a ceremony for changing of the guard. I wanted a better view so stood up on a big piece of marble at the bottom of a pillar. A guard / soldier came over yelling at me to get down. Lesson learned. By now the main entrance was "exit only", perfect for us, and there was huge crowds being redirected around to the way we had entered earlier.
We now had a fifteen minute walk down steep steps to find our tram back to the city. Many people were walking up this way, crazy! It was hard enough on the knees going down. This route gave us a nice view of the city below.
Once on the tram, Helen wanted to find a DM (pharmacy store) to get a special moisturising cream for her tattoo. We wanted to find one at random by riding a tram, and eventually got lucky in a shopping mall well outside the city, and off the tourist track.
By now it was about 1:30pm and we needed lunch, so found the foodcourt where we had a nice schnitzel meal each. Fed, we went to the DM and Helen found her cream.
We then jumped on the tram back into the city nearby our hotel.
The day wasn't over yet. We had one hour to have a rest, then we had to head out again. I had booked an experience at a shooting range where I booked a "5 star package" which included a handgun, three semi-automatic rifles and a sniper rifle. In total I get 50 shots. Not something you get to do every day.
We were picked up by a shuttle about a 5 minute walk from our hotel. Along with one other passenger were were driven nearly an hour out of the city centre to an indoor shooting range.
Once we arrived, we paid in cash and were given a thorough safety briefing about how to handle the guns and especially what not to do. Then myself and the other shooter had a personal instructor to helped us get setup and using each gun. All were semi-automatic meaning it was aim, fire, aim fire, until exhausted of bullets. My aim was not so good with the hand gun, but with each of the others I was reasonably accurate. The sniper rifle had a magnified scope and I was shooting dead on target, amazing myself.
Soon enough we were all out of bullets, the had an amazing selection of guns, and offered any for use (with extra cost of course!). We were offered free 5 shots with any gun if we do a online review on the spot. So I get more shots in, woohoo!
They also had an impressive sniper gun on display, the bullets were huge, as big as my hand!
After some general chitchat we were on our way. Another hour driving back to the city in the dark. Interesting to see other parts of the countryside and suburbs outside the touristy city centre,
After dropoff we happened on a nice restaurant and sat down for a meal. The tables were down underground. After reading the menu we realised it was a vegetarian restaurant but thankfully not vegan! We were happy to stay and food was amazing.
By now it was bedtime. We walked 8.3km today.
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