Today was our first full day in Prague. We were able to experience the city through an historical tram ride from the station Klamovka to Prazsky Hrad. It was a 50 year old wooden tram, equipped with our own personal accordion player, who played the Great American Classics “When the Saints Go Marching In” and “The Chicken Dance.” Looking outside the windows, we saw a city where new and old come together. There are small “mom and pop” stores right next to headquarters of major corporations like AstraZeneca and Canon. Ancient churches and monuments are scattered throughout Prague. We passed by the famous Charles Bridge, a 650-year-old stone bridge that was graced with the presence of Harry Potter ads and a Subway restaurant. Construction dots the landscape of this fast-growing city, with gigantic cranes towering over the skyline. This fast-paced renewal of post-Communist Prague, however, has brought out the darker side of modernization, made evident by never-ending murals of graffiti adorning Prague’s buildings.
At last we reach Prazsky Hrad, otherwise known as Prague Castle. Outside the castle, we waited entirely too long for people to exchange their money at awful rates. We walked by the Royal Garden, a beautiful arrangement of blooming flowers and entangling vines created in the 16th century. Within the walls of the castle, the dark, ornate spires of St. Vitus Cathedral stand tall against the bright blue sky. Started in the 10th century, construction of the cathedral was delayed by constant warfare and financial strains. It was not fully completed until 1929 and is comprised of styles from the Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque periods.
Prague Castle is still used today as the center of the Czech National Government. Mathias Gate, a beautiful entryway built in 1614, leads the way to the Presidential Complex. President Vaclav Klaus has his main offices within the sprawling complex, and the Ministry of Finance, among others, is located nearby. When President Klaus is at home in Prague, the Presidential Flag flies. This flag bears the coat of arms of the city of Prague and of the territories of Bohemia and Moravia.
The castle itself is situated on a hill that overlooks the entire city, with a gorgeous view as far as the eye can see. We can see a few skyscrapers throughout the city, and the cranes we saw earlier reveal the future locations of ever more modern structures. The windows of the castle were made in the Renaissance style, and actually have a storied history. In May 1618, two Catholic emissaries sent to visit with the Protestant King of Bohemia were thrown out of a window of the castle in what came to be known as the Defenestration of Prague. The two men were saved by landing in a pile of horse manure, but this event would be the immediate catalyst igniting the Thirty Years’ War, a brutal religious war between the Catholic and Protestant states of Europe whose ferocity would not be matched until the Two World Wars nearly three centuries later.
After lunch, we took a 45 minute bus ride to Melnik Castle. Prince Jiří Lobkowicz is the current owner of the castle, which had been taken from his family by the Communists in 1945, but was subsequently returned to him in 1992 following the fall of the Communist regime in what was then Czechoslovakia. The Prince is a member of the Order of Malta, a Catholic organization that is considered a sovereign entity and has observer status within the United Nations.
The Order conducts humanitarian efforts throughout the Czech Republic and the entire world. This includes providing spiritual support for families who have members with Alzheimer’s and providing handicapped children with transportation to nearby public schools. In addition, the organization has operations in Afghanistan and in regions that were affected by the December 2004 tsunamis in Southeast Asia. One of the interesting things about the organization, however, Today was our first full day in Prague. We were able to experience the city through an historical tram ride from the station Klamovka to Prazsky Hrad. It was a 50 year old wooden tram, equipped with our own personal accordion player, who played the Great American Classics “When the Saints Go Marching In” and “The Chicken Dance.” Looking outside the windows, we saw a city where new and old come together. There are small “mom and pop” stores right next to headquarters of major corporations like AstraZeneca and Canon. Ancient churches and monuments are scattered throughout Prague. We passed by the famous Charles Bridge, a 650-year-old stone bridge that was graced with the presence of Harry Potter ads and a Subway restaurant. Construction dots the landscape of this fast-growing city, with gigantic cranes towering over the skyline. This fast-paced renewal of post-Communist Prague, however, has brought out the darker side of modernization, made evident by never-ending murals of graffiti adorning Prague’s buildings.
At last we reach Prazsky Hrad, otherwise known as Prague Castle. Outside the castle, we waited entirely too long for people to exchange their money at awful rates. We walked by the Royal Garden, a beautiful arrangement of blooming flowers and entangling vines created in the 16th century. Within the walls of the castle, the dark, ornate spires of St. Vitus Cathedral stand tall against the bright blue sky. Started in the 10th century, construction of the cathedral was delayed by constant warfare and financial strains. It was not fully completed until 1929 and is comprised of styles from the Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque periods.
Prague Castle is still used today as the center of the Czech National Government. Mathias Gate, a beautiful entryway built in 1614, leads the way to the Presidential Complex. President Vaclav Klaus has his main offices within the sprawling complex, and the Ministry of Finance, among others, is located nearby. When President Klaus is at home in Prague, the Presidential Flag flies. This flag bears the coat of arms of the city of Prague and of the territories of Bohemia and Moravia.
