Prague in Summer

We turned back our clocks by one hour yesterday.  But I am turning back the blog clock all the way to summer so that I can tell you about our holiday in Prague.  There will be a few more of these time travels as I attempt to catch up on our spring and summer posts, before winter comes upon us.  Judging by the rapidly dropping temperatures, it could be soon!

So let's go back to the end of July...

First Night: Dinner and Stroll Along Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí)

 Upper part of Wenceslas Square, dominated by his statue and the National Museum.

Spelling in Czech could be a bit tricky..

Free dinner entertainment at the hotel.

Sardine chocolates, ughh.

Upside down horse in one of the art deco buildings near our hotel.

Lucas' shoe went for a stroll of its own.

Second day: Stroll to Old Town Square (Staré Město) and Charles Bridge (Karlův most)

One of the many cartoons of Joseph Lada's Švejk character - this one was in a cafe.

Every souvenir market has its gimmicky product.  In the case of Prague, it was the laughing witches.  Clap your hands and watch them cackle in glee.

He would have bought one if he had the money.

Nice art deco ice cream and dessert shop.

Can't remember the name of the shop, but it was located here.

Oldest working astronomical clock in the world - installed in 1410.

Prague's Old Town Square.

Do not stand in the middle.

Traffic signs in Prague *wink wink*

At the entrance to Charles Bridge.

Beautiful views over the Vlatva River.

Pre-dinner Mojito at TGIF.
And thank God we found this restaurant.
Traditional Czech food is not too great.

Old Town Square again, this time at dusk.

This was how we got around town.

Pushing the stroller was really serious business.  Once his hand was on the stroller, he never lets go.

Third Day: Visit to Prague Castle (Pražský hrad)

The next day, we headed back to Charles Bridge.  We walked across the bridge and up the steep slope to Prague Castle.

We caught this amazing street performance on the way to Charles Bridge:

There is a magnificent building, monument or sculpture in almost every corner of Prague.  These we saw on the way up to the castle.   

Finally reached the top.

Cooling down with ice-cubes.  It was a really hot day!

Outside the entrance to the castle, with just a couple of other hundred tourists.

Prague Castle is the biggest castle in the world.  The castle buildings represent virtually every architectural style of the last millennium. The Prague Castle includes Gothic St Vitus Cathedral, Romanesque Basilica of St. George, a monastery and several palaces, gardens and defense towers.   It houses several museums. (source: Wikipedia)

St. Vitus Cathedral.

Stained glass art in the cathedral.

Cotton wool clouds above St. George's Basilica.

The beautiful South Gardens of Prague Castle.

With amazing views over the rooftops of Malá Strana.

Quiet and peaceful.  The other hundred tourists couldn't find it.

A bit of Czech pork knuckle to end the day, with some holey bread washed down with Pilsner.

And a bubble bath, of course :)

Final Day: Stroll Around New/Old Town and Jewish Quarter (Josefov)

Fountain near the Theatre of the Estates.

Staircase in the House of the Black Madonna, the first example of cubist architecture in Prague.

Angels with gilded wings ready to take flight at the Powder Gate Tower.

The magnificent baroque interior of St. Jilji Church.

The Old New Synagogue in Josefov.

Entrance to the Old Jewish Cemetery, in use for three centuries with an estimated 100,00 burials and 12 layers of graves due to the lack of space.