Cruise on the Vltava

Sunday was such a hot day we decided to take a cruise on the river. Every day (even in winter) four people stand at the foot of Charles Bridge donned in sailor uniforms trying to persuade tourists to take a 45 minute cruise around the environs of Charles Bridge and Troja. So we did the tourist thing...for $15/7AUD we received a beer/soft drink and cake/ice cream and were enlightened on the history and places of interest along the Vltava.

Our enthusiastic young captain was a treasure trove of interesting information. N asked him about the seals that escaped the zoo during the 2002 floods and he was able to tell us all about them. Apparently Prague Zoo’s ONLY MALE seal “Gaston” drifted 400km along the Elbe until finally being rescued in Wittenberg in Central Germany - the Czech’s had to organize visas to cross the boarder to follow him. Unfortunately he died from exhaustion and internal injuries on the return journey. But 10 months later, on June 4, the keepers at Prague Zoo were very surprised when Gaston's female companion, Bara, gave birth to a female pup, Abeba. Isn’t that an amazing story! Abeba is now the Prague Zoo mascot.