Viking Grand European River Cruise: 6/26/2016

6/26/16 - Sunday

We departed for our tour at 0830 after we had a hearty breakfast at the hotel. We were taken though much of the old town and the new town .. I have uploaded a series of pictures but have not had time to label them... sorry. I will get to them as soon as I can.

The blue track shows the outline of our day in Prague. The morning tour and the afternoon wandering. It amounted to 22.6 Km (14 Km of that total was on foot.) and 8 hours. We were tired but happy when we finally got back to our hotel.

Here is the same trip on a street map.

Rod is indicating that something Pat said just sailed right over his head! It had something to do with a witch she knows.

Our Two Cats restaurant.

Sitting at our first dinner in Prague at a restaurant called 2 Cats- see below. Pat had chicken schnitzel, Rod had Pig Knee, I had Czech Chuck- lots of different pork and a piece of duck. Sandy had some sort of meat rapped in a pancake.

We stopped at a candy store on the way back from our meal.... we really needed something else to ear, NOT!

Some sort of chocolate/caramel candy.

This is the famous astronomical clock on the tower of city hall in the old city square. It was put into operation in 1410.
The Orloj is mounted on the southern wall of Old Town Hall in the Old Town Square. The clock mechanism itself is composed of three main components: the astronomical dial, representing the position of the Sun and Moon in the sky and displaying various astronomical details; "The Walk of the Apostles", a clockwork hourly show of figures of the Apostles and other moving sculptures—notably a figure of Death (represented by a skeleton) striking the time; and a calendar dial with medallions representing the months. According to local legend, the city will suffer if the clock is neglected and its good operation is placed in jeopardy and a ghost, mounted on the clock, was supposed to nod his head in confirmation. Based on the legend, the only hope was represented by a boy born in the New Year's night.^[1]

Looking at menu options in the old city square.

A store that had wonderful ceramic beads, necklaces and various glass lamps.

Pat must have been hungry, chewing on her glasses.

The square's center is home to a statue of religious reformer Jan Hus, who for his beliefs was burned at the stake in Constance, this led to the Hussite Wars. The church in the background is the Gothic Church of Our Lady before Týn.

The tower is the old town hall tower and, on the opposite side is the Astronomical clock.

Walking across the Charles bridge crossing the Vltava River is the oldest bridge in Prague.

Looking toward the Prague Castle. Out of Wikipedia-Prague Castle (Czech: Pražský hrad) is a castle complex in Prague, Czech Republic, dating from the 9th century and the official residence of the President of the Czech Republic. The castle was a seat of power for kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman emperors, and presidents of Czechoslovakia. TheBohemian Crown Jewels are kept within a hidden room inside it.

According to the Guinness Book of Records, Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world,^[1] occupying an area of almost 70,000 m², at about 570 meters in length and an average of about 130 meters wide.

John of Nepomuk was a priest in Prague under King Wenceslas IV (son of Charles IV). The Queen made a confession to John of Nepomuk. Unfortunately for him, the King being a very suspicious man, pressed John of Nepomuk for the Queen’s confessions which John of Nepomuk would not reveal, not even to the King, because it would be against his commitment of confidentiality. John of Nepomuk was therefore executed by being thrown into the Vltava River from the bridge and drowned. Rubbing the plaque is considered to insure that you will return to Prague.

Charles River bridge gate on the Prague Castle side.

The statuary of St. John of Matha, St. Felix of Valois and St. Ivan. The most popular bridge statue and also the most capacious and expensive one. It was built in honour of two founders of the Trinitarian Order, the Order taking care of buying out and gaining christians from unbeliever's power. The pedestal of the statue is formed by a cave, in which three chained Christians as God for salvations. On the side of the cave window a Turk is on guard - this is one of the most famous Prague plastics. St. Felix holds the cartouche with one hand while presenting the other hand to a liberated Christian. Above the Turk the figure of St. John of Matha with a deer, whose vision prompted foundation of the Order. Then St. Ivan Kneels above St. Felix. (http://www.charlesbridge.cz/l_14.html#).

These models of old cars are very popular as tourist touring cars.

The church of St. Nicolas.

There were many shops with multitudinous glass and crystal pieces for sale.

The Lennon Wall or John Lennon Wall is a wall in Prague, Czech Republic. Once a normal wall, since the 1980s it has been filled with John Lennon-inspired graffiti and pieces of lyrics from Beatles' songs.

The Devils Stream is a side branch of the Viltava River which was once used to drive the wooden water wheel to power a mill. The statue is a ghoulish creature that was supposed to drown people that came by the mill or some such story.

Hundreds of people waiting to enter the Prague Castle. We were held up because of the changing of the palace guards.

This glorious entrance gate is a part of Rococo railing which comes from the period of the reign of the empress Maria Theresa. Above the main gateway, you can see a partly gold-coated wrought archwith a royal crown at the top. Sides of the gate are formed by bulky square columns bearing sculptures of fighting giants from 1768. There are other beautiful sculpture works on other columns but not as monumental as the first ones. In front of the largest columns, you will always find members of the Castle Guard on duty. If you have already seen the gate and the guards, enter the First Courtyard. (http://www.praguecityline.com/prague-monuments/prague-castle-entrance-gate-and-the-first-courtyard)