Czeching off The Must See Sites July 1st

Another day and more beautiful weather. Woke up early and had breakfast and went to Starbucks for juice and WiFi. That way I could post yesterdays Blog. Tablet still doesnt work in apartment. Cold is much improved. I blog

I am still trying to get tickets to Pilsner Urquell for friday morning. Only so many available is what I hear. You will know if I get the tour or not by the tone of my Blog on Saturday.

Today we are going to see the must see sights of Prague. Prague Castle which includes St Vitus Cathederal and Charles Bridge. Metro out towards Castle but its the wrong stop so we have to walk up the hill to the Castle. Now some weeks ago Mary Ann hurt her foot and has trouble walking long distances. This limits us a bit. But we get to the Castle, buy the appropriate tickets and proceed in. Well not quite. On the walk in the entrance We saw a women talking to a policeman about missing her friends. We saw her again in the ticket office explaining her problem. She had become separated from her husband and old Mother in law when the tram doors shut on her and she didn't make it onboard. Today was the day she didn't have her cell phone, money , or credit cards since they would always be together. So I let her text her husband. No reply. Then call him. Left voice mail. I am guessing she found them because she wasnt there when we came out ofthe Cathederal. Gave her an old but still good tram ticket I didn't need but no money. Charity has to end somewhere. 

St Vitus Cathederal was great. Very nice stained glass that our old friend Berney would have loved.

St Vitus was killed by the Romans in 360 AD for not giving up Chritianity. Supposedly the bones from one of his hands in the Cathederal. Who am I to judge?

 St Vitus Cathederal

 Stained glass inside

Mosaics outside Cathederal 

Saint John Nepomuk Crypt. 2 tons of silver

Nextup was The Prague Castle home to the rulers of Bohemia and surrounding lands from the early 600's till 1917 when they were on the wrong side in World War I. Thats when Modern Czechslovakia came into being. Like most all Castles outside of England, it is bare of most furniture and paintings but just enough to let you know it was a nice place to go to in its time. Nice views of the city below as one would imagine of a castle. They do have the Kings crown and septer on display with such large jewels on it I mention to Mary Ann that large jewels look fake. On reading a little furtuer I see that these are copies made in 1995.

 Prague from the Castle

Mary Ann on Castle Terrace

Next up lunch. But after so much deer or goulashs I am looking for something different. Low and behold the one cafe there has curry chicken and rice. Add a nice beer to that and you have lunch. The cafe was small so seating was hard to come by. We lucked out and some people were leaving just as we got there. We order and I see this couple about our age looking for seats so I ask them to join us. The table seats 4. They are from Michigan, but he is a Notte Dame fan. His alma mater. Sits on the board of one of their committees so he knows everything about Notte Dame sports. And he doesn't like U of M. Ok hes a nice guy. We talk about traveling through lunch and say our goodbyes. Two ships passing in the night. Next up is the smaller St George Basillica. Smaller and not as ornate as St Vitus. You know all about St

George the Dragon Slayer and this is dedicated to him. 

Beside this Basillica (which ismore like a chapel) there is an exhibit of 70 photographs taken by Czech solders during WWII. 10 for each year. Told a nice story of the Czechslovacians that fought against Germany in that war. 

Mary Anns foot is hurting so we skip the last thing on out ticket as well as the gardens so she can get home and rest. We take a tram down the hill to catch the Metro and end up at Charles Bridge. The one with all the statues that is solely pedestrian now. Along with the mimes,sketch artists, singers and Bands playing music. A car wouldn't stand a chace on that bridge. But Czech one more aire off the list. And I should mention that the statues are all reprodutions with the real ones in a museum. Does it still count?

Charles Bridge

Prague from the bridge

We catch the Metro home with a stop in some Church of no renown. And we

Are home. A glass of wine for me and a book for Mary Ann. We will see what happens for supper. 

We eat locally and I have Pizza. Maybe I am ordering the wrong things but goulash and the other heavy gravys just dont appeal to me. Home early and tomorrow we hope to see the national museum.