Prague, Czech Republic

 
Wow... what an amazing city.   Everyone who I've spoken to who has traveled here has loved the city and proclaimed it magical.  We too, proclaim it so.  The lead up to the Prague visit was a bit intense.  Our 2nd-longest scheduled drive (6 hrs).  And on the Autobahn, which of course lacks a speed limit.   The wonderful thing about this trip, though, was the 6 hours seemed to scream by as we all were transfixed on the audiobook A Tale Dark and Grimm.  We didn't even stop much as we were all focused on getting to Prague and not wanting to stop the story.  Plus, we knew that childhood friend & Balika's KHS classmate David Barber and his family were waiting in Prague so we didn't want to be late!

We arrived into Prague around 6, borrowed some umbrellas, and immediately went to the old town square to meet up with Daid, Laura and Lailani Barber.  This was their 2nd time in Prague so they were able to give us a little tour and show us their favorite pastry shop and their favorite dinner stop (both huge hits).  The Argentinian restaurant they took us to was the perfect call for little kids- iguanas, parrots, quiet back room.  And what a treat it was for the kids to play with another little girl and, for the adults, to catch up on what each other has been doing.  David has been stationed in Germany with the military for the past couple of years (where he trains helicopter pilots), doesn't spend very much time deployed, so he gets lots of time with his family and to tour around Europe.    I hadn't even seen David since he'd had become a father so it was wonderful.  Meeting Laura again and getting a snapshot into their life in Germany was incredible.  All in all, we enjoyed the chance to catch up....  and the little girls fell in love.  But the night was short and the kids were tired, so eventually we walked across the dim-lit & romantic Charles Bridge (taking lots of photos of the amazing city) to our absolutely perfect, homey little bed and breakfast.

A word on Prague:  There is a reason it is a backpacker favorite... the city is romantic with its crumbling and colorful buildings, tall churches, beautiful bridges.  And it wasn't bombed during the war, so it is a chance to see a truly (once) powerful European city that hasn't had to be rebuilt in the 1940s.  Prague's most stunning buildings were built during the time of the Hapsburg Monarchy, becoming one of the most important cities to the Austro-Hungarian  Empire after World War I.  In addition, it was for a time the capital of the Holy Roman Empire.  Many of the buildings and squares within Prague have been labelled UNESCO world Heritage Sites, and for good reason: this city is a snapshot into the Baroque grandeur of Austro-Hungarian Empire.  Stunning.

Our Visit with David, Laura & Lailani:

The Barbers and the Haakansons in Old Town square (could be Disneyland with Tyn church in the background).

 

 

Scenes of the city:

In Old Town Square the Astronomical Clock is a huge tourist draw.  We joined the crowd in front of the tower to observe the procession of the Twelve Apostles: on the hour, every hour, a small trap door opens and Christ marches out ahead of his disciples, while the skeleton of death tolls the bell to a defiant statue of a Turk.

This building is known as Fred & Ginger

Scenes of Charles Bridge, the walking bridge that connects the two banks of Prague.   Until 1841, this bridge was the only way of crossing the River Vltava.  Throughout its history, the Charles Bridge suffered several disasters and witnessed many historic events. A year after the Battle of White Mountain, when the 27 leaders of the anti-Habsburg revolt were executed on 21 June 1621, the Old Town bridge tower served as a deterrent display of the severed heads of the victims to stop Czechs from further resistance. During the end of the Thirty Years' War in 1648, the Swedes occupied the west bank of the Vltava, and as they tried to advance into the Old Town the heaviest fighting took place right on the bridge. During the fighting, they severely damaged one side of the Old Town bridge tower (the side facing the river) and the remnants of almost all gothic decorations had to be removed from it afterward. During the late 17th century and early 18th century the bridge gained its typical appearance when an alley of baroque statues was installed on the pillars.

We got into taking photos of manhole covers in various cities... Something that is so inauspicious, and made so beautiful in the proud city of Prague.

Beautiful Prague at Night: