. Prague .
July, 2004. So it's a little closer to Vienna, but between Lund and Vienna, what better place to meet up than Prague?! We stayed in an apartment just behind the old town square, and had a wonderful time roaming the streets. Despite the influx of us tourists, the "City of 100 Spires" definitely lives up to its reputation as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It's hard to describe how amazing the architecture is on every street, and I even had a narrator to tell me all about it. Art Nouveau, Gothic, Renaissance, Communist, there was a taste of everything... sometimes all in one building. Speaking of taste, let's not forget the culinary culture angle. "Dumplings" are not filled with pork and cabbage, but are instead bready and served with pork and saurekraut...
My first view of Staromstské námstí (Old Town Square) made me feel
like I'd stepped through a portal to Cinderella's Castle.
After a festive dinner on the lively square, the next morning we wandered out to a quiet, peaceful square, dominated by the statue of Jan Hus, and accompanied by a ...
jazz cow?
The northwest corner of Staromstské námstí featuring a manual sprinkler system.
A nice outdoor restaurant in a cozy triangle.
Just in case you weren't sure, this place was clear what they served.
I particularly appreciated the attention to chemical detail.
"Sitting Bull". Chuckle chuckle chuckle.
After a tour of northern Josefov, we headed toward Hradany and Prague Castle.
The 14th century Karlov most (Charles Bridge). Some say it has held up so long because they used eggs in the mortar. Others say it's overrated...
So this bridge is a little different than most (no pun intended),
with towers at both ends.
The view of Hradany from the bridge.
The bridge in a light mist.
A nice window on the other side of the bridge.
The bridge was lined with dark stone statues of righteous figures beating down demons. Here some evilings are trapped beneath some cherubs.
2 sets of stairs connected the common folk to the grounds of Prague Castle.
This is the super secret back way...
The entrance to Pra~ský hrad (Prague Castle) at the top of the hill.
Note the demons getting beaten down.
A Medeival looking building front.
The Loreta, which houses the Czech treasury...
including an orb encrusted with over 6000 diamonds.