The Big "P"

Wow. It is a big relief to finally post these pics from Prague! We did so many things that I had hundreds of pictures to filter through. For all of you out there that don't feel like going through the entire slide show (found here), I'll give a brief recap here of Prague adventures. :)

We stayed at the Hotel U Pava, which translates to the hotel "at the peacock.". The hotel used to be a seminary, and was complete with winding staircases, religious paintings, and lively frescoes on the ceiling of the hotel restaurant.

U Pava Peacock

Ceiling Frescoes in U Pava's Restaurant

The location was great because we were right by the Charles Bridge, which is one of the biggest attractions in Prague. It's a long bridge over the River Vltava, commissioned by Holy Roman Emporer Charles IV in 1357, with scenic views and bronze statues up and down the sides. Very pretty.

Walking Along the Charles Bridge

View from the Charles Bridge

On our first day in Prague, we headed to the Jewish quarter. Probably the most famous thing in this part of town is the Old Jewish Cemetery. Since the Jews weren't allowed to bury their dead outside of their district, this cemetery was used for more than 400 years. When it became full, they would add a new layer of dirt to accommodate the bodies, then shift the previously laid tombstones up to the top of the new layer. The end result is a cemetery 12 layers deep, containing an estimated 20,000 bodies and 12,000 tombstones. Really incredible to see. The most famous tomb is of Rabbi Loew, who, according to legend, created a monster called Golem to protect the Jews and help keep them safe.

Tombstones at the Old Jewish Cemetery

That night we went to see a marionette puppet show, since Prague is known for their puppet craftsmen and puppetmasters. The show was at the National Marionette Theater, and the performance was Mozart's opera 'Don Giovanni' acted out by three-and-a-half foot tall marionette puppets. It was really clever and very fun to watch.

Scene from the Marionette Puppet Show

Throughout the trip we saw lots of marionette puppet stores, and some of the puppets were just so incredible. Andy and I ended up buying a Jester puppet as a souvenir. Here were some of our other favorites:

Our Super-Cool Jester Puppet

My favorite: The Dragon Puppet
Andy's favorite: The Eskimo Puppet

In the town square of Prague's "Old Town" there was a Christmas market (are you seeing a theme here? Europe loves these things!). We bought a Prague pastry called a Trdlo, that was delicious. It's basically yeast dough, wrapped around a cylinder, rolled in sugar and cinnamon, and roasted over an open flame. Sooooo good. Also in the square we saw the Astronomical Clock which displays the current zodiac sign, the phase of the moon, the patron saint for that day, and the time. It also puts on a show at the top of every hour: two windows open to reveal statues of the 12 disciples parading past and a skeleton representing death pulls a cord to ring the bell. It was neat.

Old Town Square with Christmas Market

Astronomical Clock

The Clock during "The Show"

Our last big excursion was to the Prague Castle. The castle is pretty cool because it has been home to the leader of Prague since it was completed in 850 AD; the current president resides there now. The most famous site there is the St. Vitus cathedral. Inside it is filled with beautiful stained glass windows, one of which was designed by the famous Czech artist, Alphonse Mucha. It also has a tower with spectacular views of Prague, as long as you're willing to climb a spiral staircase with 287 steps! Well worth it though. :) After all that exercise, we treated ourselves to a relaxing lunch (excellent goulash!) at a nearby restaurant.

Mucha Stained Glass Window

View of Prague from the TowerPosing with the St. Vitus Spires behind us
Fun Times at Lunch after our Castle Excursion

All in all, it was a great trip. I would highly recommend Prague to those looking for an exciting European adventure. The architecture there is just beautiful, so just walking through the city streets was a treat. Plus they had gorgeous art glass and cut crystal boutiques, and some of the best beer in the world!! If you ever see Velkopopovický Kozel on a menu somewhere, you have to try it!