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a feel good travel blog

8 Historical Sites You Must See in Prague

11/28/2016

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Prague or "Praha" is the Czech Republic's most beloved capital city. Situated in the northwest, visitors easily make way from nearby larger cities such as Berlin and Warsaw. 

Prague is one of the most historic European capital cities. This medieval city flourishes with Gothic, Romanesque and Baroque era architecture alongside with secretive, narrow pathways that meander to remote courtyards and off-the-beaten-path streets. 

Those who visit Prague are rarely disappointed. Between architectural beauties and fairy tale-like streets, these are some of the best historic sites to see and visit while in Prague. 

Lennon Wall
There's more to Prague than what meets the eye. In "recent" history, 1988 to be exact, the Lennon Wall served as a source of irritation to the communist party. Young Czechs wrote grieving messages on the wall, all the way to the Charles Bridge. This led to a clash between the police and protestors. The movement was described as "Lennonism" Communism banned western pop songs, but specifically, The Beatles as Lennon's lyrics praised freedom, something that did not exist in the East. Today, the wall continues to change, mainly with Beatle quotes, images and logos. Look for the wall in Mala Strana, near the French Embassy. 
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Old Town Hall & Astronomical Clock
The 15th Century astronomical clock, and the precession of the Twelve Apostles, is one of the most popular spots in Prague. On the hour, when the clock strikes, Christ marches out, followed by the 12 Apostles and a defiant Turk. The hall was built in 1338 and in 1865, Josef Manes added the 12 medallions alongside with the 12 zodiac signs. There are three circles on the dial that shows different times such as the the outer circle with Schwabacher numerals for the Old Czech Time, the circle with Roman numbers signifies the Central European Time and the inner circle with Arabic numerals for “Babylonian Time.” The little star signifies the sidereal time. 
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Golden Lane
Do you want to know what life was like hundreds of years ago? If so, visit Golden Lane  (Zlata Ulicka) in the complex of Prague Castle to see doorways that stand at the height of your chest. Constructed in the 15th Century, only 14 houses remained after 1657. Legend has it that Golden Lane got its name from the alchemists who lived on the street during Rudolf II's reign who "turned metal into gold." After an explosion, Uhle was found dead with a yellow stone in his hand (gold). To this date, no one knows how he got gold into his home. Notable historic residents include writer, Franz Kafka (house 22) and Prague Prophetess, Madame de Thebes. Unfortunately, the gestapo killed Madame as she predicted the end of the Nazism. 

Charles Bridge
This stunning old bridge is a place where artists and artistry unite. From handmade necklaces to cityscape paintings, the Charles Bridge is the perfect spot for a romantic walk or an affordable art piece. Busy at all times of day, this bridge crosses the Vltava River and connects Old Town to Lesser Town. In 1357, The Roman Emperor and Czech King Charles IV commissioned the bridge. It is said that the constructor, Petr Parler mixed egg yolks in the mortar to strengthen its consistency. Baroque statues tower alongside the edges. These are duplicates and many originals are in the Lapidarium. The bridge is a must-see at night. Nothing beats the "eeriness" than fog accompanied by a full moon. 
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Old Town Square & X Marks the Spot
"Busy but beautiful," claims many tourists. The square is adjacent to the Astronomical Clock. While blinded by bustling cafes, keep your head down to notice "X" marks on the ground. This signifies the "place of death" where many witches were hung during the Witch Trial era. Cafes here are pricier, but are well-worth it for the atmosphere. ​
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St Vitus Cathedral
When you look at Prague's skyline, this cathedral towers the skyline. Charles Iv commissioned construction  in 1344 over top the 10th Century rotunda. It took near six centuries to complete and most consider this cathedral the most important building in Prague. Entry is free, but the tour is an additional fee. You can also purchase a castle tour and Prague Historic Building Ticket Bundle. 
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Tyn Church
Located in Old Town, Tyn was founded in 1385 as the Old Town's main church. The high-Gothic exterior contains twin towers, but boasts a Baroque interior. This church certainly has it's own book of history. A fire caused damaged in 1679, resulted in the Baroque redesign, but luckily it did not harm the 1673 organ that still stands today (and the oldest organ in Prague). If you look closely, the Towers are not symmetrical. One tower, Adam, is larger than the other, Eve. Today, the church hosts Roman Catholic ceremonies.

