timetogetup.net

Prague Castle, Prague, Czech Republic.

St. Vitus Cathedral, located within Prague Castle, represents multiple historical periods (such is the case with much of Prague, actually), and it's absolutely gorgeous. It also houses St. Wencelas Chapel, where the king's remains are. That was also incredible and was in the process of being restored, but of course - no pictures allowed. Curses!

(Sidenote: According to our guide, King Wencelas was killed by his brother, and then his brother built the chapel for him and had him canonized. After seeing that chapel, I'm not sure if the murdered king should be mad or not?)

Prague Castle, Prague, Czech Republic.

Built c.870, Prague Castle is one of the oldest standing castles in Europe. I thought I had more of the interior and more of the older parts (St. Vitus Cathedral is for another post), but I guess what's more interesting is the view of the castle from the ground and the view of the red-roofed Prague from the side of the castle. For anyone interested, there is a high-res version of the last photo here.

Prague, Czech Republic.

I remember our tour guide telling us about how in the past, if a statue fell into the river, they didn't have the means to pull it out. So they would just replace it with another statue. Just imagine, years later, pulling a few statues out of the river. Weird. As they are made of sandstone and iron, the older they are, the darker they become. Here's information about all the 30 statues on the Charles Bridge, particularly about the statue of St. John of Nepomuk in the first two photos.

Prague, Czech Republic.

Vltava River, Prague, Czech Republic.

Views of both the Old Town & New Town ends of the Charles Bridge, with a statue of King Wencelas on the Old Town side. They just don't make 'em this cool anymore.

Prague, Czech Republic.

A brief look at the clock and all the information can tell you.

Old Town Square (Staromestske namesti), Prague, Czech Republic.

Old Town Square (Staromestske namesti), Prague, Czech Republic.

The first is around the art school - notice the girl? And the church at the bottom is the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, which looks kinda cool from the outside, but inside is the one of the most gorgeous places I have ever seen! No photos allowed, though. :-(

Around Old Town (Stare Mesto) & New Town (), Prague, Czech Republic.

Around Old Town (Stare Mesto), Prague, Czech Republic.

Around Old Town (Stare Mesto), Prague, Czech Republic.

Prague, Czech Republic.

The first is an original fresco (or was it relief?) from (I believe) the Romans.

Old Town and Old Town Square, Prague, Czech Republic.

Thus begins my favorite pictures and places of my whole trip.

Somewhere on the way to Prague, Czech Republic (by way of Nuremberg).

Quaint Renaissance town where we stayed with my German ex-roommate.

Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany.