Market Day and Kampa Island

Our leisurely start to the morning was spent at the Havelske trziste Market, the only preserved market place in Prague’s Old Town that dates back to 1232. We wandered through the various stalls in search of souvenirs and fresh fruit.

As we wandered through the Old Town we stopped at a traditional marionette shop with amazing characters created from wood. We then headed to the Charles Bridge for our booked river cruise to the  Devils Channel.

The cruise led us into narrow canals off the Vltava River where the water is less than a metre deep.

Views along the cruise in Prague’s Lesser Town.  After a bite to eat, we headed onto Kampa Island to see the John Lennon Wall, a wall of graffiti that was originally a memorial to John Lennon after his death. Swarms of tourists were there getting their photos taken in front of the wall - including us!

We also visited the Kampa Museum for contemporary art. Outside the gallery, giant baby sculptures by Czech artist David Cerny caught the eye of everyone and the temptation to climb them.

Inside the gallery, works by artist Vladimir Skoda intrigued everyone with his mirrored sculptures that hanged and moved to create distortions.

Outside the gallery, bright yellow penguin sculptures line up along a wall on the Vltava River

From Nazi Occupation to Communism

Visiting the Museum of Communism in Prague shed some light on the turbulent years of the 20th century that the Czech people experienced. After the occupation of Nazi Germany and their defeat at the conclusion of WW2, Czechoslovakia was taken over by Russia and communism until the Velvet Revolution in the late 1980’s when communism was abolished and in 1993 Czechoslovakia became the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

In the Museum of Communism

Prague Castle

This morning we rode our first Prague tram from our hotel all the way across the river and up the hill to the castle. The same day as our visit, there was a huge funeral procession for Czech Cardinal Miloslav Vlk going into St Vitus Cathedral with Prague television recording the event.

Checkpoints at Prague Castle

Outside the gates of Prague castle.

 

A huge funeral was taking place at St Vitus Cathdral, that of Czech cardinal Miloslav Vlk.

Views from the castle 

St Vitus Cathedral

Kate drawing during breaks in the walking tour through the castle 

Sentinel siblings

We walked the cobblestone paths of Prague

Today we had our 4 hour walking tour of Prague lead by our guide beginning at the hotel and making our way passed the National Museum and down Wenceslas Square. At the top of the promenade, King Wenceslas sits on his horse. Further down the street in an Art Nouveau shopping and theatre arcade, Czech artist David Cerny has his own rendition of the equestrian sculpture but he has King Wenceslas sitting on an upside down dead horse!

King Wenceslas Equestrian statue on the promenade of Wenceslas Square

David Cerny’s interpretation of King Wenceslas on horseback

Old trams made into alfresco cafes on the promenade with lots of spring flowers.

Walking up to Charles Square and the historical new town hall tower

Inside the cathedral on Charles Square

Memorial to Czech paratroopers who kept the Nazis at bay during their invasion of Prague during WW2.

Audrey and Isabella dancing outside Frank Gehry’s ‘Dancing House’.

New versus old with the opera house reflected in the new theatre buildings.

Czech artist David Cerny’s Franz Kafka Memorial that rotates in sections to transform the face.

Everyone on Charles Bridge looking over to Prague Castle

Dyed pink doves on Charles Bridge

Old Town Square seen from the top of the city hall tower where the astronomical clock is found...although completely covered in scaffolding and hidden from view today.

Chloe catches a bridal bouquet from a passing bride!

The weird and wonderful in Old Town Square

Our visit to the Gallery of Prague to see an exhibition of Alfons Mucha, Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali’s works.

Alexandra with a new friend