Replies

1. 
   sarahemily | Jul 21, 2003 05:52pm | #1

   Hello!

   I found some lovely buttons in Prague.  I'd love to return!  We stayed in the Charles Hotel, which is just off the Charles Bridge (lovely hotel, by the way, but not by usual American standards).  I found three stores with buttons just walking around that area.  Two were in the same triangular block as the hotel.  The other store was down the street(from the Charles Bridge), past the Street with the Charles Hotel,to the corner on the left side(one long block, turn about a block to the left , and then a couple of stores down on the right, on the right side of the street.  There were also trims and things at the small store but I don't recall fabric.  I didn't find any fabric stores, but we just walked.  There are so many little winding streets with unfamiliar names, that I don't recall but perhaps you could ask.    There are also some unique things for sale by street vendors on the Charles Bridge.

   There are lovely handmade buttons, buttons with amber, or from amber, and gorgeous pearl buttons (and  pearl pins sold in the fabric store) of unusual shapes.  They were very reasonable, and have given me much pleasure.  I love it when some stranger comments on my unusual buttons. And, they don't take up much room in the suitcase!

1. 
   BeverlyK | Jul 22, 2003 02:45am | #2

   Thank you for the information Virginia.  We are staying at the Ambassador Hotel which sounds as though it is not far from Charles Bridge.  I will be sure to check out the buttons, etc.  Any suggestions for restaurants?  My husband and I have lived all over the world and are interrested in all kinds of food.  We like neighborhood bistros as well as very good restaurants, and usually take the bus or walk to see the sights.

1. 
   sarahemily | Jul 22, 2003 05:29am | #3

   We were in Prague for two weeks and ate in a wide variety of restaurants, pubs, etc.  We even had Thanksgiving dinner there with wonderful beer-in an "English" pub trying to cook for American Thanksgiving.  What a hoot!  The beer is great!  I don't usually drink beer but it was not the average beer!  Anyway, we didn't have an unpleasant experience once!  It was a fine trip!  My sister probably wrote down the names of some of the restaurants.  Every meal was beautifully served.  We were there 3 years ago and perhaps they are more used to tourists but we were treated very well.  We also really enjoyed the walking tours-either they were free or a nominal amount.  I hope that you love music as it ialso is fabulous.  I bought a quilted bag at a Christmas bazaar set up outside a student recital hall.  The recital was great and I have a bag that is unique and is a wonderful memory of the trip.  My husband couldn't believe that I was shopping before a concert!  I should have purchased some other things but I didn't listen to my "wiser self."  I didn't want to be an ugly American but I would have loved to have had time to look at some other hand-crafted things.  We were also there just as the Christmas market was opening.  I hope that you have a wonderful time and can stay there long enough to experience the wonders!

1. 
   BeverlyK | Jul 22, 2003 08:40pm | #4

   Unfortunately we only have four days.  We added on to a River Cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest with four days in Prague.  My husband and I lived in the Middle East for a number years so we have spent a great deal of time in Europe (prior to the fall of the iron curtian) so we are truly looking forward to Budapest and Prague.  The rest of the trip down the Rhine and Danube will give us a leisurely pace to revisit old haunts.  Thank you again for your thoughts.

1. 
   HollyT | Jul 23, 2003 03:02am | #5

   Sounds like a wonderful trip.  We visited our diplomat daughter in Budapest last fall, and found a couple of fabulous fabric stores.  Beautiful, luxurious fabrics, very good selections, for much less than US prices.  They had lovely buttons too, altho I didn't get to spend much time looking at them.  One store was on Andrassy Ut, just below the Octagon.  The other is up the street a few blocks, and owned by the same people, so they could direct you.  If I get to go back, I would definitely put shopping for fabric and buttons on the top of my must-do list.  I had carried fabric from G Street here in DC to make daughter a ball gown, and found when we got there that bringing fabric to Budapest was totally unnecessary---the shop had imported silk, beaded lace, satin, velvet, etc.---very high quality and good selections.

2. 
   BeverlyK | Jul 23, 2003 03:56am | #6

   Thanks so much Holly.  Really appreciate the suggestion and I will drag my poor husband to yet another fabric store.  Cheers.  Beverly