European Excursion - Photo Montage Part II: Places Other than Praha

Orientation:  

First locate Prague on the map.  We visited our friends Kristyna and Patrick at Pardubice, about 65 miles east of Prague or an hour train ride.  We also went to their their cabin in Cesko for the weekend.  While staying in Pardubice, Katie and I took the train to Hradec Králové ("Castle of the Queen"), a town  about 30 minutes train ride to the north.    Here are photos of our visits to these various places.

Arriving at the Pardubice (PAR-du-bit-za) hlavni nadrazi,
the main railway station

A typical town square seen in most European cities

Greeted by several peacocks
at the Pardubice town square

Spent the first weekend at
our Couch Surfer hosts Kristyna and Jan Patrick's cabin
in the country (Česko?).
The cabin is about a hundred years old.
Patrick's family has owned it for more than 40 years now
and has done much renovation and improvement to the property.  

The old woodstove is still in use

Patrick's dad grew some impressive potatoes!
Put my 'potato harvest' in Seattle to total shame...

Our sleeping quarter is above the barn,
this ladder is the only way up or down

Our "Couch" for the night.

Beautiful backyard with apple trees and
other vegetables scattered about

The water well supplies all the water needs

Note the intricate details
of the gate latch!

...and the design of the door handle

Kristyna making us a pot of delicious potato soup for lunch.
There are evidence of 21st century comfort:
A brand new dishwasher and flat glass stove top!
 

Everyone, look natural...

"N

a zdraví" (Cheers!)

Clockwise from 3 o'clock:
Kristyna, Jan Patrick, Daisy, Katie

While visiting the Hlinsko Village, a town in the Pardubice Region,
Patrick got very thirsty all of a sudden...

...while Katie tried to whip up a batch of something something for lunch...

...while Daisy tried to measure the size of her head against the ladle

Would somebody please scratch the poor goat? 

Taking a stroll around Česko

Katie and I catching the train to
 Hradec Králové for an afternoon

Lucky!  We got to ride the regional new train
to Hradec for 27kc (about $1.50)

Very nice train conductor.
The blue compartment
is the water closet 

Transferring train at Pardubice-Rosice...

Finally, Hradec Kralove hlavni nadrazi (Hradec main railway station) 

Convenient bus terminal in front of the train station

River Elbe running through the city of Hradec

Gothic Church of the Holy Ghost in Hradec.
Like many buildings of its age,
the Church was rebuilt several times.
Its present appearance dates from a reconstruction
in the 1860’s and 70’s.

A typical European town square with a column and
statues erected in the middle, attempted to
rid the curse of the plague

Apparently there is a rather high Asian population
(especially Vietnamese) in the Czech Republic.

A quiet Sunday afternoon in the Hradec town square

Time for some nourishment...

...and some zzzzzzzz...

Jan Patrick the Macho Macho Man!

The American Requiem performed by the Boni Pueri (Czech Boys Choir) of
Hradec Kralove and the Pardubice Philharmonic and Chorus.
A powerful, special concert on September 11 to commemorate
the victims of 9/11 as well as all other victims of
terrorist attacks around the world.

Kristyna's talented 12-year old younger brother sings in the Boni Pueri.  The Choir performs regularly with the renowned Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, and most recently toured around Japan for six weeks.

Katie and I were honored to be invited to the concert
and were delighted to have attended this most amazing performance.  

European Excursion - Photo Montage Part 1: Praha

Arriving at Praha hlavní nádraží
Prague Main Railway Station 

Outside of Praha hl.n

Atlas Hostel "upgraded" our stay to
an apartment-type accommodation...
Not exactly stellar interior...

We would get typical breakfast items
from a local supermarket called Tesco or Billa 

Polish fastfood.
A typical hot dog stand serves polish sausage
on a baguette for 60 kc (about $3.60)

Traditional Czech food Svičková (read SVITCH-co-va).
Beef sirloin with cream sauce and cranberries.
Served with whipped cream and
bread dumplings

Really delicious garlic soup
Česneková polévka(“CHESS-nekova PO-levka”)

Housemade apple strudel

The pub Hlopy Honza Hostinec next to the hostel
serves delicious food at local prices.
Live music when we were there.

Visiting the famous Pražský hrad Prague Castle
Castle Square

Interior of the St. Vitus Cathedral
(Funny - my picture looks almost
exactly like the one on Wikipedia!)

