Sunday - We departed the hotel at 8:15 and went to Prague Castle via bus. Met our local guide, Katarina, and saw the changing of the guard. Definitely visit the castle on your own before visiting with the group (yes, you will have to purchase another ticket.) Since it's Sunday, you won't be able to visit St. Vitus Cathedral (not even look inside.) Your ticket with the group also includes St. George's Basilica which you will also NOT be able to go into on Sunday. What a shame since these two sites are really great! Additionally, on the tour, you will not go upstairs in the Old Royal Palace. You will, however, be given about 25 minutes on Golden Lane. If you have little boys interested in knights, this is definitely NOT enough. There is a huge display on the upper level of several of the houses (they are connected by a long hallway) of armor, swords, daggers, etc. The 25 minutes also includes checking out the old jail (really like a dungeon) at the end of the lane, complete with evil devices. Your tour will not include the Royal Treasury. Just a note, your ticket will be scanned at every site that you enter so you will not be able to use it again to re-enter and re-tour.
Upon leaving the Castle you will go down to the Charles Bridge via the rear of the castle grounds. The walk over the bridge is very short. The guide speaks about 1 or 2 of the statues that adorn the bridge. For a more in depth look, you will need to come back with a guide book. We were then given time in the Old City to eat lunch on our own and check out a few things (about 2 hours.)
We then went to the National Marionette Theatre. My husband and I originally wanted to skip this entirely in order to see more of the sites but were convinced by Dean to give it a try. I think it was here that it dawned on me that Disney really has tried to keep each activity to about an hour or two. This makes sense since the group is comprised of both young and old. The marionette experience took perhaps an hour-which was perfect for everyone. A woman and her daughter at the theater hand makes all of the costumes that you will use to make your puppet. Let me tell you...Barbie should be so lucky. These outfits are custom made and gorgeous. Additionally, they paint each doll. You will learn how the marionettes are built and then fit yours together and put clothes on it. Boys can choose boy puppets and of course, the girls get princesses!
We did not have the free time noted in the guide during this afternoon (other than the lunch time.) We were treated to a surprise river boat cruise that took us to our bus before dinner. The cruise is guided so sit away from your junior adventurers if you want to hear about what you are passing.
You will return to the hotel around 9pm after dinner at the Folklore Gardens which is a family run cultural site that serves dinners and entertains with traditional songs and dances (group participation is light and easy.) There is a little village around the restaurant (that fits into the side of a hill) for children to explore and a gift shop that sells glassware and wine. Enjoy the complementary honey wine when you first arrive for dinner. Yum!