Thursday, Grandpa, Grandma, Steve, and I took a tour bus (called 'Hop on Hop Off') that took us all though Prague. The guides were very educational. Afterward, Grandpa took us to a dinner with his coworkers. It wasn't just any plain old dinner...it was held an actual palace.
Friday Grandpa escorted us all to the City Square, where he left us to go to a conference. Once again we 'hopped' onto the tour bus we rode on the previous day. Except this time, we 'hopped' off at the Prague Castle.
This magnificent building's founding stone was laid in the thirteenth century, and its finishing stone was set in the nineteenth century, which means it took approximately six hundred years to build. Many people are buried inside of this castle, and one of the most famous who eternally rests there is Saint Peter. (Or his shoulder does anyway.) The reason he became a saint is because of the fact he was tortured, as a mere twelve year old, for the reason of him being a Christian. Saint Peter was thrown into boiling oil, and then in with the lions, but survived both. Eventually he was simply beheaded., and was not so lucky that time.
This is one of three courtyards that belong to the castle.
The main hall of Prague Castle.
Outside view of the castle...it is so tall I can't get it all in one photo.
Again, inside the castle. The stain glass windows all tell some story pertaining to Christianity.
I think its funny, that even though this amazing structure has so many images of Christ all over it...The Czech Republic is the number one lest religious country in the world. About 72% of the 1.5 million people who reside in Prague are atheist. Prague is also the number one country in the consumption and export of beer. Are those two facts related? Maybe so.
Here is some useless pop culture: both Rhianna and Linkon Park have filmed music videos on the King Charles bridge in Prague. ( Sorry, I didn't get a picture of the bridge.) The movies A Knight's Tale, Narnia, Dungeons and Dragons, and all Mission Impossible movies have been filmed here. Currently, Tom Cruise is here in Prague filming the fourh Mission Impossible.
Ozzy Osbourne, The Rolling Stones, U2, and many other music legends have preformed at the Strahov Stadium, which is one of the places we got to see on the tour bus. This stadium contains eight football pitches, (Not American football, REAL football.) and can hold 220,000 people.
Here are a few various photos of Prauge:
A stain glass window from inside the castle.
The most beautiful city on earth.
-Jessica
Dude, my house will look just like that. I swear it.
ReplyDeleteamazing photos....fantastic experience:)
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to hear and see more of your impressions of the world that you travel through. Thanks for the opportunity.
ReplyDeleteOld Friend of Your Grandpa (OFYGP)