Album 2    Panorama Album

Prague

Album 2 Panorama Album

Altstädter Ring

After I have arranged my things I soon start for an investigation tour. And this is a 10 km downhill ride to the shores of the Vitava (Moldau). I cross the Cechov Most (bridge) and straight ahead hit on the Altstädter Ring. The tourist information is just around the corner in the town hall. Outside and inside it is crowded. There was just a full hour and at this time the Astronomic Clock presents some sensations. 

Jan Hus Memorial

The Astronomic Clock

View from above

World-famous is the Astronomic Clock which presents the clock and moreover the current date and zodiac sign in a nice decorated calendar. At the full hour there is a carillon and the apostles come up. At this hourly presentations numerous visitors come to see this spectacle.

At the tourist information I finally get my city map to be a full accepted human being. Then I start for the return, cross the Cechov Most again and get caught in the endless steps up to the Letenske Sady (Park or Garden). From there I soon get back to the Belohorska and absolve the 10 km to the pension. In the evening I get my dinner at a restaurant named Pampa with a steak and boletus (Steinpilz) sauce. Above the battle field of the Bila Hora are the fire red flames of the clouds after sunset and this  is a real battle-atmosphere.

Saturday, 23.10. Prague

Hradschin

Karl'ls Bridge

At first I see that there is a petrol station nearby whre I could have bought my city map yesterday. But today the sightseeing visit of the center of Prague is obligatory. On the way down we just hit on the puzzled places and passages of the Hradschin. We pass archways from one place to the next if there is room enough among the leaded tourist groups. The members of the tourist groups devotionally listen to their leaders and out of those pour the dates and historic events. Some tourist are "plugged in", this means they have earplugs or headphones and get their informations from anywhere.

The Hradschin is called the Bohemian Acropolis. I see the changing of the guard and the crowds get closer. So finaly I take my bike under the arms and hobble down some stairs to some small streets near the Karl's Bridge. The Karl's Bridge is the most famous bridge in Prague and this is proved by the crowds again.

He draws pictures of himself

The blind Singer

The Karl's Bridge is like the Hradschin somewhat as an emblem of Prague. There are few visitors who miss to  stroll along on this bridge. So it will be more quiet in the evening. 1357 the foundation stone was laid, after the  predecessor bridge was destroyd by high waters. Over centuries ist was the only bridging across the Vitava and was an important bottleneck of central trade routes. The architect engaged by Karl IV. was Peter Parler again, the master of the Veitsdome. The meanwhile 30 bridge  figures come from the 17./18. century and represent an unique open air gallery of baroque sculpture art, though many original figures meanwhile are replaced by copies.

The famous Pragpanorama

Because the autumn sun is so warm today one should look out for a bench. This is found on the island Strelecky Ostrov. There is another individual sitting in the stump of a tree and enjoying the view over the waters. Thereafter I stroll to the next bridge and so have crossed 4 of the 6 bridges here.

A last ramble in the Altstadt - it is full everywhere. There are musicians, pantomimes and other selfmade works of art. Others sell souvernirs or simply rubbish. I pass the Jewish Quarter and then I go back and up the hill. A last stroll through the Hradschin and a view into the cathedral.

But at last I find a place where one can be alone. This is the monastery Brevno(Breunau). There is a baroque church with a painted ceiling. Here you see nobody, may be all the other sensations of Prague are more interesting.

Schleichweg

Kloster Breunau

As I come back to my pension I am tired and do not know what to do an additional day at this town. There would be some advantages to go off tomorrow: we win a day for riding, the weather is pretty and the wind from behind and the traffic on a Sunday not so busy. I ask at the end of the tramline 22 if they take bikes with them but this is declined. So I must find my own way and I need some time to find it out. Then I go for another dinner at the Pampa, two trouts from the grill this time.