Czech Republic 2 - an astronomical clock and Charles's bridge

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What a night!. The rain which normally lulls you into sleep last night kept us awake as it drummed and thumped on Suzy’s roof. Despite the wine we found ourselves unable to sleep as the thud thud sounded as if the roof was going to cave in. Amplified it thumped and thudded all night with little respite. As we woke for breakfast it had lessened and was now just a gentle pitter patter but it was rain nevertheless. If we were intending to stay a few days we might have snuggled back under the duvets and planned Prague for tomorrow but with a tight schedule it was today or not at all. And you don’t come this far out of your way to go away without seeing the place.

By the time we were ready to go to the bus stop which was just outside the camp gates the rain was still falling but ever so gently. Just enough to wet you through. We walked to the gates allowing ourselves plenty of time for the bus. You just never know if they will arrive early which is unusual , on time which is more likely or late which is the norm. Arriving at the gate we found it locked and had to hot foot it back to Suzy to pick up the security key which would let us out of the site. The bus stop was easily found and the had a clearly signed bus stop sign which even pointed in the direction of Prague which left us not guessing which side of the road to stand . Shades of Split standing on the wrong side of the road came to mind. Just before the bus arrived three young deer sauntered across the field right in front of our eyes. Not something you see every day of the week. And then the bus arrived at exactly 7.48 on the dot.

Our bus tickets had been purchased from the machine at the campsite so we validated them and sat down watching the workers alighting the bus, the apple trees all along the highway and the villages we passed through. Making mental notes as we went along so that we could work out where to get off on our return journey. Our campsite leaflet told us the journey to the tram stop would take us 30 minutes. And this it did . This was most useful as the signs came up telling us which stop we had arrived at but we understood not one word of it. It was even impossible to second guess. In most European countries you can work out what is going on through schoolboy french or german and by guesswork but here it was impossible with a capital I. Nothing made sense. Nothing sounded our looked right. The recorded messages sounded like gobbledygook. We just watched our watches and watched everyone until we could go no further having reached the end of the line. And hoped that we got off at the right stop. Who knows where we would end up if we got it wrong. But then it wouldnt matter as the ticket once validated was valid for 120 minutes and multiple journeys so we could have got back on the bus and backtracked.

Following the crowds we worked out quickly we needed to cross the road and the tram stop was there right in front of us. The small trams number 17 two carriages long ran every 8 minutes to the city centre. Red old fashioned ones and brand new bright red and grey liveried ones. We got the old fashioned one and we counted the tram stops into Prague. 14 in all and we arrived in the main square. It was fun trundling along listening to the clack clack of the tram wheels as it moved along the lines. Love trams and wish there were more of them back home. Such an efficient method of travel and yet again as David Dickinson would say cheap as chips to travel on them. 12 miles - two methods of transport bus and tram for 40 crowns a little over £1.

Our first stop was to see the astronomical clock. The clock was first installed in 1410, making it the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest one still working. It was very beautiful and probably the finest we have seen on our travels. It is mounted on the southern wall of the Old Town City Hall. It was possible to pay to climb the town hall and have a birds eye view of the city. We chose not to climb today. Having been up many clock towers we decided to give this one a miss. The clock comprises of three separate mechanisms- an astromomical dial which has representations of the sun and moon in the sky. The apostles appear on the hour together with death who strikes the hours. Sadly we missed this at 9 and planned to come back at 10 for the show. There is a calender which marks the months The clock dates back to 1410 and is decorated with gothic sculptures . We didn’t get back at 10 to see it strike as we were too busy drinking coffee in a small café. Ah well there is 11 o clock. Sometime around 1629 or 1659 further wooden statues were added together with a crowing rooster. It is a wonderful thing and probably the nicest thing we saw. Or perhaps I should say I saw as I am sure Glenn would be equally delighted with the guns and swords he would see in the castle museum later .

From the main square we wandered aimlessly as you do along street after street of prettily painted houses. Each was predominately painted in two colours – buttermilk and yellow, strawberry pink and fuschia, cornflower and ice blue. And by now it had stopped raining and was warming up nicely. But the sun wasn't going to put in an appearance which gave our photos a hazy, wet and damp look about them.


Our next stop was the Charles Bridge across the river . The Charles Bridge or in Czech Karluv most is famous and crosses the Vlatava River. We had hoped to take in a boat trip up the river but found that we had miscalculated our Czech Crowns and found ourselves short. The boat trip would have to be missed or something would have to give.. Having said that a boat trip in the damp and cold does not always appeal and the river did not look at its best. We wanted dinner and would need the crowns to pay for that unless we found somewhere that would take our euros or credit card in payment. Construction of the bridge began in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV after whom it was named I guess. It was finished at the beginning of the 15^th century and replaced the older Judith Bridge which had been badly damaged in a flood. The bridge is 621 m long and it felt it when we walked across and it rests on 16 arches. Protected by three bridge gates two on the Lesser Quarter side and the third on the old town side. It is a Gothic wonder. What a shame it was difficult to photograph due to the crowds rushing across it from one side of the river to the other. Japanese tourists taking selfies with their cameras attached to long sticks which they stuck out in front of them. Americans stopping admiring the goods for sale on the bridge. The bridge is decorated with 30 statues most of which are religious and Baroque. OK I didn’t like them much but then I don’t like Baroque – much too fancy and ornate. The views though to the castle and to the city were stunning. We were heading for the castle and what a walk uphill along cobbled busy streets. Absynthe bars lined the route as did old fashioned cars waiting to pick up tourists who wanted to ride in style around the city. Your other mode of transport was the horse and carriage . We chose neither using shanks pony to climb to the top of the city to the castle and boy did our feet ache. Our two first sights of the city were free attractions and worth seeing. Our next would be our first paying one. So it’s the castle next.

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Photos

Prague
The astronomical clock

Prague
the clock

Prague
pretty in pink

Prague
I thought this rather pretty

Prague
One of the many churches

PRAGUE
Charles Bridge

prague
other end of Charles Bridge

Comments

[traveltalesofawoollymammoth]

Snow and Ice!
Love the pictures brings back memories of our visit there many years ago, instead of rain though we had freezing temps and snow and ice!