[For a little extra money- the van driver waited while we took a 2 hour hike at Divci Kamen castle ruins outside the town of Krumlov (see previous post for details)]
Ahh! Prague, what a glorious city. It is a walking town, and walk we did- about 8-10 miles each of the 5 days we were there.
We toasted to renting the best apt. in Prague!
We found it through VRBO.com- it was called Old Town Terrace- VRBO Listing #1556042ha
It was actually a Homeaway listing. It was 55 USD per night pp- we stayed 4 nights- There was only a/c in one room, but it wasn't needed in May. There was a washer- but only a rack for drying.
The street we stayed on was right on the same block as the art work by David Cerney called "Hanging Out"..great landmark to help guide us home through the twisty streets
Our condo was 3 blocks to the astronomical clock,
4 blocks to The Charles Bridge
The Bridge was awesome, with a tower gate on one end.
and statues, we kind of wanted to power spray to clean them up! -ahh patina
and great views of the river flowing below
We were 6 blocks from the Jewish Quarter and its amazing museum and cemetery
Silence is observed here at all times. A cantor is heard in the background chanting the names of the people whose lives were lost, so they will not be forgotten. The names are also inscribed on the walls.
The dead were buried 5-6 people one on top of the other because they were not allowed to have a cemetery elsewhere. The museum is well done and worth the price of admission.
It is a small extra fee to pictures in the cemetery. Well worth it.
In our stroll to Tyn Church (above)- which BTW has its main entrance between 2 restaurants down an alley-( I share this because we circled the church TWICE before finding our way in-lol) we passed by so many beautiful things!
The Jan Hus Statue stands in front to the left of the Tyn Church.
He is looking at the church. Read the history of why at this link> http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Czech_Republic/Hlavni_Mesto_Praha/Prague-400455/Things_To_Do-Prague-Jan_Hus_and_his_monument-BR-1.html
I think the beauty of Prague is all about the details. Everywhere we looked there were things not in any guidebook that I felt I had to photograph.
Below is the Powder Tower, where gun powder was held. We climbed up this tower and had some of the best views of Old Town- it also housed a small museum and an art gallery. I am so glad we climbed this structure. It is well secured at the top so even height wary people won't mind the height!
I knew we weren't going to have time to go out to Zizkov TV Tower to see the climbing babies, so the view at the Powder Tower with a zoom lens helped me see the "ugliest building" in Parague
We took a Segway Tour- we had our guide take us on a route up Petrin Hill and then the Castle Quarter. We didn't want to spend our whole Segway time dodging people. After seeing how hilly (mountainy-lol) it was- we were so glad we weren't walking!- Segways were $75 USD for 3 hours including helmets, bags that attach to the Segway for your small purse and camera and water bottle.
We stopped to see the Cerney Computer Babies in the Lesser Quarter
they were creepy- but fun
We stopped at Petrin Tower
The views from the top were spectacular. We were so glad we took this tour- it was FUN!!
and our tour guide was historically informative.
On our next day's journey out we decided to walk to the castle rather than take a cab. So we took a route that led us (accidently-lol) by the side entrance to Wallenstein Gardens. They were beautiful.
From afar these look like flowers draped on a wall- but it is actually concrete.
We found a short cut through the gardens up to the Castle.
We got there in time for the changing of the guard, and the welcoming of "some" foreign dignitary.
It was raining, so we got to see gargoyles in action at the castle.
The Church of St. Vitus inside the Castle was magnificent inside and out.
On the way home from the Castle we stopped by The Lennon Wall and sang along with one of the street musicians. (It was Mother's Day- and we were happy mothers!)
Other notable things in town were...
"Disappearing Man", a statement about communism eating away at the common man.
Here we are wrapped in our blankets.
We had two elegant meals while in Prague- one was at the Charles Bridge. It was called Mlynec. It was quite expensive as we had the wine pairing meals. But the wait staff was top notch! We requested a table overlooking the bridge in advance and the request was granted.
We were sad to go- so our last moments were spent eating what we called cinnamon bracelets- which were delicious!
and going to the hookah lounge right next to our condo- called Andalous Shisha.
I loved Prague and I can't wait to come back with my husband and stroll at a more leisurely pace.
I hope you have enjoyed the 2014 Girls' Trip Series.
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