Vinarna Certovka
This is the most narrow passageway in Prague. It's so narrow, the city installed a streetlight. The width measures 19.6 inches and is an Instagram-worthy location. Be sure to hold in your gut!

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What's your favorite site or landmark in Prague?

This Lemon Tree article is now featured on GPSmyCity.  To download this article for offline reading or travel directions to the attractions highlighted in this article, go to 8 Historical Sites You Must See in Prague. .  

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The Cake Connoisseur: A Quest to Finding the Best Kuchen (Cake) in Hannover, Germany

11/17/2016

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Café Kränzchen
I had many affairs in Hannover. And eating cake was one of them. Whenever I thought of bread and cake, I figured the Frenchies were the leaders in baked goods. 
 
Well, the delicate art of baking in Germany proved me wrong. Upon the first bite of German cake, I knew I sold my soul to the sweet-toothed devil. But, from the lips to the hips, I feared of becoming a hearty German frau. Thanks to walking and biking as my main modes of transportation, I dove deep between the sheets of frosting and piecrust, devouring a year’s worth sinful and succulent kuchen.
 
Partly addicted, I needed to discover the best cake in Hannover, a quest to conquer the most enchanting bakeries while taste-testing seasonal cakes. It was a quest. It was a mission. I felt determined to conquer this mind-body battle between the blissful state of eating cake and the bogus appreciation for American desserts. 
 
With every stab of my trident (my fork), I was one bite closer to my destination to appreciate the fine art of baking. It is an art and a science. And the Hanoverians do a damn good job at baking.
 
All I knew in America were cookies the size of my face and milk shakes that gave me diabetic comas (literally, I almost went to the hospital once for a sugar-crash from a milkshake). It’s as if we have no artistic appreciation for treats, but use sugar like a drug. The sweeter the substance, the more the people crave it. Where is the art in that?
 
Sweet, fluffy and light, German cakes are like an afternoon spent on a sunny Greek island. It’s a magical tale where a blissful aura ignites underneath the hot blazing sun. You feel wonderful. You can eat it and still look great. And you certainly want more of it.
 
The one thing I discovered is that German treats are not loaded with sugar like US desserts. Somehow those moments of eating cake were like a therapy session. How is that possible? My mind elated and my body present, I never felt so alive, happy and free. With all my studies in mind-body therapies, I believed I could not get fat, sick or celiac disease from eating flour, sugar and gluten. It was a personal experiment and in this battle, my mind overrode my body with so much joy, pleasure and happiness.
 
Without further ado, here are the best 13 cafes and bakeries for German kuchen (cake) in Hannover.
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Glücksmoment
This ultra-feminine cafe is one of Altstadt's kuchen hotspots. From tortes to cakes to cream pies, get your blood sugar inspired by the sweet taste of life. This cafe serves coffee and tea in modern 1700's-looking floral dish ware. It's one of Altstadt's most popular cafes, specifically for brunch. 

