Touring old Prague

Saturday, June 15, 2019
Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
When we awake with morning we check the weather to see if the rain forecasted was still on, the good news no rain, the “bad” news was the temp was going to be nearly 30! That doesn’t sound bad in Celsius  but in Fahrenheit that is 90, not ideal for a walking tour of Prague. Thankfully the tour starts with a bus ride to the Castle on top of the bluff overlooking Prague, where we start and then walk downhill from there.
Here we are again reminded of the immense power of the church and state which was in those days one in the same.  The King was also head of the Church and as such held all the levers of power. They built some incredible castles and churches, but the concept of equality and freedom was only for the Kings/Queens and their courts. This Castle complex is a great example. High on a hill overlooking the town and river they are in a commanding and protective position. The dominant building is the Church which is a magnificent structure with beautiful stained glass windows, gold gilded religious figures, architectural details, an amazing testimony to the power of church and monarchs. The complex is large and well removed from the main part of Prague. It is a Saturday and the castle complex is full of visitors, locals attending a performance by the palace’s band, and of course tourists like us. When we depart we pass the side entry to the church and note the gate is covered by small figures of everyday people, farmers craftsmen etc. which is ironic since they would not likely ever enter this church for a service.
The walk to the town center is easy since it is downhill and passes through some beautiful neighborhoods. One of the stops is a former grand residence which is now open to the public; the walk through the garden is very pleasant. The original owner of this residence was seen as a rival to the King and ended up having his property taken and turned into the park we are enjoying. We continue toward  the Vltava River and the Charles Bridge. The river is busy with boaters, some very simple and a few going in grand style with private Captain, food and drink. Looks very pleasant on a hot day.
We cross the bridge back to the old town passing many of the sites we saw last night. We pass the Town Hall which is famous for its Astronomical Clock also known as The Orloj .The clock was built 600 years ago and in operation until 2018 when it was rebuilt. When being rebuilt it was replaced by a LED screen. It shows how in those times people were really into the astrological signs, and the meaning in the stars, etc. This clock can tell you the phases of the moon, planets, signs of the Zodiac, and I guess more. It is an impressive accomplishment and one of only a few still in use today. 
We leave the group at this point and return to the cafe near the performance center to take a break, find some shade, grab a beer and light lunch before returning to the hotel for some rest before tonight's activities. Tonight some of our group are off to a Czech restaurant for an evening of traditional Czech food and music. We joined up with our new friends Debbie and Rick looking for a quiet out-of-the-way table in case the show looks for a few tourists to liven up the act. After a good meal of traditional Czech dishes (a serving of potatoes mixed with some ham and sauerkraut, a mixed grill of chicken, beef, and pork, and an apple crepe with ice cream) our strategic planning worked, except Rick had taken an end seat and was soon on stage. Being a retired Chief of Police all photographic and other evidence of his performance was impounded. In any event the show was lively, interesting, and we learned about some musical instruments we had never heard or seen. Of course given the fact there was all the wine and beer one could consume, your writer’s memory may not be accurate. We did make it back to the hotel for a good night’s rest.
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Comments

Brad
2019-06-20

Once again, thanks for these wonderful reports!

Ken
2019-06-20

Prague looks like a beautiful old city. History must seep from every building. Yet I’m disappointed not having pictures of Warren hot footing it on stage.

Val
2019-06-20

What fun. Beautiful treasures to visit and new friends to dine with. Love you

2025-02-08

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