Graduation Trip Day 3: Prague, Czech Republic

July 27, 2013
Jeff's comments are in red
Josie's are in black

(Click on any underlined link to learn more)

We had a yummy breakfast at the hotel and drove across town to find a place to park for the day. There were tons of things to see as we drove, and it took us forever to find a spot close enough. There was a giant metronome (biggest in the world) that took the place of Stalin's giant statue during the communist days; there is a building called the dancing house--it is dedicated to Fred Astaire Ginger Rogers and their dance skills. The wavy part could be representative of a girl figure, I suppose. I couldn't see any similarities, but hey--that's what it's called and what it's all about.

Our goal for the day was to see as much as humanly possible in Prague in one day. It was VERY hot this day, but we were undeterred in our efforts. We started off trying to find a place to park in the heart of the city. We weaved through the cobblestone streets and followed cars, trains, and even horse carriages. Finally we found a spot, paid for parking, and were on our way to Old Town Square.  

To get to Old Town Square, we had to cross the Charles Bridge. It is strictly a pedestrian bridge and is over 400 years old. 

Here we are on Charles Bridge with the Prague Castle and cathedral in the background.

Water wheel on the Vltava River next to the bridge

This is called the Powder Gate of Powder Tower because they used to store gun powder here in the 1600's. It separates the Old Town and the New Town.

As we walked under the tower opening, I noticed that there was a door open and people walked into it. I grabbed Josie and walked into the doorway. It let up a winding square staircase up to the top of the tower. I took this picture near the top.


If you look in the water to the right, those wooden structures coming out of the water break up ice chunks to protect the bridge. I thought it was pretty interesting.


After we went under the Powder Tower and into "Old Town," our next stop was the Old Town Square  to see the Astronomical clock. To get to the square, you walk through little streets and alleys (mainly just follow the crowds) until you find your way. This was our first view of Old Town Square.

As we walked into Old Town Square, it was almost 1 PM. So we waited 10 minutes with a large and waited to see the Astronomical clock go off on the hour. As it turned 1, the two doors on top open and the 12 Apostles rotate around. The little skeleton on the right pulls a string attached to a bell, and other little movements happen. Click on the link to read about how detailed this clock really is.

Built in 1410 and still tickin'

After we watched the clock go off, we walked around the square for a little, watched some street performers, and headed back through the maze of streets to Charles Bridge. 

We made it back to our car just in time to put more money in the parking meter and then we started walking up the hill to see Prague Castle.

Supposedly, Prague Castle is the biggest in the world, it is a huge complex of buildings with a gargantuan cathedral in the middle (not exactly a prototypical castle).  

                                                    The entrance to Prague Castle.

Disappointed? Well, this Palace is one of the biggest in the world because of all its sections. You go through the main gate (with statues of guys beating each other up) and under an arch—on the other side is a monstrous cathedral. There were gardens and other buildings inside it, too. Jeff said that inside the cathedral looks like the Mines of Moria from the Fellowship of the Ring. It did, it was so tall and had pillars.

There was a pretty good panorama view of the whole city of Prague.

After we walked through the cathedral, we then hiked to the Strahov Library. I had seen pictures of it online while researching Prague and thought that Josie would probably like to see it. We walked and walked in the heat (Josie in sandals) and finally made it. 

A small portion of the walk up to the library. Jeff is almost at the top in a black shirt.

A cool staircase during our walk.

The library is hundreds of years old and has two different "halls," the philosophical hall and the theological hall which together house over 200,000 books. 

The library was beautiful. The banisters have golden patterns, and there was a ton of books. The ceilings were painted, and the floor had patterns. It was like Beauty and the Beast when he gives her the library. Except not really, because there was no music and it was not as huge and did not have as many shelves or books…and it wasn’t mine.

This is half of the library, the other half down the hall has just as many books. Over 200,000 in all

Also in that part was a mini museum that had a narwhal horn, elephant trunks, armor, and there were books made of wood—they were made out of the bark of the same tree the book was about—and inside were its leaves, twigs, bugs that eat it, etc.; kind of odd, but very cool. Then they had a display of incredibly old books and another library with five or six huge globes! We couldn't sneak pictures.