A Little R and R: Day 10-Around Prague

After we left Prague Castle our tour guide took us to different parts in the city

This particular house is called "Key House" due to the key above the door. These type of symbols were all over Prague.

Some shots of the view from Prague Castle

Royal Gardens. These are open in the spring.

Fake caves one of the emperors had built

Charles Bridge

The next area of town we went to was the Jewish Quarter which was the former Jewish Ghetto. The area was contained by walls with 6 gates in the 12 century. This was actually to protect the people as unrest had begun. The Jews were protected in Prague from the king because they paid their taxes. The wealthier jews had started to move out of the Ghetto in the early 19th century and the area became a place for those that were poor. The majority of the Quarter was demolished at the end of the 19th century due to the conditions. However there were historic buildings that were preserved. Hitler had planned on saving the Quarter as a museum of the race he annihilated. So, the quarter stayed relatively untouched during the war. The Jewish Quarter is now one of the wealthiest parts of the city.

The Old-New Synagogue from the 15th century. It is the oldest in Europe. We toured the inside but weren't allowed to take pictures.

One of the other synagogues

The Jewish century from the 15th century. Over 120,000 Jews were buried on this small patch of land. The first grave was 8 feet below the road and then bodies were buried on top of each other in family plots.

The birthplace of Kafka

This is a building that was bombed next to the Astronomical Clock. Prague was only bombed twice in it's history. Once by the Germans at the end of the war and once by the US by mistake. Hitler wanted to preserve Prague as he planned on making it the base of his new empire.

The sides of the Clock Tower

The front of the Astronomical Clock. The main part of the clock was made in 1410.

Astronomical dial

Calendar

The 4 figurines were figures of what was despised at the time. Here is death and a Turk.

Vanity and Greed (represented as a stereotypical Jew with a money bag)

Isn't he so cute bundled up!

Upon the hour the skeleton rings the bell and figurines of the 12 Apostles show through the doors.

Rings the bell and hour glass moves up and down

At the end the cock crows

After the clock finishes chiming a man comes from the top of the tower and plays a song.

View of Tyn Church from the clock at Old Town Square

We decided to go up the tower to the top

Street scenes from the view of the clock tower.

My favorite!!

Down the elevator I tried so had to get a picture of David and me. I failed!

After we went back to the hotel to freshen up we decided to head to the TV tower for dinner. The locals absolutely hate the TV tower because it's so ugly. The best view of the city is seen from the tower...because it's not in it!