Prague:
Tuesday, November 5

Bright and chilly again - off on foot to Hradcany or Castle Hill - past the Loretto Church recently renovated - down to see uniformed guards at the entrance to the first castle courtyard

Cathedral of St. Vitus - six hundred years of construction - groups of school children and retired people from all over Europe share cobblestones with us

Shops abound in vicinity - "Defenestration of Prague" from Chancellory - Basilica of St. George, old, old - steep, winding cobblestone streets - some restaurants - first good meal in Malestrana (Lesser Town) - platter with local meats and sausage-stuffed, deep-fried, breaded pork steak

More downhill travel to the Charles Bridge built in the 1400's

Only walking crowds cross the bridge festooned with large figures carved on local stone - vendors with lovely photos and paintings - a group of older musicians with a sign by the money box: "Jazz No Problem"

Up steps to the top of the tower - photos - jazz pretty good, no problem - sensory overload - spires and decorated, colored edifices of many ages

Our Lady of Tyn church like a black Cinderella's castle - Gothic figures drawn on corner - restored old Town Hall with astronomical clock - down Parizka (Paris Street? Paradise Street?) to Jewish Ghetto remnants - no Jews, just stories of their never ending persecution - oldest Synagogue in Europe

Rooftops	Our Lady of Tyn	Astronomical Clock	Synagogue	Cemetery

Metro and streetcar back home - metro train cars are electric, Russian, austere, and fast - huge crowds - easy trip

Two blocks up to restaurant by the cloisters - friendly look - genuine Czech - good meal with "biftek" English style with a fried egg on top

Everyone smokes - the smell of the city is exhaust: from machines and people

Back on trolley across to Old Town where lights are pointed at all the sights of the day - they are reborn in varied splendor - quiet streets, yet many people going here and there to eat and to the Opera - looking in the windows of closed shops and some clubs