It's Sunday (25th) and daylight saving finished last night. Now this is a double bonus for me as I wanted to walk the Charles Bridge without having to share it with 100,000 other people - well at least 5000 other people. No I'm not joking. More than one source said don't walk the bridge between 9 & 5, it is too crowded. I have photos of it on Saturday arvo to prove it... aagghh...
Anyway due to Sunday and the time change I was on the bridge at 9.30am which everyone's body thought was only 8.30am and so they continued to sleep in. Still a few 100 people there, and lots of road works and stall holders flogging cheap trinkets. Impossible to get the iconic photo or absorb any romance. But it was a beautiful sunny morning and the views of the town and river were lovely.
View off the Charles Bridge on my Sunny Day
The best I could do to edit the builders and stall-holders out
I wandered over with views of Prague Castle and my day ahead in front of me. The area of Hradcany is dominated by the Castle. Supposedly the largest in Europe. Residence of the Presidents of Czech Republic (except the one immediately after the Velvet Revolution in 1989 - who stayed in his own home), although I'm not sure which bit they live in. It is MASSIVE. And surrounded by very expensive real estate (although no-one has a blade of grass to their name). I spent most of the morning pottering about the area, wandering up streets and just sticky beaking at the architecture, watching the locals walking their dogs, and trying to keep away from the tourist hords.
Loved this guy made of spare parts and leaning up against a restaurant courtyard wall
So Prague, so Europe... are we in France? I have to keep asking myself
Fantastic private 'Palaces' surround the Castle. This is painted, not brickwork and tiling - even the chimneys
Glimse of the Castle's Cathedral and clock tower as I approach (you can see the heads of the crowd - I did try...)
Took the Short Tour option and spent the next 3 or so hours at the Castle before wandering back into the 'burb' for more visual over eating. Part of what makes Prague interesting is that it survived WWII pretty much in tact. So much of it's history (and Europe's) is here for us to wallow in. And the Castle is a repository and example of a long history. From the 10th Century rulers have run their affairs from here, both civic and religious. There are books of land titles from the 900's, religious artifacts and skeletons (the real sort as well as those hidden in the closet) from similar periods, and they've unearthed interior decorations and architectural styles. In the small (but still huge) portion open to the public you get a very good idea of life in the Court and for tradesmen of the time. Unfortunately lke most places, very little has been recorded of the poor and the women - athough the nuns seem to have kept good records of their activities and have reasonable representation in the chapels, churches and cathedral.
Books in the original bookcases in the lands office of the Castle
These are two of the homes built along the castle walls by tradesmen and castle guards. They are only one room deep and the parapets are above and behind where the guards shot their arrows at any attackers.
The Castle's Cathedral interior (not so small either...)
It seems the Czechs took notice of the Romans and were very good at murdering their possible competition - both family members and rival politicians. The royalty went for poison, the civil servants for chucking people out of windows (which has a special name - definistration). The most famous Prince ever was Prince Wenceslas who's tomb is here and his statue in the heart of the commercial district (made a king by the English in a Christmas Carol). He was murdered by his brother and his mother murdered his grandmother for spoiling him too much (must have made mum look bad...)
Prince Wenceslas Crypt & Tomb - he hasn't moved since 929, even though the cathedral has changed much around him
2 tonnes of silver in the tomb of St John of Nepomuk - he features in other statues around Prague too
Prague Castle also had beautiful gardens and views of the city. And as it was a lovely day plenty of people took advantage of the view. I have quite a few good shots but I selected this one because it has the really tall 'spire' in the background. This is the telecom tower that has huge babies crawling up it by public art guru David Cerny. I may even take the metro out to the far suburbs to see this one!
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