The Adventures of Dave & Cass: Picturesque Prague

After a restful sleep at Camping TrioCamp – our first night in yet another country the Czech Republic I finally got the opportunity to finish my Swiss Alps blog (4nights of crappy internet). It was time to explore Prague…

The Old Town Prague

We took a bus and underground train to the centre of Prague famous for beer and throwing people out of windows. We had been told by 2 kiwis we met on our Potsdam tour about the free tours for tips in Prague and were keen to make the 10:30am one. Unfortunately our navigation skills came undone and we went for a long walk in exactly the opposite direction so we settled for the 2pm version instead.

Lunch Czech style

In the meantime it gave us an opportunity to see Wenceslas in Prague’s new town – named after the guy in the Christmas carol – good king Wenceslas. After checking out some shops we made our way to the Staromestre Nam or old town square where we arrived right on time for the 12noon striking of the astronomical clock complete with bell ringing skeleton, twirling apostles and tower trumpeter (a real person).

The Astrological Clock

The Staromestske Nam

We ended up finding lunch at a pub in a back street that funnily enough was a medieval themed restaurant. We dined on traditional Czech duck and goulash washed down by a Pilsner Urquell and Kozel served by peasant costumed waiters – very fun.

The Medieval Dining hall

MMMmm a whole duck for me

On my throne

Finally it was time for our city tour with our guide – Scott’s man Colin.

Another wedding

The Tyn Church

The Catholic Church

First up was a look around the Old Town square – the Tyn Church (Hussite Prodestant Church – to become a focus during the Hussite wars), the St Nicholas Church – Prague’s Catholic church and the missing Old Town Hall (destroyed in WWII with the only remaining part being the clock tower aka the astronomical clock). The Story went that the Czech’s were so proud to be the owners of the first and only clock of this type that they had the eyes of its builder burnt out so he couldn’t replicate it in any other foreign cities – lovely repayment for a job well done.

The astrological clock with the bell ringing skeleton (top right side)

Next we moved to the site of the first de-fenestration AKA tossing people out of windows. This was to start the Hussite wars between old enemies – the Catholics and the Protestants. Also on this street was the Estate Theatre, one of Mozart’s favourite places to play and where Don Giovanni was first staged, conducted by none other than Mozart himself.

The Estate Theatre

Don Giovanni

Next it was back to where we had started at Wenceslas Square.

Wenceslas Square

Here we heard the say story of Jan Palach. A student in communist times who in 199 protested by coming to the square , dousing himself in petrol and burning himself alive. He lived for 3days before dying aged 21. There is now a small memorial to victims of communism in his honour.

After a short intermission we walked to the Jewish quarter a sombre place in Prague. Pre WWII this was actually a ghetto and one of the worst places to live. After the Nazi invasion the place was emptied of all Jews. It did however remain unscathed through the war as Hitler had a plan to house an exhibition here called “the Extinct Race” where he would put a collection of Jewish artefacts on display.

The Jewish quarter houses the Old-Synagogue (interesting name) with its famous Golum (apparently (apparently a friendly and helpful monster and protector of the people) as well as a touching gallery of pictures drawn by Jewish children in the Terezine work camp outside Prague displaying the fears and hopes for the future. A teacher smuggled 300 of the pictures to safety in suitcases.