Over 2000 hits and counting!
The Horseshoe Journal reached and surpassed the 2000 hits mark. Thanks for your views and interest. This gives me more motivation to keep writing. Now I am in Munich, typing about Prague, and when I get back to Prague, will be typing about Munich and Konstanz.
Prague (Praha)
The view of Prague is definitely better from Petřín Hill and the Prague Castle. Getting there is a nice walk, through stone streets and well maintained old buildings. I like the red roofs of the houses, pointy green tower roofs, dark gray stone bridges and towers, and the large statues holding yellow swards. From this side of the river, the ambient is much more relaxed and surrounded by nature. Prague is small and offers both benefits, the amenities of a multicultural and active city, and the tranquility of parks and nature.
Somewhere in this ocean of red tile roofs I have visited some good pubs with the Czechs. Drinking beer seems to be the national pastime, and I am catching up rather quickly! Czech beer is very tasty and affordable. The pickled cheese with Rye bread is the best after 4 jars at the pub. In the last few days I have visited two Latin clubs, La Cubanita and Rincon Latino. I've heard there is Palenque and the Green Tree for more European style dance beats.
I particularly like this picture of the Petřín Lookout Tower (Petřínská rozhledna, 1891). From far it looks a little bit like the Eiffel Tower, and is a fifth its size. It is at the top of Petřín Hill, and takes a good 40 minutes walk. Tiring, but worth for the views and the gardens around the tower.
Along the hill there is the Hunger Wall (Hladová zeď, 1360). The local myth is it that the wall was built not necessarily to protect Prague, but to employ and feed the poor during the 1361 famine, hence the name.
I waited for two hours to take this shot. Turns out, and I forgot this, that in June the days are longer. There was sunlight at 10:00 pm, but it was worth the wait, and here it is.
Prague Orloj is one of the oldest astronomical clocks in the world. It was completed in 1410. Aside from telling the time, it also indicates the position of the Sun and the Moon, the zodiac signs, and the seasons. Every hour the four statues on the sides are set in motion, and the skeleton, representing death, rings the bell, and the rooster above the clock sings.
Every hour during the day, at about a quarter to the hour a large group of people gather around the clock to see the event. It is a very nice experience, considering the oldest and most important mechanical parts of the clock are over 600 years old, and still work with high precision. The whole thing takes about a minute. There is a small window over the clock, that open and wooden statues of the twelve Apostles appear. At the very end, a guy plays the trumpet and greets the crowds.
Saint Vitus Cathedral (1344) is inside the Prague Castle. Bohemian kings and Holy Roman Emperors are buried here. The work of art inside and outside, and the level of detail around the cathedral is amazing!
The golden gate on the south side has images entirely made of tiles. In the middle there is Jesus. On the left side the raising of the death, and on the right souls being punished in hell. On the lower left corner there is the scene of the original sin, and on the right Jesus crucified. It is fascinating the way of telling a story through this kind of art.
There is much more to see and do here, but I am telling you, need time to experience it first.
Photo album
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