Holländische Kakao-Stube – Mitte
Everyone in Hannover knows about this café. Not only has the café been around before World War II, but also it is the finest cake one may ever eat in Germany. There must be a secret to the way the cake and the frostings are stirred, beaten and whipped. The Frankfurter Kranz is a sign that heaven on earth exists; you’ll feel as if you are lying on a bed of white fluffy clouds while God and his crew of angels rain droplets of simple syrup over your presence.
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Cafe Konrad – Altstadt
In Old Town, meander down Knochenhauerstrasse to find this two-story café that has some of the best cakes in town. I experienced my first German cake here with the “apfelmangosahne” (apple mango cream) cake. After that, I was hooked. I tried so many cakes at Konrad’s I lost count. If you order to go, don’t worry about losing the frosting. The barista will delicately wrap the cake in a foiled swan so you can carefully walk it home. Konrad also displays at least one vegan cake everyday. This is a first come, first serve place. Once the cake is gone, its gone for the day.
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Café Kränzchen
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Barcelona – Altstadt
This popular corner café is reputable for nearly everything on their menu. I love tiramisu and well, I discovered the best homemade tiramisu outside of Italy. There’s not much else to say besides that the combination of cream and cake is a complete balance of yin and yang, or sinful and sweet flavors. So if you're feeling sinfully sweet, great news, Barcelona is open late every night of the week. 
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Cafe Sid - Mitte - Noted Closed in 2017
Located a stone's throw away from Altstadt, Cafe Sid is a two-story cafe that attracts the older crowd. But don't let that stop you from trying their cake and desserts. Upon entering, a glistening glass case contains some double-digit desserts served on a first come, first eat service. If you love French cakes, try anything with meringue. This chocolate-peanut meringue torte is a slice of Parisian heaven. 
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Borchers - Sudstadt
This zu mit nehmen (take away) bakery serves some of the best homemade breads, cakes and cookies in Hannover. The holidays are a sweet treat when they sell holiday-inspired iced cookies - super delicious but uber expensive. Below is a holiday apple, cranberry and almond cake. 
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Borchers
Café Kränzchen
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If you walk through Old Town on Knochenhaurstrasse and see a window glittering with cakes, then you have discovered the "secretly located" Cafe Kranzchen that's nestled between the church's alleyway and the road. I have tasted almost every cake known to man here, but I devoured the Frankfurter kranz. It's a bit different than the kakao-stube, but equally delicious. The half-liter lattes are plentiful and eating cake in is a bit cheaper than take away. You can get a coffee and a piece of cake for about 5 euros. ​
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Back und Naschwerk - Altstadt
This tiny little bakerei (bakery) is an Old Town favorite. Serving coffee, pastries, sandwiches and bread, skip all of those and head directly to the cake. Below is a "zimtapfelsahnekuchen" or cinnamon apple cream cake. Cakes vary from day to day and serve cakes that use seasonal fruit. In the summer, you can relax at the street side tables that overlook holzmarktstrasse and the notable Leibnizhaus. 

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Das Laden Café – Linden
This tiny little Linden café is nearby Limmerstrasse and known for its character and quirky old-fashioned décor. The café is vegan-friendly, proudly serving soy milk lattes and vegan cakes. The cakes change frequently, but the “zitronweissschokolade” (lemon white chocolate) cake shocks your tongue to scream, “Oh my God. I can’t believe its vegan.” 
 
Kaffepause - Linden
If you want to explode with a mouthful of nuts, look no further than the notable “nusskuchen” (nut cake) in Linden. This is one of the very few cafes open on Sundays, and luckily, they always serve the nut cake on Sunday. During the week, the nut cake may or may not be there. In the summer, enjoy the backyard patio, where ancient-looking tables sit amidst brick walls covered in dangling vines.  
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apfelmangosahne cafe Konrad
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Double Chocolate Cake - Teestubchen
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Das Laden Cafe
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Raspberry Pistachio torte - kreipe
Kreipe - Mitte
Located behind the Opera House, Kreipe is a two-story café that serves some of the best lattes and kuchen in town. Not into lattes? No problem, flip through their book of teas after eye gazing at the glass case filled with cakes, torts and other savory treats. During the summer months, enjoy the street-side chairs flushed with fluffy pillows and tables filled floral centerpiece vases. The views of the Opera House are as magnificent as their cake. You can find everything from three-tiered cakes to single cheesecake-like squares. 
http://www.konditorei-kreipe.de

Teestübchen - Altstadt
Are you looking for the best cheesecake outside of New York City? This mainly outdoor cafe features various seasonal cakes, including the notable rhubarb cakes in late summer. But, they are most prized for their authentic New York Cheesecake (kasekuchen), which is a rare treat in Europe. Cake menus change daily. 

Pier 51 - Maschsee
For a touch and taste of class, head to Pier 51. Visitors eat cake while overlooking the calm and murky Maschsee. Like most places, they serve a different cake everyday, but most definitely the seasonal plum and rhubarb cakes (or anything with cream). Pier 51 is a quiet lakeside retreat from the bustling city center and is an ideal cake-and-coffee pit stop if you decide to walk the lake's perimeter. 

What's your favorite place for cake in Hannover? Be sure to let us know!


This Lemon Tree article is now featured on GPSmyCity.  To download this article for offline reading or travel directions to the attractions highlighted in this article, go to  Best Places to Eat Cake in Hannover, Germany 

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7 Beloved Beer Gardens in Hannover, Germany

11/8/2016

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Beer gardens are the foundation of the German’s social life. For decades, the “bier garten” is a place where Germans come to intermingle over cheap beer and affordable food. Open during the spring, summer and early fall months, visiting a beer garden is an experience like no other.
 
