Sept 24 - Exploring Prague and Bohemia

We started out with a drive to and walk around Prague Castle. On the way, our guide pointed out the TV tower, which is considered an eyesore. Some people noticed little things crawling up the struts -- it was supposed to have been a temporary modern art exhibit several years ago of baby sculptures attached. When they were removed at the end of their scheduled time, there was a great hue and cry, so they were returned and babies crawl up and down the tower.....

The castle itself is pretty dull except for the St. Vitus Cathedral on the grounds. Started in the1300s, work was stopped about halfway through and not completed until 1929. The design is in the grand gothic style, and it is really pretty tough to tell the new from the old, though more modern materials were used. There is also a great view of the city from the site.

Interior of St. Vitus Cathedral

Most interesting to me was a building done in graphito style -- two layers of stucco are used. Dark underneath and light on top. Before the light coat dries, designs are carved in it. In this case, the designs created a strong impression of large rectangular stones in construction that were like little pyramids sticking out from the surface. It wasn't til we got next to it that we could see it was totally flat and an optical illusion.

Graphito Building.

Graphito closeup

Next we headed into the 'old' town (the 'new' town is ridiculously old too) and walked around the (former) Jewish Quarter, which included the Old New Synagogue. First known as the New Synagogue, it became the Old New Synagogue when another New Synagogue was built. You would think they could be more creative!

We also found the main town square and split up to find lunch. Jim and I went to a very nice restaurant, where for $36 with tip, we got goulash and roast beef with gravy, cranberries, and assorted seasonal vegetables AND a glass of house wine that measured up to most of the named wines we drink. All terrific. We used the excellent metro to return to the hotel.

After a very short break at the hotel, we loaded onto the bus to drive out into the country over an hour away to Nosalov, a tiny old community with many timbered and stone old-style homes.

Nosalov  homes

We got a tour of the village, and then had a typical Czech dinner.  A polka dancing demonstration by four local dancers (including one  teenage boy and his mom who looked more like a contemporary of his).

Dancers -- mom wearing scarf, son to left

We got into the act too with polka dancing lessons. I felt much more successful at the polka than I did at tango last January in Argentina! Must be the Wisconsin girl in me... Our host and a local kindergarten school administrator demonstrated their musical talents and totally could have made a living doing that. Driving through the countryside looked a lot like driving through the farming areas of Wisconsin too. Like Wisconsin, the bus had to dodge several deer on the road in the dark on the way home.