Praha (Part 2)

Our last day in  Prague was a late start, we went to brunch at a place called Bar Bar.  Todd found this place online and it was supposed to have excellent crepes (or maybe it was pancakes ... I can't remember).

We shared this - pancake of some sort with spinach with an egg and bacon on top

My delicious chocolate crepe

After we finished our food our first stop was the Prague Castle.  This place is enormous!!  A little background information .... The Prague Castle has been a seat of the Czech rulers, kings, Holy Roman Emperors, and later presidents since the 9th century.  Its the largest ancient castle in the world.  It is believed that this castle was founded around 880 by a prince.  According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the Prague Castle is the largest coherent castle complex in the world.  As a tourist there is a short tour, which includes 4 sites, and a extended tour that has 9 different parts.  We opted to do the short tour.  The sites we saw included St. Vitus's Cathedral, the Royal Palace, St. George's Basilica and Convent, and the Rosenberg Palace.  Now I can't say anything for the things we didn't pay to see, but in all honesty, there wasn't much of anything to see at St. George's Basilica and the Royal Palace.   I don't even remember going in the Rosenberg Palace so needless to say it wasn't cool.   The only thing that I remember (partially) is a window that was specifically marked that had some background about what made it so special.  It said someone throwing another person out the window was the cause of the 100 Years War.   The partial part because I can't remember where it was actually located, but I think the Royal Palace.

Now on to the good stuff, St. Vitus's Cathedral.   It was awesome.  A little more background information about it .... It was founded in 1344 by Charles IV.  It is the largest and important church in all of Prague.  It contains tombs of many Bohemian kings and Holy Roman Emperors not to mention a silver tomb of St. John of Nepomuk.  

Entrance to the Prague Castle

The guards changed every hour

St. Vitus

St. Vitus more detail

St. Vitus

Stained glass window inside St. Vitus

Inside St. Vitus

Tomb inside St. Vitus

Tomb of St. John of Nepomuk - he's being lifted by angels!

Organ inside St. Vitus

Outside of St. Vitus 

The infamous window that started the 100 Years War

View from the balcony

Outside of the castle

How cool is that?!

The "Royal Gardens" ... it should have be called the Crap Garden

Castle again

We finally finished with the Prague Castle and made our way to the Strahov Monastery Brewery for a pick me up.   We wanted to do the brewery tour, but once we got there we weren't sure if it was available for tour, so we opted just to have some bread and beer. 

Outside the Monastery

Ignore the sun spot - Todd enjoyed the dark beer

I enjoyed the wheat beer

Our final new destination was Petrin Hill Observatory.  Its not too tall, but add the fact that its on a hill and it easily provides the best views of Prague. 

Prague Castle from afar

Charles Bridge with Old Town Square behind it

Dancing Building in the distance

I told Todd before we left Prague I wanted to eat some of the food at the Easter Market.   We shared a brat, some ham over an open flame, and a Trdelnik (hot sugary pastry).   Our of Our Lady Before Tyn looked absolutely beautiful at night ... just one more reason that makes me love it the most.

Church of Our Lady Before Tyn

National Museum & Wenceslas Square at night

That's all for Prague.  I'm sure you thinking what?!  That's it .... haha yeah right.   Like I said sorry its so long, I promise the next 2 places aren't anywhere close to being as long.  

Next up ..... Dresden then Berlin!