Day 5 (a) – PRAGUE morning | DADart Photography

Day 5 began with breakfast at the “Friday” Hotel (pronounced Free-Day), then setting out toward the Old Town Square as the sun came up on a beautiful (warm) day. Below is a shot of Deanne posing by the front door of the hotel.

–

We started the day with a Gargoyle near our hotel and saw lots more before the day was over. The needle-like spikes on top of the gargoyle are an attempt to keep birds off. Just about everything is ‘protected’ with this or netting (or it’s covered with pigeon poo).

–

Not many people around the huge, open square early in the morning but a bride and groom were out getting some wedding photos done and taking advantage of a sliver of sunlight slicing between the buildings and into the square. The Jan Hus Memorial statue is on the left. The pink building (behind the bride) is Kinský Palace, an intricate Baroque building that once housed a German grammar school attended by Franz Kafka, and the Gothic church with the black towers is Our Lady before Týn.

Kafka “stuff” is everywhere in Prague. You can buy t-shirts, posters, mugs, anything, with a Kafka theme. He was born in Prague in 1883 and most of his existential writings were published after his death in 1924. Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre are among the writers influenced by Kafka’s work; the term Kafkaesque has entered the English language to describe surreal situations like those in his writing. (Wiki)

–

Jan Hus (John Huss) with Hussite Church (St. Nicholas Church) in background. Some Wiki history of Hus; Born in 1370, Hus became an influential religious thinker, philosopher, and reformer in Prague. Hus believed that Catholic mass should be given in the vernacular, or local language, rather than in Latin as well as many other (pre-reformation) teachings of John Wycliffe. This did not go over well with the Vatican in Rome and Hus was ultimately condemned by the Council of Constance and burned at the stake in 1415. The memorial was built with public contributions in 1915 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of his death.

–

Sunrise on the Old Town Hall.

–

Looking up at the Astronomical Clock and Tower

–

Detail of the _______

–

The Old Town Hall building was closed but the door was propped open for workmen going in and out. There was some amazing mozaics on the vaulted ceiling. I got this shot before being shooed out.

–

We hunted around to find the entry to the Church of Our Lady before Týn. It’s hidden in a tiny courtyard behind the storefronts on the Square. This is the main entry door but they hadn’t opened yet.

–

Another door in the same area. I don’t remember exactly where this was.

–

More cool carving on the same door.

–

Street signs in Prague are interesting. Sort of ‘bubbles’ mounted on building corners.

–

Early morning street leading to the Square. The streets are almost all cobblestones with lots of different patterns.

–

Another early morning street scene. Our hotel was a few blocks from the Old Town Square. This was on our walk, before most people were out and around. The “Kodak” signs probably won’t be around much longer…

–

Side door to Our Lady before Týn church

–

Cool manhole cover…

–

Prague was generally very clean but like most big cities has it’s share of Graffiti.

–

Street posters display clear Czech opinions toward thier Communist and Nazi neighbors during WW-II (and I). Reinhard Heydrich resided in Prague Castle until his assasination by Czech resistance. Look him up for reasons why he was hated, there is plenty to hate about him…

–

–

Not sure what building this was on but I like the sculpture. Looks like he’s just casually hanging out up there dangling his legs over the edge of the roof parapet.

–

The “Prague Squad”, searching out the tram for a ride up to the Castle. We found the tram easily enough but figuring out where to purchase tickets for the tram proved more challenging. We eventually bought them from a newspaper/magazine seller.

–

Steeples of St. Vitus Cathedral seen as we left the tram and approached Prague Castle complex. Prague Castle is considered the largest castle in the world (Guinness Book of World Records qualifies this with “largest Ancient castle” – perhaps there are larger Modern castles?). We entered at the North Gate.

–

This is the room where you purchase tickets for the various castle tours. Door heights everywhere were sized for folks like Bilbo or Frodo… This was one of the few times I handed off my camera, thus, you won’t find many photos of me on this trip so get your giggles here…

–

Guy with a Hawk or Falcon walked by and set the bird down nearby then walked on. This photo was taken on the Powder Bridge, an old stone bridge crossing the Deer Moat, a deep wooded valley below the bridge.

–

Bird took off and soared over to land gracefully on his arm.

–

St. Vitus Cathedral steeples rising high above rooftops of the “2nd Courtyard”. Next several photos are of approach to the church.

–

–

–

St. George slaying the dragon (in the “3rd Courtyard). This is a bronze replica. The original, from the 1300’s is kept indoors at the Royal Palace. Saint George is the patron saint of Knights and Soldiers.

–

Closeup of St. George and the dragon. Apparently killing dragons keeps you really thin or St. George was wearing a really tight corset under that armor…

–

St. Vitus Cathedral. This is a PhotoShop stitch of 3 shots. This does not even begin to do justice to the experience of being there. The church is immense in size and is so ornately detailed everywhere that it seems impossible to believe it’s “real”. In this plaza, near the statue of St. George slaying the dragon, I was officially ‘dubbed’ “Sir Lagsalot” by deanne, using a souvenir ball point pen sword. Some story about me hanging back taking pictures or something…

–

An awesome door jamb carving.

–

An awesome copper gutter bracket… maybe something only an Architect would love…

–

Beautiful stained glass window.

–

In the Royal Palace; The Vladislav Hall… again, just another incredible space to walk into. Built around 1500 during the reign of Vladislav II, it was the largest “room” in medieval Europe. “The hall was used for banquets, receptions, coronations, and other events of the Bohemian court. It was even large enough accommodate tournaments between knights; the “Knight’s Stairway” was built wide enough to accommodate horses to facilitate such activities”. (Wiki)

–

“Riders or Equestrian Stairway” – a ramped stairway that horses could navigate to get from the outside courtyard into the Vladislav Hall (not my photo – found on internet). Knights could ride in and pay homage to the King “in a dignified manner” without being humbled by having to dismount the horse…

–

Ceiling of the New Land Property Registry, painted with coat of arms of all those who worked there from 1561 to 1774.

–

Door Hinge… what can you say about that?

–

Chapel of St. George. Built in 920, it is the oldest church building in the Prague Castle complex. Baroque facade was added much later…

–

Religious Dude holding a church (closeup of previous photo) Not sure who this guy is but I’ll bet he wanted to grow up to be an Architect?

–

A roof made of Stone. Now that’s something you don’t see every day; or ever…

–

Another Knight-ish Dude, just hanging out on the corner of a building.

–

Really old street sign and copper downspout. Can’t put my finger on why, but I really like this photo.

–

Another carving of St. George slaying the dragon.

–

Looking from back to front (Nave) of the Chapel of St. George. The facade is Baroque but the interior is almost entirely Romanesque, including the arched “Women’s Gallery” on the second floor.

–

Arches of Women’s Gallery

–

From front to back

–

One of the side chapels in the Basilica of St. George.

–

Exposed vaulted arch ceiling shows old Romanesque stonework.

–

St. George slaying another dragon

–

Cool old stone carving and lettering

–

Back out into the Saint George’s Courtyard looking at the “Altar End” (Apse End) of St. Vitus. The dark wood door in the building on the left is the “Horse Stair” entrance to Vladislav Hall. So if you were headed to an indoor jousting tournament you would ride in that door, turn your horse left and clomp up a stone ramp with little steps or ridges in it and coming out at the top into the Vladislav Hall.

–