Plenty of Art Nouveau stained glass windows 

The magnificent St. Vitus Cathedral facade

Caught a free concert performed by the (presumably)
 Royal Brass Orchestra, but I can't be sure

Guard changes on the hour.
This one was at noon, with the most ceremony,
music, and fanfare.

Guard changes at First Courtyard

Castle Matthias Gate into First Courtyard 

We took tram #22, primarily taken by tourists, to the Castle.
Tickets are 24kc (~$1.50) for a 30 mins ride,
interchangeable for metro, tram, and buses.
Public transportation is extremely convenient. 

On the famous Charles Bridge, one of Prague's defining landmarks,
overlooking the Charles River

The bridge was named after the Roman Emperor Charles IV, also the guy on the 100-kc bill. Czech lands experienced the Golden Age of their history under Charles IV.  He was a highly educated man who spoke five languages, an excellent diplomat, and a very good king.  He established Prague as the cultural capital of Central Europe and made it one of the most prosperous European cities at the time.  The Czech language was promoted to the official language in the country along with Latin and German, and the position of Bohemia became very strong.

Baroque statue depicting John of Nepomuk, a saint of the Czech people.
Legend has it that if you touch the engraving on the statue,
it will make a wish come true.

Marionette performances enjoy a long tradition 

in popular entertainment in Prague and around the Czech Republic.  The National Marionette Theatre in Prague performs the puppet versions of Mozart's famous "opera of operas", Don Giovanni, and the enchanting story of the Magic Flute. Both are extraordinary productions, employing very tall puppets clothed in period costumes, set against 18th century stage sets.

My tourist shot on the Charles Bridge

Bridge Tower, erected at the Old Town side of the river,
considered one of the finest Gothic gates

The gigantic Gothic Týn Church (read TEEN)
Main church of the city since the 14th century.
Leading Hussite church in Prague for 200+ years. 

Astronomical Clock at Prague Town Hall
With revolving disks, celestial symbols, sweeping hands,
this clock keeps several versions of time:
Bohemian time, modern time, sunrise, and sunset 

Clock was heavily damaged during WWII,
much of this is a reconstruction

Pivo becomes my beverage of choice
So many choices, so little time...
Currently enjoying a half liter of Lobowitz, costs about US $2! 

Beverage menu...
Check out the prices!

Pork neck steak, potato pancakes, grilled sausage
 with German mustard, mixed salad
enjoyed with a half liter of Lobowitz.
One of my favorite meals in Prague.   

On our way to the Josefov, Jewish Quarter, exiting
at the Muzeum Metro Stop

Pinkas Synagogue
A site for Jewish worship for 400 years,
a poignant memorial to the victims of the Nazis
Walls are covered with handwritten names of 77,297 Czech Jews
sent from here to the gas chambers at Auschwitz and other camps

Josefov, Jewish Quarter
Prague's Jews were allowed to collect and archive their treasures here
as the Nazis decimated the Jewish communities during the WWII.
Seven sights (museums) scattered over a 3-block area, making up
the tourists' Jewish Quarter 

Restaurace U Knihovny (Restaurant By the Library)
A favorite lunch spot for local Czechs who work nearby.
Our lunch du jour included a Farm Plate (duck, smoked pork, roast pork),
bread dumplings (houskove knedliky), potato croquettes, and tomato salad

Our last night at Prague
A 5-Star hotel style "hostel" with a chandelier in each room,
marble floor, marble countertop, and modern appliances  

I was convinced that the hostel was owned by
the Russian maffia as a facade of their operation...

Not bad for $70 a night for two people!

Starbucks VIA Instant Brew kept me sane for two weeks

A traditional Czech pastry called Trdelník (I don't know how to pronounce it...)
40kc a piece (~$2.50) and it is delicious

Dough grilled directly over open fired, then
rolled in sugar and walnut mix

Street fair right at the Wenceslas Square
Traditional Prague ham (Prager Schinken) smoked over beechwood 

"Did you have any Prague ham, Daisy?" you asked.  

To which I reply:  "Do bears shit in the woods?"

A blacksmith creating his art

Daisy trying to become an apprentice under the blacksmith...
(Not really; this was an old injury caused by the dishwasher...)

Handmade art from said blacksmith

Facing Narodni Muzeum, the National Museum,
on Václavské náměstí (Wenceslas Square)

Děkuji, Praha (DEK-ku-weh, PRA-ha).  Thank you, Prague.