We left our hotel at 8:10am, took 2 trams to reach Prague Castle. Some other tour groups were already there, coming in their big buses, but we travel the Rick Steves way which is using the public transportation in the city.
Jana guided us through St. Vitus Cathedral, Old Royal Palace, St. George's Basilica, and Golden Lane before taking us to the nearby Strahov Monastery Brewery for a group lunch. I wish I could have stayed longer in the Cathedral, but I had to leave with the group. Oh well, at least after lunch it is our free time.
1. Reaching Prague Castle.
2. St. Vitus Cathedral.
3. St. Vitus Cathedral. This stained glass window was designed by Mucha.
4. St. Vitus Cathedral.
5. St. Vitus Cathedral.
6. St. Vitus Cathedral.
7. A 400 years old map of Prague in St. Vitus Cathedral.
8. St. Vitus Cathedral.
9. Tomb of St. John of Nepomuk, a popular local saint, in St. Vitus Cathedral.
10. Tomb of St. John of Nepomuk in St. Vitus Cathedral.
11. St. Wenceslas Chapel in St. Vitus Cathedral, where the relics of the saint (Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia) are kept. He is the subject of the popular Saint Stephen's Day Carol: "Good King Wenceslas".
12. St. Vitus Cathedral.
13. St. Vitus Cathedral.
14. St. George's Basilica next to St. Vitus Cathedral.
15. The Golden Lane where you can buy Czech made souvenirs.
16. A medieval museum of armory is also located on the Golden Lane.
17. Leaving Prague Castle.
18. Leaving Prague Castle.
After lunch, I wandered through the Castle Town and the Little Quarter before crossing the Charles Bridge and got back to the Old Town.
19. Prague.
20. Segway Tour.
21. U.S. Embassy in Little Quarter.
22.
23. Sightseeing in style.
24.
25. More Embassies in Little Quarter.
26. More Embassies in Little Quarter.
27.
28. Infant Jesus of Prague located in the Church of Our Lady Victorious in Little Quarter. Legends state that the statue once belonged to Saint Teresa of Avila.
29.
30. A door handle on a church building.
31. Charles Bridge.
32. The Vltava River from Charles Bridge.
33. Statue of St. John of Nepomuk, a popular local saint, on Charles Bridge.
34. Charles Bridge.
35. The Vltava River from Charles Bridge.
36. Charles Bridge.
37. St. Salvator Church at the end of Charles Bridge.
38. Walking along Vltava River towards the Dancing House in New Town.
39. The Dancing House, a unique building in Prague.
40. The Dancing House.
41. Vltava River and Charles Bridge.
42. Vltava River.
43. Thanks to my tour mates, I bought VIP ticket (1300 CZK cash, about $55) to this concert. Worth every penny to listen to Czech composer Antonín Dvo?ák's Symphony No.9 in Prague!
44. The beautiful concert hall in the Municipal House.
45. The beautiful concert hall in the Municipal House.
(To be continued)
