Monday in Prague

So after getting some info about things I'd seen during my power-tour on Sunday, me and Stu went out to see some of the stuff I hadn't seen... which wasn't that much.
Apparently, I had walked basically the entire (central) city the day before - oops! (haha)

Things I saw on Sunday:

• Charles Bridge
• Mala Strana district (Prague 1)
• Kampa Island park
• Old Town Square/Astrological Tower
• Palladium shopping mall
• Wencaslas Square
• random island (not that island, that island, as Stu said)
• National Theatre
• Most Legii bridge (or "most legit" if you prefer)

Getting back to Monday-
We decided to go to the Prague Castle, since it was one of the few things I didn't see; and also because one of Stu's classes went there on a field trip, so she had lots of historical and fun facts to share.
On our way up the hill, we stopped by the John Lennon wall. Originally, young Czechs would go to express themselves and pay homage to the singer/songwriter during the Communist Era; each night the wall would be painted over, but they would go back and graffiti it every day. Now, it is a constantly changing work of public art. Although it is less about Lennon and more focused on general peace and love, you can still spot some song quotes and portraits of the man himself.

practicing my eastern european smile

Prague Castle is literally at the top of a very high hill that overlooks the whole city. While walking uphill through the streets to get to it, we stopped for a warm trdelník, a traditional Czech sweet treat. It was all shades of fall flavors, like cinnamon and nutmeg; and you hold the warm cylinder with your thumb in the middle so your whole hand warms up too!

the dough is baked on hot, rolling cylinders

some trdelník and starbucks!

As the streets flattened out and we approached the top, a huge view of Prague welcomed us.

The castle is actually a very confusing conglomeration of buildings and squares, which together makes up the "castle." Although there are many cathedrals, basilicas, and churches in Prague, it is actually one of the most Atheist nations in the world (you know, Communism and all that "no religion allowed" stuff, yeah it had an effect). Prague and its history are filled with religious figures and monuments, since it was part of the Holy Roman Empire, but now it's all in the past. All of these have a much more obvious presence here, rather than in the States, which is strange considering how many more people practice religion there!

TBM, the first president of the czech republic after world war one

castle square

musicians playing outside the Castle Square

the changing of the guard

st. vitus cathedral

flying buttresses! 

 toy museum near

prague is also famous for inspiring lots of classical music

czech people really do not like germans, especially after world war two. this sign used to have both czech and german on it, but after the war, they scratched out the german.

After passing through the important sights of Prague Castle, we went down to some tiered gardens. It's definitely fall in Prague! The leaves were changing colours, and there was a nice, crisp breeze - something that hasn't quite happened in Aix yet. From the gardens, we still had a great view over the rooftops of the city.

a "miniature" museum (sound interesting, dad? it's full of "little" things)

Looking across, we saw the hill that the Funicular goes up. We saw a small building flying an American flag - so we decided to go check it out! We crossed towards to the other hill and tried to find it. Unfortunately, we did not... but we did get to see the mini "Eiffel Tower" of Prague! It was designed by the same architect and is geographically taller than the actual Tour Eiffel in Paris since it stands on this huge hill.

a pumpkin!

We ended up just taking a nice nature walk through the Petrin Hill park (the largest green area in Prague)... and through a bit o' mud - adventuring!

Then we walked back through Mala Strana and ended up back on the Charles Bridge in time for a beautiful sunset.

prague castle

mala strana

charles bridge

We met up with a friend of Stu's from middle school who was traveling with some buddies from her study abroad program in Paris. The five of us got dinner, where I had traditional Czech goulash for the first time! It is basically beef stew on a plate with heavy potato-bread-dumpling things. I also had the Czech beer, Pilsner Urquell, which is kinda their equivalent of Bud Light or something (but definitely not light!) since it is everywhere... and evokes some sort of national pride.

We went back to Stu's apartment to hang out with her housemates, and then we all went to bed - and I slept so well!

 old town hall at night

view over the vitava river

xxo, S