Prague is bisected by the same Vltava River that bisects Český Krumlov also. This morning, our bus would take us from the hotel, cross the Vltava River, and visit the Lesser Town. We would then walk across the 14
th century Charles Bridge to come back to the Old Town. In the afternoon we would join a Gate-1 optional tour to visit the Prague Castle. At night, Gate-1 would host a farewell dinner before sending us home the next day.
Our morning tour started from a garden at the foothill of the Prague Castle. The garden ground is a part of the Senate of the Czech Republic. The garden is not as expansive as other gardens we have seen during this tour, but it probably is one of the most beautiful.
(Click on each picture to get the full-size view)
Palatial structures were built around water ponds or fountains with statues.
There are Labyrinth-like passages.
At the end of one passage, there is a tall stone wall with Wisteria-like flowers and faces of the animal. It looks bizarre, creepy, but also stunning.
Close up view of the stony wall reveals snake and frog. Human faces and other animals are also visible upon close scrutiny.
The stone wall also has a cage with live owls inside.
Wallenstein Garden with the Senate in the back
Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. The ceiling and the wall are richly decorated and painted. It is a gorgeous structure.
There are several peacocks roaming freely in the garden of the Senate.
You can get very close to them.
The courtyard in the Senate.
For reason unknown to me the Senate courtyard has a manual water pump.
From the Senate complex, we walked through the Lesser Town to get to the Charles Bridge. Many buildings are in Neo-Renaissance style.
St. Nicholas Church with Bell Tower in the Lesser Town.
The street in the Lesser Town leading to the Charles Bridge.
The Lesser Town Bridge Tower.
Kampa Island, just off the side of the Old Town Bridge Tower, can be seen from the Charles Bridge.
View of the Vltava River from the bridge is dream-like.
There are many swans in the water under the bridge.
Because of a popular K-drama, Charles Bridge is a popular photo spot for Korean newlyweds. We saw this young couple having pictures taken by a professional photographer. There were many tourists on the bridge and everyone went around, leaving a quiet space for the newlywed to enjoy their moment.
There are many statues of religious themes on the bridge.
The Statue of St. John Nepomuk. It's said rubbing the dog on the left will ensure that you will return to Prague. Rubbing the woman on the right brings good luck.
With Linda & Paul from OC on the Charles Bridge. Because of our seat assignments we sat next to each other on the bus throughout this trip.
Very soon we reached the Old Town Bridge Tower. We were here last night when it was dark. Now we got to observe the structure clearly.
The St. Francis of Assisi Church we saw last night.
It would be about 10 minutes’ walk to the Old Town Square from the Charles Bridge. On the way to the square, we saw several interesting buildings.
Hotel Aurus, an Art Nouveau building.
Prague City Hall
There are many fine buildings we failed to notice last night because it was dark.
The Old Town Square, a historic center with 10th-century origins.
Around the square, there are many magnificent buildings.
St. Nicholas Church, a baroque church built in the 1700s
The glorious Church of Our Lady before Týn, with Gothic twin towers and numerous spires.
The Old Town Hall from 14th-century, renowned for its observation tower and intricate astronomical clock.
The Astronomical Clock.
Our guided tour ended at the Old Town Square. We had signed up for an optional afternoon tour to see the Prague Castle. So we walked back to our hotel and got ready for the afternoon excursion. On the way, we passed the Powder Tower.
A performance theater built on the site of a former 17
th-century Irish Franciscan monastery.
Municipal House, an Art Nouveau venue hosting performance events. It also houses many restaurants.
Next to the Municipal House is a wide plaza. Behind us is a department store called Palladium. Our hotel is just around the corner from there.
We started our optional tour to the Prague Castle in the early afternoon. The St. Vitus Cathedral in the Prague Castle sits on a hill and is a prominent sight from almost everywhere in Prague. When our bus approached the castle and we finally got to see the cathedral up-close, its majesty and grandeur are astounding.
Entrance to the Prague Castle
There is tight security at the entrance. This guard looks to be a ceremonial one. Not pictured is a fully-armed, bullet-vest wearing, open gun carrying soldier standing near him.
Old Royal Palace is a late Gothic palace in Prague Castle. It was built with Renaissance elements.
The courtyard in the Old Royal Palace.
The St. Vitus Cathedral’s main entrance with intricate rose window, rising towers, and ornate doorway.
The cathedral is huge. The main nave has soaring ceiling, statues on high columns, elaborate stained-glass windows. At both ends of this nave are the altar and the rose window.
There are many gorgeous and exquisite Stained-glass windows.
The Great South Tower of St. Vitus Cathedral.
In the back of St. Vitus Cathedral are its flying buttresses.
Behind the humongous St. Vitus Cathedral there is a smaller church, St. George’s Basilica.
Golden Lane is a narrow street lined with small shops in the Prague Castle.
In front of this building is a bronze statue of a naked boy. Legend has it that rubbing his organ makes one’s male partner sexually potent. It explains why a particular area of the bronze statue is extra shining.
Views of the surroundings from the Prague Castle are spectacular.
Our last dinner of this Central Europe trip is a farewell dinner hosted by Gate-1 at Restaurant U lipy.
We all had a glass of this Czech national drink.
Seated in our table are: (from left clockwise) Philip & Rowena from DC, Heather & Ed from Denver, Denise & Steve from Indiana, Linda & Paul from OC, Joe & Rosaline from LA, and Margret from NoCal.
The other big table.
The next day we boarded a Delta flight from Prague to JFK, en route to LA. We originally had a layover of 5 hours at JFK. After retrieving our luggage and going through the US Customs at JFK, we inquired at the Delta luggage transfer desk if there was an earlier flight to LAX. Turned out there was one flight just one hour away. We gladly paid $50 surcharge per person to get on the earlier flight and saved us 4 hours of idle sitting at JFK.
This Gate-1 tour to Central Europe has been terrific. We learned so much about that part of the world. The places we visited are lovely and enjoyable. Our tour director, Neira Milkovic from Croatia, is very knowledgeable, fun to be with, and above all truly professional. Our driver, Garbo from Hungary, is careful, diligent, and a gentleman. All the members of this tour group are easy going and we all got along very well. We are very pleased with this trip with Gate-1 and will sign up with them again for future trips.
A wonderful journey has to come to an end finally.
A precious experience I will cherish dearly.
Warsaw, Budapest, Vienna, and Prague are wonderful places to be.
And I will gladly put them back on my bucket list repeatedly.
-Joe
