Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Museum day in Prague


We headed out looking looking for the Prague Museum of Decorative Arts. We learned a long time ago in Norway to look for that sort of museum. This type museum is a collection of designed items like furniture, household goods, appliances, tableware, dishes, textiles, jewelry, machinery, clothing, glass. This type of museum is a must for us. There was a special exhibit of Moser glass - a famous Czech art glass. Here's a link to some of it. Click here for some information about Moser glass.


From the museum window we could see into the Jewish ghetto cemetary, another interesting piece of Prague history.


At a neighborhood cafe, we had garlic soup and potato soup. And finally found what Al had really been looking for...Topinki. Topinki is Czech garlic toast. I can't find a recipe in English, but it's coarse rye bread, toasted crisp and dry. Then the toast is heavily rubbed with a peeled garlic glove, all over, then buttered while warm. It is SO good! And today, at a new local bakery, I found some rye bread that will be suitable to use for topinki. I'll be stocking up on garlic.


Our afternoon was at the Veletrzni Palace. The book described it as a big ugly building with lots of art. Actually, it's a HUGE ugly building, with lots of interesting art, painting, sculpture, 19th & 20th centuries. All told, five floors of exceptional art.


We had another great dinner. Ann comented that at home, we'd NEVER go out, planning to walk two blocks to catch public transportation, and walk three more blocks to eat. It just wouldn't happen.


Today's picture is from the riverboat of some of the Prague buildings lining the Moldau River and the Charles Bridge.

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