Day 2

Old Town

We’re beginning to get our bearings in this town. Our walk to the river takes us by many beautiful buildings and statues in the Staré Město, or the Old Town.

Maiselova Street with Mom, Dad, and Suzanne.

The Rudolfinum, the symphonic hall in Prague, where Dvořák conducted the first performance in 1896.

Walking in Prague — Grass fills in between the cobblestones on this Prague street.

Typical Prague Building — This is a typical apatment building in Old Town Prague. Every building worth its salt has statues on its facade, and this one on Siroka Street is no different.

Kafka Monument — The Franz Kafka monument, in the Jewish quarter, shows him sitting piggy-back atop his own headless body.

Man on Ledge — Another mostly naked man on a large in Prague.

Charles Bridge

The Charles Bridge is among the most famous bridges in the world, and may be the most photographed. The span was constructed between 1357 and 1402 under King Charles IV, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor. It is now merely a pedestrian bridge, no longer burdened with vehicles, and is protected by three tall fortification towers on either end (it has two on one end). It’s beloved for its thirty Baroque-style statues which adorn the span. During the day it is jammed with tourists who fight for space with vendor’s kiosks, musicians, and street performers—one does not cross the bridge for the view, the bridge’s adornments and activities are sufficient to capture one’s attention.

Prague Castle from the Vltava River. The castle consists of the cathedral (the tallest building), the royal palace, government buildings, and other houses, basilicas, and convents.

Charles Bridge Saints — Statues of Saints Margaret and Barbara beside a blooming Horse Chestnut tree on the Charles Bridge.

Statue of Saint John of Nepomuk on the Charles Bridge. John of Nepomuk was thrown off the bridge by Wenceslas IV in 1393 and is now revered by all Bohemia.

Malá Strana

The bridge connects the Old Town with the Malá Strana, or “Lesser Quarter.” The Malá Strana is a small section of the city nestled between the castle and the hilltop park to the south.

One of the landmarks of the Malá Strana is St. Nicholas Church. Located here in the late 1200s, the current Baroque structure dates from the 18th century. It is known for its stunning frescos and large, green dome.

Saint Thomas Church — Looking down the aisle of Saint Thomas's church in the Mala Strana, Prague's Little Quarter.

Saint Nicholas Church — Looking down the aisle of St. Nicholas Church in Prague's Little Quarter. The finest baroque church in Prague, its ceiling fresco, 'Apotheosis of St. Nicholas' by Johann Kracker, is the largest in Europe.

St. Nicholas Church Dome — Under the 230-foot-high (70-m) dome of the St. Nicholas Church in Malá Strana.

Radiant — A decoration inside Prague's St. Nicholas church.

St. Nicholas Organ — Part of the massive organ in the rear of Prague's St. Nicholas Church. Mozart played these pipes in 1787, and it's safe to say that Smetana and Dvořák probably had a go at them too.

Lesser Dome — The smaller dome of the St. Nicholas Church in Prague.

Petrin Hill

After lunch, which consisted of a cabbage, bacon, potato, cheese crepe, some Kenyan beans, and a beer, we took the funicular up to Petřín Hill. This hilltop park rises over 400 feet and affords views of the city and its surrounding countryside. Sitting atop the hill is the Petřín Tower, a steel-frame tower built for the 1891 Prague Exposition. Inspired by the Eiffel Tower, Petřín is much smaller, and has an octagonal base instead of the square footprint of Eiffel.

On the north side of the hill, there is a path that descends through the woods and on the other side of which there are views of the city and nearby castle.

Petrin Tower — The tower atop Petrin Hill, a lovely green space 1,000 feet above Prague.

Moonvane — A star and smiling moon grace the top of a small domed building on Petrin Hill.

Prague Forest — Horse Chestnut trees in the woods around Petrin Hill.

St. Vitus Cathedral — Saint Vitus Cathedral seen from the side of Petrin Hill.

So many sundials

Permit me a brief aside, Prague is a city of sundials. Here are a few:

Sundial I — A sundial in the Malá Strana. It's really 11 o'clock--sundials don't account for daylight savings time.

Sundial II — Another sundial on another wall of the same building.

Sundial III — A sundial on Petrin Hill. An additional dial marks the time of year with zodiacal signs.

Evening

We hoofed it back to the hotel and sat in the courtyard with a cold pint. In the evening we ate at a Bohemian restaurant called Kolkovna. It’s a rollicking, pub-like atmosphere with a very active bar. I ate the “Moravian Sparrow,” which was roast pork with red and white cabbage and soft, doughy bread, along with the national drink—beer.

Looking down Nerudova Street, a tourist-laden street running from the Prague Castle down to the Mala Strana.

St. Eustace and the Deer — St. Eustace and the deer on a building in Prague.

It’s Saturday night in Prague, and the streets are filled with people. We went out for an evening stroll. Suzanne and I stayed out till midnight taking photos.

Tyn Church — The Church of Our Lady Before Tyn and Prague's Old Town Square at night.

Saintly View — Saints line the roof of the Church of the Holy Savior.

Charles Bridge Tower — Suzanne and me beside the Charles Bridge tower, part of an old city fortification.

Behind the Church of Our Lady Before Tyn, one of the main churches in Prague, is a small cafe.