August 8, 2013
August 8, 2013
We were on our way out of the hotel early to find a cafe for coffee and croissant when we discovered breakfast is included in our rate. That is a welcome benefit. A large (free) breakfast means we don't have to stop for a big lunch in prime sight-seeing time. A bowl of soup or something similar will usually suffice.
Today we are headed to the west bank of the Vltava River. We walk up the long ramp to the top of Castle Hill. Since the weather is more conducive to touring the inside of old buildings we buy the short tour pass of Prague Castle. Our first stop is Golden Lane, a narrow line of buildings tucked between the castle and the outer wall. It used to be the home of goldsmiths, seamstresses and castle guards. The buildings have been mostly restored to illustrate life in medieval times. Aimee finds it very cute; she likes learning about people's lives, plus it has a few shops scattered along.
We then toured the Old Palace built atop the old castle walls. It is mostly empty and uninteresting; although it did have a vaulted central hall which was enormous for medieval times. The gem of the castle is St Vitus Cathedral that dominates and towers over the interior courtyard. It is a Gothic masterpiece complete with flying buttresses and the interior doesn't disappoint either.
At noon on the way out of the castle, we try and see the Changing of the Guard, but it is way too crowded to see anything (unless I grew a head or two taller). We keep walking uphill to Strahov Monastery. We spy a terrace restaurant overlooking the monastery vineyard and orchard (and Prague in the distance), so we stop and snag a front row table. We order a few appetizers so we can enjoy the view for a while.
After lunch we enter the monastery to see the library. The hallway has a variety of illuminated manuscripts on display but the star of this site is the two library rooms. Both are spectacular with ceiling frescoes which even photographs can't do justice.
From the monastery we head back down the hill crossing the Charles Bridge again. We linger quite a while watching several artists painting portraits. All are quite talented. Back in the main square of Old Town, We can't resist sitting and having another glass of beer and doing some people watching. Somehow time flew and it was six by the time we left. Just in time to watch the Astronomical Clock on the Town Hall go off. All the apostles parade by an open door, while a skeleton rings the church bell.
We were on our way out of the hotel early to find a cafe for coffee and croissant when we discovered breakfast is included in our rate. That is a welcome benefit. A large (free) breakfast means we don't have to stop for a big lunch in prime sight-seeing time. A bowl of soup or something similar will usually suffice.
Today we are headed to the west bank of the Vltava River. We walk up the long ramp to the top of Castle Hill. Since the weather is more conducive to touring the inside of old buildings we buy the short tour pass of Prague Castle. Our first stop is Golden Lane, a narrow line of buildings tucked between the castle and the outer wall. It used to be the home of goldsmiths, seamstresses and castle guards. The buildings have been mostly restored to illustrate life in medieval times. Aimee finds it very cute; she likes learning about people's lives, plus it has a few shops scattered along.
We then toured the Old Palace built atop the old castle walls. It is mostly empty and uninteresting; although it did have a vaulted central hall which was enormous for medieval times. The gem of the castle is St Vitus Cathedral that dominates and towers over the interior courtyard. It is a Gothic masterpiece complete with flying buttresses and the interior doesn't disappoint either.
At noon on the way out of the castle, we try and see the Changing of the Guard, but it is way too crowded to see anything (unless I grew a head or two taller). We keep walking uphill to Strahov Monastery. We spy a terrace restaurant overlooking the monastery vineyard and orchard (and Prague in the distance), so we stop and snag a front row table. We order a few appetizers so we can enjoy the view for a while.
After lunch we enter the monastery to see the library. The hallway has a variety of illuminated manuscripts on display but the star of this site is the two library rooms. Both are spectacular with ceiling frescoes which even photographs can't do justice.From the monastery we head back down the hill crossing the Charles Bridge again. We linger quite a while watching several artists painting portraits. All are quite talented. Back in the main square of Old Town, We can't resist sitting and having another glass of beer and doing some people watching. Somehow time flew and it was six by the time we left. Just in time to watch the Astronomical Clock on the Town Hall go off. All the apostles parade by an open door, while a skeleton rings the church bell.
posted by Mike and Aimee at 11:20 AM
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