Sunny days in Prague

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It's a Friday and we are having a comparatively early night. We started the day with a visit to the Convent of St Agnes which was broodingly still and quiet in its Gothic serenity. Unlike so much else in Prague which is ornately decorative, the church was solemn in it austerity. The collection of Medieval and early Renaissance art was extensive. I saw a wooden statue of an expectant Virgin Mary, a first for me. We did a little river journey which gave us some views of the city from a different perspective. Heading back up to the castle precinct, we returned to the Strahov Monastry which we first saw on Monday. Here there are two monastic libraries covered with frescoes and the most wildly ornate bookshelves; Mark was drooling when he saw them. We then had a huge lunch. Mark's pork knuckle could have fed two or three people. After that, it was necessary to do another walk, this time focussing on the gardens below the castle as well as others which are dotted around Malá Strana. They were breathtaking, each and every one. All the gorgeous scenery of the architectural and natural kind seems to weave a spell on the residents of this fair place. Every time we are in gardens or parks, we happen upon couples canoodling. The people of Prague hug, kiss and caress very publicly. We have also witnessed at least four wedding couples being photographed in various garden locations. The romance of this place is palpable. We took so long on our walk we almost did not make it back in time to get to the opera we had planned to attend in the evening. After a mad dash back to the hotel to change we then had to catch two different metro trains to get to theatre, changing lines in the process. The escalators needing to be negotiated to switch lines are often extremely long and steep and so a relatively short trip can take quite some time. Therefore, we arrived panting and somewhat sweaty with about one minute to spare and fell into our seats only to gasp at the gilded grandeur of the Prague State Opera building. La Bohème was extremely enjoyable but the theatre stole my heart. Now there is great rumbling of thunder in the sky, a heavy scent of moisture in the air and the streets are wet. I am tempted to go out to see the city shimmering in the rain, but I am quite tired. Goodnight sweet Praha.

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Photos

Mahler 7th
We attended on Thursday night

Still swooning from the Mahler
Dinner was in the gorgeous Art Nouveau restaurant of the Hôtel de Paris

Gardens below the castle
As we entered the gardens (payment required) the attendant explained that the gardens were "very romantic". I told M in no uncertain terms he was to "get romantic". This was our attempt at that and a selfie.