The Savage Traveler: Gateway to the Black Sea-#16: Final Day of Prague and of the Trip

Sat. June 20--Prague: HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, KEN & JEN! We had a great final day. We crossed over the river to see the "Castle"—it’s more of a District, not one building. It was a guided walking tour with lots of history, beautiful buildings, courtyards, and churches/cathedrals. It started at the top of a hill and ended part way down the other side where the bus waited to take the group back to the hotel.

Castle District on the hill from far below

Entrance to the North Gate

The elite guards stand without moving for one hour on duty--
except a wave of his hand when an Asian tourist tried to step into
the iron circle to get her picture taken with him!

Cathedral Roof and spires

One large courtyard within the District near the Cathedral

St. Vitus Cathedral

Stained glass in St. Vitus Cathedral

Rose Window in St. Vitus Cahedral

Dedicated to Miners (see his light?)

Overlooking Prague, the city of 100 spires

Royal living quarters/Royal court/chapel

Tiny living quarters set within the Castle District walls

Prague, looking west from partway down the hill

Instead the Macks and Dunns walked to a restaurant that our friend Kathy Bossen recommended to us called U Modre Kachnicky (The Blue Duck). It was small, and out of the way, but great food and a lovely time.

We separated from Ross and Pat and went to a small music festival we could hear from a distance along the Vltava River that meanders through Prague. The music was good and it was a very local affair. It was fun to be a part of it for a while.

We crossed the river using the famous Charles Bridge...

...and made our way to Wenceslas Square (The same King Wenceslas as in the Christmas Carol). This is where the people of Czechoslovakia demonstrated against their government on 1989, and forced the communist government to step down. They now refer to it as the "Velvet Revolution" for its non-violence. It was fun to be there and think of the energy and excitement that were there 26 years ago.

The Boulevard through the "Square" is many blocks long with
gardens and food vendors in the wide median.

Approaching the Museum at the top of the Square

King Wenceslas

Finally we walked back to the hotel. We dropped things off and took one last trip to the Republic Square, right down the street, for a beer and people watching and then began packing. There was a dinner for everyone on the trip and afterwards we had to pack and prepare to get everything ready so we could get up and out by 6am tomorrow.