When the Hours Toll in Prague
Prague has truly become a favorite place of ours! We did not except or anticipate the intricate grandeur of its streets, churches, clocks, or bridges. Having only a day and a half to spend in this town, we frequented the wide walk and statues along Charles Bridge and the tolling of the hour at the astronomical clock multiple times.
The Astronomical Clock was at the top of my list while visiting Prague, apart from buying Harry Potter in the Czech language. This clock, built in 1410, is the third oldest clock in the world and oldest astronomical clock to still be in working order! At the top of the hour you see the a display of apostles looking from the windows and the skeleton shaking the bell. Understanding the methods used in medieval times to measure the rotation of the earth and time itself is so fascinating and here in Prague, beautiful.
From Charles Bridge in the morning we went to see Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral. We watched the changing of the guards, and walked within the village-like courtyards of the castle grounds. On our way back to old town, we walked along the thinnest walkway in Prague (it has its own traffic light) and went in and out of book stores. Jamie of course found Boba, and at the Lennon Wall we bought glasses with the message of “love” on them.
We toured the Municipal building and savored its Art Deco and Art Nouveau decor. Prague has that flow that seems inherently floral — you walk through it as if made of a summer breeze, and its pedals fill your footsteps. Garnet Jewelry shine from the store windows like tiny eyes of beetles, and deserts waft cinnamon from every corner. At the Baroque Library in the Klementinum, I found my final resting place. It was a small library, with all original texts in it from the 1700s when the Jesuits built it for University.
The U Fleku brewery is the only brewery in Central Europe where beer has been brewed continuously for more than 500 years. We had a wonderful night at U Fleku beer garden, where beer came out on trays and you said “light” or “dark” to the waiter, and he placed it down before you as you took your last sip of the one prior. It truly was a place where the beer ran and your hand always tipped towards your lips. We had honey liquor shots, and herb liquor shots - a drink Stefanie’s father would say could cure anything. We met new Prague acquaintances, and ate fried cheese, goulash, and beer cheese with fried bread. It was a night to remember, and a new standard we hold beer gardens to.
