Wednesday, June 28, 2006
At the Rudolfinum
Welcome to my view of Prague.I have tried to keep the entries organized in a way that makes sense, generally grouped together by area.
Check back again to see more photographs, which I will upload in the next day or so!
If you want to view the blog chronologically, scroll to the beginning and work your way back!
Enjoy,
Laurel
Thursday, June 22, 2006
View From Castle Looking Toward Little Quarter
On the lower right corner you can see some of the terraced gardens we enjoyed walking through on the way down from the Palace.
Torture Chamber
The Castle wall contained displays of armor and this spooky room at the end. I was pleased I was able to take this photograph with available light, as it was very dimly lit. I have to give credit to my Nikon 24-120 VR lens!
Golden Lane Doorway
This doorway is less than 6 feet tall, which is actually quite generous as I (at 5'6") had to duck to enter some of the houses.
Golden Lane
Hordes of tourists crowd this narrow picturesque street. The tiny, brightly colored houses, which now house shops, are built into the wall of the Castle and originally housed Castle guards. The street is named after the goldsmiths who lived here in the 17th Century. The blue house pictured here, No. 22, once housed Franz Kafka, who stayed there with his sister for a few months. Although it seems romantic now, living here would have been very uncomfortable and the area was a slum by the 19th Century.
Vladislav Hall at the Royal Palace
In 1618 a couple of politicians were chucked out of the window on the right (an act called defenestration) as a protest but they survived the 50 foot fall by landing in a dung heap.
St. George's Basilica
Founded in 915, this Romanesque Church has had many renovations, including the terracotta Baroque facade. St. Ludmilla, Bohemia's first female Christian martyr is buried here. She was strangled, while praying, on the orders of her daughter-in-law. Some things never change.
Golden Portal Showing The Last Judgment
This was the main entrance until the 19th Century. The mosaic detail was constructed by Venetian craftsmen in the 14th Century.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Chapel of St. Wenceslas
This chapel contains the tomb of St. Wenceslas. The walls are encrusted in a mosaic of polished garnets and fine gilding.
Martyr with Headdress of Five Stars (St. John Nepomuk)
This guy's tongue was supposedly cut out and then he was thrown in to the Vltava on orders of the King because he wouldn't betray the Queen's confession. The sculpture is made, rather uniquely, of solid silver.
Superstitious Tradition Claiming to Bring Good Luck
These gold carved images (the one on the left is of a dog) on the Charles Bridge shine brightly due to the constant rubbing.
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