The castle itself is situated on a hill that overlooks the entire city, with a gorgeous view as far as the eye can see. We can see a few skyscrapers throughout the city, and the cranes we saw earlier reveal the future locations of ever more modern structures. The windows of the castle were made in the Renaissance style, and actually have a storied history. In May 1618, two Catholic emissaries sent to visit with the Protestant King of Bohemia were thrown out of a window of the castle in what came to be known as the Defenestration of Prague. The two men were saved by landing in a pile of horse manure, but this event would be the immediate catalyst igniting the Thirty Years’ War, a brutal religious war between the Catholic and Protestant states of Europe whose ferocity would not be matched until the Two World Wars nearly three centuries later.
After lunch, we took a 45 minute bus ride to Melnik Castle. Prince Jiří Lobkowicz is the current owner of the castle, which had been taken from his family by the Communists in 1945, but was subsequently returned to him in 1992 following the fall of the Communist regime in what was then Czechoslovakia. The Prince is a member of the Order of Malta, a Catholic organization that is considered a sovereign entity and has observer status within the United Nations.
The Order conducts humanitarian efforts throughout the Czech Republic and the entire world. This includes providing spiritual support for families who have members with Alzheimer’s and providing handicapped children with transportation to nearby public schools. In addition, the organization has operations in Afghanistan and in regions that were affected by the December 2004 tsunamis in Southeast Asia. One of the interesting things about the organization, however, is that they adhere strictly to Catholic doctrine, although they don’t actively proselytize their religion. For example, the Order runs a maternity hospital in Palestine, but refuses to conduct abortions at the hospital. After learning about the Order, we were given a tour of the beautiful castle by none other than the Prince himself. The property was first built in the 9thCentury and was originally built of wood. Ownership of the castle was determined by the unification of two of the territory’s seven ruling clans. The castle was controlled by the Bohemian queens and princesses until the 15th century, but ownership continuously changed, especially during times of war. The current family took control of the castle in the 17th century, although they lost control during the Communist era. Overall, the day was one of the more exciting, albeit busy, days of our trip to Eastern Europe. We learned a great deal while getting to experience the sheer beauty of Prague during our first day in this elegant city. is that they adhere strictly to Catholic doctrine, although they don’t actively proselytize their religion. For example, the Order runs a maternity hospital in Palestine, but refuses to conduct abortions at the hospital.
After learning about the Order, we were given a tour of the beautiful castle by none other than the Prince himself. The property was first built in the 9thCentury and was originally built of wood. Ownership of the castle was determined by the unification of two of the territory’s seven ruling clans. The castle was controlled by the Bohemian queens and princesses until the 15th century, but ownership continuously changed, especially during times of war. The current family took control of the castle in the 17th century, although they lost control during the Communist era. Overall, the day was one of the more exciting, albeit busy, days of our trip to Eastern Europe. We learned a great deal while getting to experience the sheer beauty of Prague during our first day in this elegant city.
By Prateek Kumar and Sarah Buonacore
At last we reach Prazsky Hrad, otherwise known as Prague Castle. Outside the castle, we waited entirely too long for people to exchange their money at awful rates. We walked by the Royal Garden, a beautiful arrangement of blooming flowers and entangling vines created in the 16th century. Within the walls of the castle, the dark, ornate spires of St. Vitus Cathedral stand tall against the bright blue sky. Started in the 10th century, construction of the cathedral was delayed by constant warfare and financial strains. It was not fully completed until 1929 and is comprised of styles from the Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque periods.
Prague Castle is still used today as the center of the Czech National Government. Mathias Gate, a beautiful entryway built in 1614, leads the way to the Presidential Complex. President Vaclav Klaus has his main offices within the sprawling complex, and the Ministry of Finance, among others, is located nearby. When President Klaus is at home in Prague, the Presidential Flag flies. This flag bears the coat of arms of the city of Prague and of the territories of Bohemia and Moravia.
The castle itself is situated on a hill that overlooks the entire city, with a gorgeous view as far as the eye can see. We can see a few skyscrapers throughout the city, and the cranes we saw earlier reveal the future locations of ever more modern structures. The windows of the castle were made in the Renaissance style, and actually have a storied history. In May 1618, two Catholic emissaries sent to visit with the Protestant King of Bohemia were thrown out of a window of the castle in what came to be known as the Defenestration of Prague. The two men were saved by landing in a pile of horse manure, but this event would be the immediate catalyst igniting the Thirty Years’ War, a brutal religious war between the Catholic and Protestant states of Europe whose ferocity would not be matched until the Two World Wars nearly three centuries later.
After lunch, we took a 45 minute bus ride to Melnik Castle. Prince Jiří Lobkowicz is the current owner of the castle, which had been taken from his family by the Communists in 1945, but was subsequently returned to him in 1992 following the fall of the Communist regime in what was then Czechoslovakia. The Prince is a member of the Order of Malta, a Catholic organization that is considered a sovereign entity and has observer status within the United Nations.
