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The Golden Lane
Pretend it is evening and you are walking along this lane. Can you imagine when this lane was filled with goldsmiths working for the King? Would you like to live near the king? Would you like to be employed by the King? Would you like to have to keep the King, the Queen and other big wigs in the castle happy? There was a time, long ago, when everyone who lived on the Golden Lane lived there at the pleasure of the king. Later, the lane became a slum and one of the most dangerous places in the city. Interestingly Franz Kafka lived for several months with his sister in house #22. Jaroslav Seifert, the Nobel prize winning poet also lived on this street. The last residents of the lane were moved out in the 1950's after which the lane was restored. Now the houses are shops selling books, postcards and numerous other items to tourists.
Nancy and I had just gotten a haircut and eaten our evening sandwich and decided to walk to the St. Vitus Cathedral. Surprisingly, at six in the evening, the cathedral was locked up tight. We had expected to see tons of groups entering for a quick tourist tour. As we were not able to enter the cathedral, we walked to the left around the big building. This was our
first visit to this side of the huge church and it gave a different view. There is a wall close to the left side of St. Vitus. Thus the primary view is up. I loved looking up at the gargoyles. They are of all sorts of creatures, occupations, etc. The sculptors had a good sense of humor as well as good skills working stone. As we passed the end of the church, we turned left toward the Golden Lane.
"We won't be able to get in. The gate will be locked," I said.
"You are probably rigth," Nancy replied.
Doubly surprised this time we saw the gate to the Golden Lane was open and there was no one there to sell us tickets. So, like good tourists, we entered. Last June when we were here with a hiking Elderhostel group we were allowed about five minutes to "see the lane." After a quick pit stop that left about two minutes, we really did not see much and the Golden Lane did not leave much of an impression at that time. This time, we and a few other people who were wandering around, had the lane at
our leisure. Not only was it at our leisure, but it was not crowded wall to wall with tourists. This time we were impressed. I loved the little houses. It was possible to pretend this was long ago and they were still the homes of interesting craftsmen. I bet my brother in law Ron would have lived there. He is a very talented Gold and Silver Smith. It would have been very interesting for Ron to be making chalices and other royal objects. He does that kind of work on commission now but not for Kings. It's more fun to walk around parts of town when they are not filled with visitors. We now feel like Prague is home and don't appreciate all 'those tourists' who get in the way.
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Happy Birthday to Nancy Lively
Nancy, I have enjoyed yours and Bills' pictures and informative stories of your time in the Czech Republic. What a wonderful experience you've had over there. Happy Birthday Nancy!!! We hope to see you next month. Have a safe trip home. Your friends at the Annapolis Library - Carol Lerian