We spent two days in Prague (locals say "Praha") and loved it. Prague, like Budapest, was Communist just 20 some years ago but, unlike Budapest, did not get destroyed during the wars. In Budapest, most of the sights come with an asterisk ("*") telling you that it was rebuilt after the war. This was toward the end of the week and we were running low on energy, so we didn't see as much as we would have liked. This would be a place to come back to.
The Toy / Barbie Museum
Being a family of five daughters and one Mom - all who grew up with Barbie, we had to stop and see the collection. They had one whole floor dedicated to Barbie and her friends. Mom found the barbies she had as a girl, as did Amanda and Brittany. John also got to pose with a couple favorite Star Wars statues.
The Toy / Barbie Museum
Being a family of five daughters and one Mom - all who grew up with Barbie, we had to stop and see the collection. They had one whole floor dedicated to Barbie and her friends. Mom found the barbies she had as a girl, as did Amanda and Brittany. John also got to pose with a couple favorite Star Wars statues.
The Changing of the Guard at Prague Castle
It was so cold the band didn't come outside, they just played with their horns sticking out of the windows of the building behind them. The rightmost picture was to be with two of the friendly guards, but at the last second, two very pretty female police-persons walked up and distracted the guy on the right.
It was so cold the band didn't come outside, they just played with their horns sticking out of the windows of the building behind them. The rightmost picture was to be with two of the friendly guards, but at the last second, two very pretty female police-persons walked up and distracted the guy on the right.
Loretta Church
This is the holiest place in the Czech Republic. Inside the walls they have a little chapel in the courtyard they call 'Santa Casa' also known as 'Little Bethlehem.' This was the traditional departure point for religious pilgrims. Embedded in the left hand wall of the little chapel is what they claim is a beam from Mary's house. No pictures were allowed. There is also a chapel there that is very beautiful. In it is a statue to "St Bearded Woman" the patron saint of unhappy marriages. The story is that her parents promised her to an unbeliever that she did not want to marry. She prayed for help and grew a beard. The potential groom changed his mind, but her Dad was unhappy about it and crucified her.
The Dancing House
Designed by famous designer Frank Gehry (Derek may know him from Seattle's Experience Music Project building). Amanda has actually studied this guy in school. American architecture buffs have nicknamed it "Fred and Ginger." (after the famous US dancers Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers) On the left side is "Ginger" with a dress, on the right is "Fred" with the round head. The top floor is a restaurant, it wasn't clear what the rest of the building was.
The Effiel Tower - East (Petrin Tower)
They built a 1/5 scale version of the real tower two years after the orginal was built for some 1891 exibition. They placed it on the hill so that the top of the Petrin tower is exactly the same height as the top of the Effiel tower in Paris.
St Vitus Cathedral
This church is inside the Prague Castle walls, and is the dominant sight. It is huge!! Inside there is a little chapel to King Wenceslas. (of the song)
The Charles Bridge
Maybe the most identifiable landmark of the city, this bridge is amazing. About every 100 feet or so is a sculpture on either side of the bridge. Most of the sculptures have stories, the guy with the five stars around his head was a guy named John of Nepomuk, a saint of the Czech people. He was a priest that the queen confessed her sins to. The king wanted to know, but he refused despite being tortured. He was eventually pitched off the bridge. When he hit the water, five star appeared. (awwwww) It was beautiful at dusk, but the pictures came out very dark.
Maybe the most identifiable landmark of the city, this bridge is amazing. About every 100 feet or so is a sculpture on either side of the bridge. Most of the sculptures have stories, the guy with the five stars around his head was a guy named John of Nepomuk, a saint of the Czech people. He was a priest that the queen confessed her sins to. The king wanted to know, but he refused despite being tortured. He was eventually pitched off the bridge. When he hit the water, five star appeared. (awwwww) It was beautiful at dusk, but the pictures came out very dark.
Miscellaneous Pictures of the city ...
No comments:
Post a Comment