I was having an excellent time in Prague, and I really appreciated how stuff was so low cost here in the Czech Republic. I also met so many happy 20 somethings, well aware of their luck of having been born too late to ‘enjoy’ the ‘benefits’ of the Soviet brand of communism. They have a mostly socialist state, but now with western style open market consumerism alongside. Hordes of tourists are now flooding into CR because it’s easy and fun, especially Prague. With all their money, they are causing the current building boom, refurbishments, and long neglected restorations. This helps keep many employed. As does the expanding service sector mostly there to service the tourists. The city is no longer the dull and drab gray that personified a typical Soviet satellite city for so many decades.
The city is charming, though I was hoping for the opportunity to go into the country and browse around a small village or two. And the next day I just wandered around, eventually ending up in the old town square. Where stuff happens. I happened to notice a flyer that there was to be a presentation of Bach and Mozart in a church right on the square. It didn’t start until 18:00 so I planned to show up in the square around 16:00. On the walk there, happened upon a crystal shop and this is their stuff. Wow. Gorgeous.
You can see all the tents set up. This was the day before a special soccer game day or something. I forget. Lots of stuff going on in the town square. Over where those trees are, to the right of that church, is a restaurant with bunches of outdoor tables set up inside that area, which turns out is a park. That’s where I wanted to eat because their menu featured Beef Goulash. Now I’m aware there’s several ways to make goulash but I especially wanted to try the goulash here in Prague since I believed they invented it.
They had a picture menu showing how they served it, but…hmmm. I wanted it in a bread bowl and asked them to accommodate me, please? Sure! No problem. I did have to wait longer than your typical diner that was there that day, but I got what I wanted. Smashed chunks of potatoes under those chunks of beef and onions. And the gravy? Rich, beefy flavor. Yummmmm. Beer was good too. The bread bowl idea really worked. Glad I asked for it. Cost me a bit of extra time and a few extra koruna. No big deal. 
The concert started at 17:00 so I ate a little earlier than normal but that was fine. Weather was comfortable, I ate outside under a canopy of tree branches while watching all the tourists and locals wandering around nearby. Since I was only 100 feet from the venue, no worries about arriving on time. I’d bought my ticket as soon as I got to the town square so I was good.
And here inside the venue, St. Nicholas’s church, sitting in a church pew, looking up and behind our seating position, up at the stately antique organ. You can’t see the performer because when this church was built in the 1700’s a performer asking for, or getting accolades from the worshipers was frowned upon. There was an organ player and a trumpet player up there. We listeners faced the other direction. But…the acoustics in the church were stupendous so no one missed a note.
Here’s a link to a short video taken inside the church: Prague Church
They played Vivaldi’s Concerto in A Minor, Handel’s Gloria, Albinoni’s Adagio for trumpet and organ, and Pachelbel’s Ciaccona. Just great for a classical aficionado like myself.
After and hour and a half of concert music, back out into the square for some more browsing.
There were several street performers working today but the bubble makers were the most fun to watch because they attracted hordes of playful children. Makes me wish I had a grandkid or two. Their excitement is contagious. 
My dinner was settling fine, but there was still a little room down there so I decided to try this potato chip stick(?), I’d guess you might call it that. It had a name but I can’t remember what it was. Fresh made, lightly salted the way I asked for them. And along with another beer, quite good. See the park in the background? There’s lots of table space for people, then there were many bench seats where you would see older people who’d grown up with the Soviets in charge. They tended to be quite a bit more subdued and sadder than younger people. That’s also the park where I’d had my dinner earlier.
And this is a link to my video: Prague Church Concert
That little table there is where I noticed the flyer about the classical concerts taped to the table my first day here. You buy your tickets there right up until the concert starts.
Plenty of these carriages around the square.
OK, see this idiot hunched over on the sidewalk holding out the hat? He’s praying for anyone who will drop a coin in his hat. What a bunch of bullshit. Jeese. Total waste of time. Get a job. Play an instrument, use crayons to create a piece of art. I saw two of these guys on sidewalks in Prague. Some beggars really piss me off.
This was a famous gate of some kind. It’s the Powder Tower. Construction started in 1425!
The game! It was on a giant screen. Prague’s team against a Russian team as I recall. Crowd really got into it as it went along. Between halves and afterwards there was a loud concert. This is about the time I slipped out of the square and headed to the church for the 2nd concert. Kinda getting filled up.
After wandering around again, for 1 & 1/2 hours, I made my way back to the church for this evenings 2nd concert at 20:00 (8 PM). The 2nd concert of the day featured Prague String Orchestra. They were scheduled to play Mozart, Bach, Dvorak, and Vivaldi. Again, an excellent concert. There is nothing like the acoustics of these old buildings. And the solo performances of Violin and Oboe were spectacular. But, too soon over, and it’s still daylight, though it’s 9:30PM by now.
Made my way in the gathering darkness back to The Green Tomato and had this nice desert. While I was there, just outside the GT, people would walk up and glance at the menu posted just next to me. That would give me the opportunity to tell them how good the food was. I know I personally brought them another 6 paying couples over the 3 days in Prague when I’d sit out front of the Green Tomato. Fun.
So that was the end of my 3rd day in Prague. Had a great time. Join me next time for more adventures.