The streets of Prague were very clean and people were out in the morning "tidying up" the town. Some new street signs.
Prague is full of statues. Statues in parks, statues on corners of buildings and statues in walls.
Along with the statues there is some interesting ironwork on buildings. A very clever ironwork design of two hands holding a book form the hinges and lock.
Charles Bridge
Charles Bridge is a 14th century stone bridge linking the two sides of Prague. A view of the bridge tower on the Lesser Town (Malá Strana) side of the Vltava river.
This bridge is the main pedestrian route connecting the Old Town with the Lesser Town / Prague Castle.
30 Baroque statues depicting various saints and patron saints were erected along either side of Charles Bridge between 1600 and 1800.
There are now 75 statues on Charles Bridge.
Homes along the canal that runs under the Charles Bridge.
A workman arranges flowers on a household shrine. A playground next to the Charles Bridge overlooks the river.
A couple pose for wedding photos next to the bridge and the river. Another view of the wedding couple next to the river as a swan swims by. The swan is swimming next to a wooden structure that is used to divert chunks of ice away from the bridge piers.
Buildings on the Old Town end of the Charles Bridge.
The Old Town bridge tower.
A view of the Charles Bridge and Lesser Town from the Old Town side of the bridge. "Love Locks" are also visible on the fence next to the bridge. Sweethearts' names or initials are inscribed on the padlock, and its key is thrown away to symbolize unbreakable love.
Old Town
A statue of King Charles IV in front of the Charles Bridge Museum
A view of the Charles Bridge Tower from Karlova Street. A view of the Hotel Aurus at the intersection of Karlova and Liliova streets.
More statues on building.
The Jewish Quarter
A flower planter outside of a restaurant and some of the beautiful architecture of the Restaurant U Stare Synagogy (Restaurant at the Synagogue) in the Jewish Quarter.
Clocks on the Jewish Town Hall. The higher one has Roman numeral markings and the lower one Hebrew numbers and hands that turn counterclockwise, the same way as Hebrew is read
The Iron Knight statue on the corner of the Prague City Hall and Old Town Square.
Jan Hus Memorial at Old Town Square and the Church of Our Lady before Týn.
The Prague astronomical clock was first installed in 1410, making it the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest one still working. Every hour on the hour, two little doors open above the clock and figures of the apostles do a little circular parade. At the same time, a quintet of other figures around the clock join in.
Plaques to Albert Einstein, where he lived while he was a professor at Prague University in 1911 to 1912, and a plaque where Johannes Kepler lived while staying in Prague.
Some of the decorations over doors in Old Town.
A couple of tourists posing as knights and a hardware store display.
Prague Castle
Prague Castle, dating from the 9th century, is a sprawling complex situated atop a large hill on the left bank of the Vltava River. The castle was a seat of power for kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman emperors, and the official residence of the President of the Czech Republic. It is among the largest castles in the world.
A view of St. Vitus Cathedral as we enter the castle from Powder Bridge.
A view of the Second Courtyard and fountain.
The main gate entrance which leads to the first courtyard. A view of a picketing protester and the changing of the guard
St Vitus Cathedral
Located within Prague Castle, St Vitus Cathedral contains the tombs of many Bohemian kings and Holy Roman Emperors. Entrance doors to St Vitus Cathedral.
Interior views of St Vitus Cathedral.
Silver Bust Of St Vitus beside the relics of St Adalbert.
The silver tomb of John of Nepomuk.
Funerary monument for Count Leopold Schlick and the Chapel of St. Wenceslas.
A side view of St Vitus Cathedral from the third courtyard.
The Mosaic of the Last Judgement.
The Czech Crown Jewels (a copy)
Back view of the cathedral.
Golden Lane
Golden Lane gets its name from alchemists, that according to legends, searched for a reaction to produce gold from base metals such as lead. Golden Lane consist of tiny colored houses and souvenir shops. Some of the houses feature demonstrations such as this glass cutter.
Entrance to a museum of medieval armory and an example of one of the many suits of armor
Views of Prague from the castle.
Dinner at U Lipy
Soup and the main course. Excellent.
Our entertainment and some interesting artwork.
The next morning we board the motor coach and head for the town Pilsen.
Pilsner Urquill Brewery
In Pilsen we tour the Pilsner Urquill brewery. Pilsner Urquell was the world’s first-ever blond lager, making it the inspiration for more than two-thirds of the beer produced in the world today
The main gate entrance and a symbol of the brewery's founding in 1842.
The brewery's visitor center and their show motorcycle.
The brewery building an the shuttle bus used to move our group a round the brewery.
Beer bottles queue up after a washing in the new bottling line.
Bottles being filled.
The brew house
Mary test a sample of the beer from one of the many barrels.
Another group arrives for the brewery tour.
The Czech Republic country side as we near the German border and head for our next stop, the Bavarian capital, Munich.
Link to our next stop, Munich & Bavaria
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