Prague

The next two days of our trip we spent in Prague, Czech Republic. After arriving by train, checking in our hotel, and getting lunch we immediately set out on foot to explore the city.

Vtlava River

Dancing House






Church of St. Cyril & St. Methodius - During World War II Nazi Germany occupied and controlled Prague. Like all Nazi occupied areas, most notably France, an underground resistance movement emerged. The Czech resistance was remarkable in that it succeeded in assassinating one of the key Nazi leaders of the region. The assassins/resistors/patriots hid out in the crypt of this church while the Nazis hunted them. A member of their group betrayed them and the Nazi surrounded the church. The resistors held out as long as they could but eventually committed suicide to avoid capture. Not yet satisfied, the Nazis hell-bent on revenge - under Hitler's order - continued their recriminations by completely wiping out the hometown of these resistors. Out of several hundred inhabitants, not a one was spared. What was Prague's (and Budapest's) reward for surviving the horrors of the Nazis? Half a century of communism.


Susan with the Legii Bridge in the background



Charles Bridge



Roads of Old Town

Astronomical Clock

Tyn Church

Susan & the Big Chair

Susan

Powder Tower

Henry's Bell Tower


For the graphic artists out there, here are some interesting posters for the Museum of Communism

Praha nadrazi

Vaclavske nam & St. Wenceslaus Statue



National Museum

Sv. Antonin

Letenske Sady (this is a park on a hill overlooking the Vltava River and the entire city from the northbank of the river) - the views from here were amazing (see below)

View of Tyn Church from Letenske Sady

View of River

View of City

View of Prague Castle

Sun setting over castle

Castle

Susan over tunnel

River Bridges

Day 2:
We visited famous Prague Castle. Every part of it included beautiful views and amazing architecture, but as a result, the common sight-seeing spots were overrun with tourists. Fortunately after seeing these sights, when we took a walk around the back side of the castle, we were almost entirely alone.

Golden Lane

St. Vitus

St. George's Basilica

Dome/Skyline

Loreta Church - now we began our walk around the backside of the castle

Crazy Susan



Novy Svet - it means New World, but I can't remember why

Deer Ditch

Royal Garden



St. Vitus at Sunset





Charles Bridge at Night

Darth Vader guards the historic Charles Bridge. Actually it's a statue of a medieval warrior-king, but it sure looks the dark-helmeted one.

Running in Prague

One of our favorite things to do in a new city is to explore by running off the "beaten path." While our run in Vienna was pretty cool (we took one of the photos of the Hundertwasser Haus on that run), the run in Prague was particularly amazing. We explored Mala Strana (a park which I think means, rather unjustly, "The Lesser Side") which only was a few blocks from our apartment. Entering the gates of the park, we immediately ascended - on a combination of stairs, switchbacks, and steep hills - up a couple of hundred feet where we then zig-zagged inside & outside of the various medieval castle walls that divide the park into sections. A few clearings in the forest here and there afforded some magnificent views of the city. Otherwise, while deeper in the trees, the fog and the almost eery silence and emptiness of the park made it possible to imagine that we were traveling through a medieval forest. Fortunately not, as our discovery running with bright jackets and rubber shoes would surely get us branded witches and burned at the stake....

Trails!

I took this picture over a 5 1/2 foot tall wall. Thus, Susan did not see these tombs until she saw this photo.