DESTINATION FOCUS: OFF SEASON IN PRAGUE

Arriving in Prague after a fresh flurry of snowfall, we are greeted by one of the world's iconic city centres where ancient architecture tipped in gold leaf winks and scatters in the morning sunshine. The main square is coming alive with artisans and food vendors stoking white-hot fires for both warmth and the day's creative endevour. Prague is one of those cities where you feel at once welcome while almost being overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of your surrounds. We pause for a stimulant as the reality of a full morning's exploring is ahead of us. Smiles abound as espresso is ordered and downed from one of the many cafes lining the main square.

Making our way to the Charles Bridge, my partner and I pause at every point of interest and I insist we divert to the smaller, cobbled streets lining the main route to simply look.. After a few back-forth-turnarounds, our course returns and we are crossing the main road onto the bridge. We stop at a pre-determined point to join our Tour Group of the old city. Being off-season, the group consists of our lively guide and us. This sets the tone of the morning and we smile at the prospect of a full private tour of Prauge's old city.

As we set off across the Charles Bridge, the river Vltava flows quickly beneath us and the pre-Autumn air is crisp. The sunshine lights perfectly the first of many statues lining the Charles Bridge and we are again stopped in our tracks in appreciation of the scene unfolding. The bridge crossing leads to the old city where boutique shops and galleries are joined by lovely family-owned restaurants serving authentic Czech dishes and refreshments. (The local mead is a real heartwarmer after a few hours of walking and laughing.) Our guide sets a good pace and we are quickly making our way to the centre of the Old Town. Historic and cultural information is passed freely by our guide as we navigate to some of the oldest, progressive buildings in the city. Architecture styles blend through major timelines as we delve deeper into the old city. The Jewish Quarter is a real highlight.

Our morning tour quickly becomes an all day experience through the friendship we are developing with our guide, Anita. We spend several hours in a beautiful restaurant eating local cuisine with local wines. Feeling rejuvenated and warm, we set off on the return leg of the tour, stopping to watch a marrionette show in one of the many small theatres of the city. We bid farewell to Anita at 3PM and return to our hotel for a warm drink and rest before venturing out for an evening of theatre and dinner.

Prague has a rich artistic history and the many theatres of the city centre offer performances of opera, music and ballet on almost every evening of the week. The theatres span history and are as exciting to behold as the actual performances held within. After a wonderful evening of musical performance in an intimate theatre, my partner and I walk to a nearby restaurant and enjoyed local wines with a hearty dish of peppery goulash and crusty bread rolls. A local at the next table tackled a huge roasted pork joint with gerkins, pickles and bread. Very stout!! Eating in Prague is more than fun. While we did eat in several fine restaurants, the smaller, owner-operated restaurants became our favorite haunts. The cold yet sunny days lent to the traditional dishes of the city's people as being the perfect replenisher for our weary, yet eager old bones!!

Prague in the off-season offers travellers the opportunity to feel and see the city in a very unique light. The main areas of the city can be explored at your own pace without the throngs of people normally associated with full season travel. In fact, many of our morning walks were marked with a complete lack of people on the streets, adding a magical feel to the experience. While the off-season can be cooler in temperature, there are many days of blue skies and sunshine to inspire you to seek out the gems this city has to offer. Prague in the off-season? Yes.