Hannover contains a variety of beer gardens, all of which are unique to their own style and offerings. Whether you dream of drinking a beer underneath a vine of grapes or chillin’ with hipsters behind graffiti walls, you can find it in Hannover. 

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Loretta’s
Located between the Rathaus and Maschsee, sits the indoor-outdoor restaurant and beer garden, Loretta’s. This is a place where classy functions overtake the restaurant with tartar and champagne and the optimal garden to sip on wine, beer or a latte underneath flowering trees. After a long night of wining and dining, hit the trails either around the Rathaus or behind the garden to Maschsee. During the week, the garden opens at 5pm and opens at 10am on the weekends. My favorites include the lattes, pink grape, Riesling wine and pfannkuchen. 

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Waterloo
Hankering for some beer and history? If so, head to Waterloo, the beer garden tucked away behind layers of trees. Waterlooplatz is the biggest military parade space in Hannover. Adjacent to Waterlooplatz and behind Altstadt is the Waterloo biergarten. Their menu is everything but British. Here, you can find the traditional, quiet and calm German crowd enjoying a nice pint after work. The food is anything but impressive with choices such as brats and pizza, but luckily, the prices are affordable. Try the rose wine or the Franziskaner beer on tap.
 
See Biergarten
Located on the northern end adjacent to the Courtyard Hannover is the See Biergarten. Here you can find the standard cheap food, beer and brezels. The brezels and a beer are a must and the views of Maschsee are nothing but gorgeous. This end of the “see” contains plenty of foot traffic and is a short walk to the Rathaus and the Sprengel museum. If you prefer, skip sitting at the traditional picnic tables and find your way to one of the “see-side” docks. Keep your toes out of the water as fish the size of tricycles swim here. 

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The Biergarten attached to Die Insel
Located at the southern end of Maschsee, next to the Aspira, is this tiny biergarten that is magical in nature. There is less foot traffic at this part of the “see,” so relaxing and enjoying the sun (or the clouds) in a quiet space is common. The best feature is the dangling grapevines that blossom during the summer month. With a spectacular view of the lake, it feels as if you are in Spain or Italy.  Attached to Die Insel, the crowd is classier, including the décor. Look for the bier garten pole that indicates its entranceway between two metal gates, next to the Crepe stand. 

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Lister Turm
Located in Liste, and nearby the notable forest, is one of Hannover’s most popular beer gardens. Packed day and night, come early (or late) to enjoy a (massive) mass and some excellent Turkish food. I recommend the Greek-style salad and the pommes frites – depending on how much damage you want to do. The seating area is as big as the beers. From tables that serve four to extended Bavarian-style picnic tables, the garden can seat many. Sadly, being in a rush is not common in Germany so the food lines can be long. Be sure to check out the building and surrounding plaques that note World War Two history. Understanding German is necessary. 

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Gretchen Biergarten
Located in Linden near Faust and Mephisto is Gretchen beer garden. Situated behind a graffiti wall, is a two-level garden packed with art, color and funky seating. This is the place where hipsters, artists and alternative-folks come to play. It’s by far the cheapest beer garden in Hannover. Enjoy a slice of veggie or cheese pizza, a latte or non-alcoholic drink for fewer than 2.50 euros. If you are searching for a cheap bottle of Beck’s – Gretchen’s got ya covered. 

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Dornroschen
I don’t think this beer garden is in operation, but I wanted to add it to the list because it’s an adorable place to check out or possibly rent.  The garden is accessible via a short bike ride using the path in front of Gretchen’s.  The garden is nestled between the bike trail and river, hiding between bushels of trees. If there’s one place to escape everything – it’s here! 

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What is your favorite beer garden in Hannover? Let us know!

Do you love this article? Or other Lemon Tree Articles? 
This Lemon Tree article is now featured on GPSmyCity.  To download this article for offline reading or travel directions to the attractions highlighted in this article, go to 7 Beloved Beer Gardens in Hannover, Germany 
​
Let's Connect!
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    Elizabeth Rae Kovar is a Fitness Trainer, Author of Finding Om, Presenter, Yogi, Vegan & lover of the World. View her portfolio at www.elizabethkovar.comor health-based blog at mindbodysoul-food.com

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