The Order conducts humanitarian efforts throughout the Czech Republic and the entire world. This includes providing spiritual support for families who have members with Alzheimer’s and providing handicapped children with transportation to nearby public schools. In addition, the organization has operations in Afghanistan and in regions that were affected by the December 2004 tsunamis in Southeast Asia. One of the interesting things about the organization, however, Today was our first full day in Prague. We were able to experience the city through an historical tram ride from the station Klamovka to Prazsky Hrad. It was a 50 year old wooden tram, equipped with our own personal accordion player, who played the Great American Classics “When the Saints Go Marching In” and “The Chicken Dance.” Looking outside the windows, we saw a city where new and old come together. There are small “mom and pop” stores right next to headquarters of major corporations like AstraZeneca and Canon. Ancient churches and monuments are scattered throughout Prague. We passed by the famous Charles Bridge, a 650-year-old stone bridge that was graced with the presence of Harry Potter ads and a Subway restaurant. Construction dots the landscape of this fast-growing city, with gigantic cranes towering over the skyline. This fast-paced renewal of post-Communist Prague, however, has brought out the darker side of modernization, made evident by never-ending murals of graffiti adorning Prague’s buildings.
At last we reach Prazsky Hrad, otherwise known as Prague Castle. Outside the castle, we waited entirely too long for people to exchange their money at awful rates. We walked by the Royal Garden, a beautiful arrangement of blooming flowers and entangling vines created in the 16th century. Within the walls of the castle, the dark, ornate spires of St. Vitus Cathedral stand tall against the bright blue sky. Started in the 10th century, construction of the cathedral was delayed by constant warfare and financial strains. It was not fully completed until 1929 and is comprised of styles from the Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque periods.
Prague Castle is still used today as the center of the Czech National Government. Mathias Gate, a beautiful entryway built in 1614, leads the way to the Presidential Complex. President Vaclav Klaus has his main offices within the sprawling complex, and the Ministry of Finance, among others, is located nearby. When President Klaus is at home in Prague, the Presidential Flag flies. This flag bears the coat of arms of the city of Prague and of the territories of Bohemia and Moravia.
The castle itself is situated on a hill that overlooks the entire city, with a gorgeous view as far as the eye can see. We can see a few skyscrapers throughout the city, and the cranes we saw earlier reveal the future locations of ever more modern structures. The windows of the castle were made in the Renaissance style, and actually have a storied history. In May 1618, two Catholic emissaries sent to visit with the Protestant King of Bohemia were thrown out of a window of the castle in what came to be known as the Defenestration of Prague. The two men were saved by landing in a pile of horse manure, but this event would be the immediate catalyst igniting the Thirty Years’ War, a brutal religious war between the Catholic and Protestant states of Europe whose ferocity would not be matched until the Two World Wars nearly three centuries later.
After lunch, we took a 45 minute bus ride to Melnik Castle. Prince Jiří Lobkowicz is the current owner of the castle, which had been taken from his family by the Communists in 1945, but was subsequently returned to him in 1992 following the fall of the Communist regime in what was then Czechoslovakia. The Prince is a member of the Order of Malta, a Catholic organization that is considered a sovereign entity and has observer status within the United Nations.
The Order conducts humanitarian efforts throughout the Czech Republic and the entire world. This includes providing spiritual support for families who have members with Alzheimer’s and providing handicapped children with transportation to nearby public schools. In addition, the organization has operations in Afghanistan and in regions that were affected by the December 2004 tsunamis in Southeast Asia. One of the interesting things about the organization, however, is that they adhere strictly to Catholic doctrine, although they don’t actively proselytize their religion. For example, the Order runs a maternity hospital in Palestine, but refuses to conduct abortions at the hospital. After learning about the Order, we were given a tour of the beautiful castle by none other than the Prince himself. The property was first built in the 9thCentury and was originally built of wood. Ownership of the castle was determined by the unification of two of the territory’s seven ruling clans. The castle was controlled by the Bohemian queens and princesses until the 15th century, but ownership continuously changed, especially during times of war. The current family took control of the castle in the 17th century, although they lost control during the Communist era. Overall, the day was one of the more exciting, albeit busy, days of our trip to Eastern Europe. We learned a great deal while getting to experience the sheer beauty of Prague during our first day in this elegant city. is that they adhere strictly to Catholic doctrine, although they don’t actively proselytize their religion. For example, the Order runs a maternity hospital in Palestine, but refuses to conduct abortions at the hospital.
After learning about the Order, we were given a tour of the beautiful castle by none other than the Prince himself. The property was first built in the 9thCentury and was originally built of wood. Ownership of the castle was determined by the unification of two of the territory’s seven ruling clans. The castle was controlled by the Bohemian queens and princesses until the 15th century, but ownership continuously changed, especially during times of war. The current family took control of the castle in the 17th century, although they lost control during the Communist era. Overall, the day was one of the more exciting, albeit busy, days of our trip to Eastern Europe. We learned a great deal while getting to experience the sheer beauty of Prague during our first day in this elegant city.
By Prateek Kumar and Sarah Buonacore
1 comment:
That is just amazing
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