Prague 4th - 6th July

Following the recommendation of a waiter we took a bus from Prague to the southern Bohemian town of Cesky Krumlov, a 2 3/4 hour ride. The town is 30km from the Austrian border. Known for the 13th century castle and round bell tower.

We thought to go on a weekday rather than a weekend as the waiter advised Czechs will go in the weekend and along with tourists it can be very crowded.

This is at the bus station in Prague. Cannabis shops everwhere similar to Canada. Weed beside a Ramen restaurant and Vape store.

Market at the bus station. Cherries, red currants and gooseberries

Silverbeet never looked so good

The same river Vltava flows through Cesky Krumlov as in Prague 173km away

Castle walls hewn from stone

There are frescos on many walls

This Cloak Bridge built 1681 goes from the castle gardens to the castle Theatre and Masquerade Hall

The castle gardens were reasonably well kept with fountains and impressive

large trees. The Rosenburg family owned the castle from 14th century until the 17th century, they expanded the town and refurbished the castle constantly. 

My sister thinks I am a "weirdo" because I talk to cattle when passing but also pat and talk to magnificent trees.

Four of the magnificent Copper Beech trees

With a ticket you could access the round belltower to admire the cast bells and the views. In France, Hungary and Czechoslavia you are not bombarded with safety signs, cones, don't this, don't that; the same in the Middle East. Assumed you can use your common sense.

Biggest of the four bells is dated 1406AD

Yes it is narrow and steep as you would expect so use your common sense.

Bit of a muck up by the travel director for the return bus. There are two bus stations, the main top bus station and another 650m away called Spicak bus station in Cesky Krumlov. We were at the top station for 5pm departure but should have been at Spicak!! So we take the 6pm bus and thankfully allowed to transfer our tickets.

Next day wandered to Letna Park via a market along the river only held on Saturdays.

Saturday market 

From left Pork knuckles, potato and sausage, Gnocchi and sausage. Jeff bought a pork knuckle and we carried it for the next few kms to Letna Park.

The Eastern Europeans just love meat.

This barge has a beach volleyball court on it at right with cafe at left

Unique prow decoration

On the bridge up to the steps of the park

There are road works everywhere in Prague - resealing, maintaining tram lines, new sewerage/ water pipes etc. We love the use of timber poles to hold back the walls of this trench. They use them everywhere.

Friends had recommended Letna Park which overlooks Prague. At 25ha it is used by locals for recreation and relaxing. Great vistas for tourists. There had been a statue of Joseph Stalin erected in 1955 and duly destroyed a few years later.  There is a beer garden at one end of the park so a pilsner was in order.

For the evening we had tickets to attend the Prague Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra concert in the Tyn Church. Program was Vivaldi, Handel, Beethoven etc. During the day we had past several music schools with one concert pianoist practicing in an upper floor. Jeff clapped when they finished a piece and they came to the window to acknowledge his praise.

On the way to the concert we went to L'Osteria pizza restaurant which had received high praise from our cycle guide. It was very busy even at 6pm on the 2 levels. Pizza was mammoth but far to much base and not enough topping. They could cut them in half and be perfect. We cut all the excess off and got one decent pizza.

L'Osteria outside dining plus there are two levels inside

We passed a building called the Butterfly house which houses 600+ exotic butterflies you can wander amongst and lots of interactive, learning opportunitues for children. We loved the butterfly art installations using spitfire plane bodies erected on the outside and the wings slowly open and close.

The wings move

Spitfire plane body

Beautiful buildings everywhere

Another sculpture past on the way to the concert

The Tyn church or full name Church of Our Lady Before Tyn is another 14th century Gothic icon of the Old town square in Prague. An inevitable fire 1679 damaged roof and interior so parts are also Baroque.  Absolutely magnificent setting for the concert with great acoustics. The orchestra of nine plus soprano were excellent and really filled the space with sublime playing and singing. The sopranos voice volume was amazing. We noted the audience average age to be about 30-40 yrs given the passion and history of music in Czechoslavakia. We very much enjoyed the concert.

Plenty of gilt in the church

The organ sound was special

Sunday morning our final day in Prague. Plan was to visit the Clementinum and the National Museum. Both stunning buildings in there own right.

The Clementium houses the National library with some 20,000 books and also the observatory in the Astronomical tower. Of interest to us they have been measuring systematically the weather since 1752! It is the longest continuous series of observations in central Europe.  Unbeknown to us they only have guided tours of the library and observatory by booking well in advance. 5.30pm or 7.30pm was the only slots available this Sunday, too late for us. 

65.4C difference between lowest and highest was impressiveover 250years

Cold in 1830 and then wet in 1981

Urban heat island effect we have been made aware of before skewing data

Sadly not able to see any of the rooms or halls unless with a organised group who block book of course

The National Museum was a mammoth building and displays of Czech history were very well done.

People are dwarfed in the building

This is the top floor of the 1818 building

Tomorrow we leave for Edinburgh. Europe has been all we wanted and then some.

Looking forward to visiting friends in the Edinburgh, Selena and Derek, then Ken and Sue in Glasgow, Hamish in Dunns then into England for a couple more friends visits until we start housesitting in Stockbridge on the 18th.