I can honestly say that Prague is, so far, my favorite place in the world. I have so many people I would like to share this beautiful country with. The first place we visited was Prague Castle, which really is more of village than a castle. If you've read my post about Carcassonne (here's the link),
you will be a little bit familiar
with castle compounds. While Prague Castle isn't technically a compound in the same way, It does have many of the same qualities such as...
Prague
A Dramatic Entrance
Technically this is where we exited, but it is clear that the original intent of this gate was to be a stately entryway. I was totally getting mad Buckingham Palace vibes from the guards in the little candy houses.
On the left is St George's Basilica. The interior is so old! I was shocked by how different it looked from the outside! On the right is St. Vitas Cathedral. I have never seen a more glorious church, both on the inside and out. I just wish there would have been places to sit and sketch. Chris and I sat on the ground, but it was marble and soooo cold! The pews were roped off so no one could sit on them!
A Small Village
The Golden Lane is a restored and preserved historical street of tiny houses that doubled as workshops for the villagers. The villagers sold their wares from their homes. Of these shops was a shop selling beer cosmetic, a goldsmith, a toy shop, and a medium. Additionally, Franz Kafka lived on Golden Lane for two years in a house he rented from his sister. In one of the buildings was a museum of weaponry. Would we really be Americans if one of us didn't shoot something? Here's Chris.
Lennon Wall
Lennon Wall has been a place of public art (read: graffiti) since the communist era. It changes every day and the chance that it will be the same from one second to another is very slim. Even as we were standing there, people were leaving their marks with markers. While the art is every changing, it usually holds Beatles lyrics and political statement
This bridge is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, bridges in the Czech Republic. On either end of the bridge are stately gate towers, similar to the Powder tower, which was the next major stop on our adventure.
Charles Bridge
Powder Tower
The Place I Became A Model
So, according to the sign at the ticket counter in Prague Castle, Powder Tower was supposed to be closed for "unforeseen renovations" but we walked all the way there anyway and it wasn't closed! So we climbed all the way to the top (as high as we could go- the balcony by the spires) and saw the city from wayyyyyy way up. The view was amazing. The funny part- I will probably be in a Chinese tourism brochure because a Chinese guy in a press vest with a huge camera asked to take my picture. It came out really well, so let's hope he follows through and emails it to me!
the dancing house
Chris and I became the art again to channel the Dancing House by Gehry. Since the very beginning of my architectural studies, I have always wanted to see this building. The was Gehry was able to capture such movement in such stationary pieces of metal and glass and concrete will always remain a mystery to me.