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
Back home with ease on Trolley #22