Goodbye Dubrovnik, Hello Prague

Well everyone I am off, or have arrived, somewhere new.  Dubrovnik was amazing and I was so glad to be able to spend a few days there and explore somewhere new, to me at least.  I got into Prague, Czech Republic last night around dinner time.  Upon arrival I mostly just got settled and then went to grab a quick drink and bite before bed.

Today though was a great day.  I went and explored several sites of this side of the river that divides Prague.  There is a lot to see.  The buildings, despite their modern inside, are all very old and very detailed in their architecture.   It is also a very colorful city, not only the buildings themselves, but also the variety of people who live here or come to visit here on vacation.  There are little subtle jokes about the former USSR and communism, since they used to be part of all that.  They are funny now but still paint a rather gruesome lifestyle.  The city has really embraced its freedom and has opened up all aspects of itself for people to see and enjoy.  Well I don't want to ramble about pinko commies, so enjoy the pics and I will talk to everyone in a couple of days.

Ciao

One of the island just off the cost of Dubrovnik as I was leaving

A parting shot of Old Town

There were several ships, including a couple of big cruise ships like this one waiting just off the coast

Bye Dubrovnik and Old Town.

This is just one of the amazing buildings close to my hostel.  There is a restaurant in the bottom floor.

This is Henry's Bell Tower.  

One of the side streets with some colorful buildings

This was from one of the parks in town.

I don't know but WOW right?!?!

This is the Powder Tower.

This is one of the main streets leading up to the Natural History Museum.

This is by Wenceslas Square.  This is one of the old theaters, I think.  It was closed for renovations.  

A view from the other direction. 

This is the statue at Wenceslas Square.  There are four people around the horseman, one looks like the Pope.

This is the Jewish Synagogue in town.  I am hoping to see the Jewish Cemetery tomorrow.

I think this is the old train station.  The new one is very modern looking.  This was closed.

Just a cool building with some statues.

This was put up to commemorate Mozart's Don Giovanni.  Creeped me out!  Right next to the theater where they are opening it.

The main square.  Lots of restaurants and historic looking buildings.

Another church.

This is the astronomical clock in the main square.  Quite a way to tell time.

A really stoic looking statue also in the main square.

The front of that impressive looking church.

They like their churches here, not as many as Italy but very nice.

How is that for chandelier?

It takes a LONG ladder and some steady hands to paint a ceiling like that.

A close up of the astronomical clock.  All sorts of things going on here.  Couldn't quite figure all the numbers and signs.

The real reason I am in Europe.  Proper sized beer mugs.  Don't tell Kay, I said it was for the culture.

A video of the clock chiming at the top of the hour.  If you look close you can see a skeleton banging a bell and little guys moving the window.

It is hard to tell but a real person came out and also played a little trumpet after the clock finished chiming.

Some of Prague's money, the Crown.  This isn't even a hundred American Dollars and it comes out as one bill from the ATM.  Very unnerving.  

A close of from the side of astronomical clock.

Old Town Part Deux

Just went back to old town tonight to have dinner and also experience the bus system. YIKES!  They pack them on here.  I got there though and back and got to enjoy a few surprises in old town that didn't happen during the day.

Ciao

Old town all lit up and night.

The main drag.

There were dozens of birds flying around, sparrows maybe, tweeting and eating.

The sparrows flying

Not sure who this is but that is a real sword.

The church lit up with windows.

The same clock tower with the little bell ringer.

Someone important in a big square.  I don't read Croatian very well.

The same clock tower but at night it has light up numbers to tell you the hour.

Old town

Today, on the strong suggestion of a friend, I walked over to old town or Grad.  It was sort of a walk back in time.  There were giant castle walls surrounding everything and no cars are inside, pretty narrow streets.  Very old buildings, churches and streets nestled right into the side of the cliffs that back up to the Mediterranean.  It was a very hot day but I walked the few kilometers to get there.  I couldn't tell you why but there was some traffic which made me happy to be walking.  It is a very popular destination and full of many things to see.  Of course I took some pictures so enjoy and talk to everyone probably from Prague.

Ciao

The outer wall of Grad, or old town as most know it.

This is the front entrance 

Drawbridge, cool.

Right after you get in they have this huge fountain where you can wash off the heat from the day with fresh cold water.  I don't how they keep it cold but some folks were even filling their water bottles.

Can you see why they don't have cars here?

The first of several churches in Grad.  Italy is still the church leader but Croatia is a strong second

The view from the bar I stopped at to grab a cool drink

I thought since the exchange rate was so good I would pick myself up a little boat.  Hope that is ok Terri and Hal

Who is that handsome devil?  So European.

I have said it before, but Europe has got some stuff.

The other church I went to.  Every building is carved out of stone like this.

I could take pictures on the inside of this church and this was the alter.  Modest.

This is a blue whales lower jaw bone.  I couldn't squeeze it all in the photo since I already had to hold the camera against the wall to get this much.

This is the main square.

A view from the square up into the hills.

The marina where people can pull up from the sea.

This is a clock tower and if you look close you can see little metal figures that chime the bells.

The whole clock tower.

These are cannon balls they used to use.  My question is how big was the cannon?

A view from the stairs on the way out.  SO, SO, SO many stairs!

A three island tour

Well it was quite warm today in Dubrovnik, 97.  Luckily I had planned on taking a tour of some of the islands close by.  It was aboard a ship with a bunch of other folk and we got to have lunch also.  Overall all a great day and I am just going to let the pictures do the talking.  Tomorrow I explore old town and all it has to offer and then the next day I am off to Prague.  Talk to you all soon.

Ciao

This is actually a view from atop the hill in town while I was on a run.

For some reason wherever there is water there is a makeshift water polo, court?  Not sure of terminology. 

This is a pirate ship that also does tours around the islands.

An old house just off the side of our first stop.

A shot from atop the boat I was one of our first island.  It is named Lopud.

This hotel was on the island by where we docked.  It had this crazy spiral staircase thing down the middle.  It was cool.

This is the secluded beach I hiked to.  You could take a golf cart for a small fee but I hiked it.   The golf cart guy claimed a 30 minute hike, try 17.

A view from the walk back into the bay.

More of the bay.

This was an old church on the second island. Sipan.

Here was a castle that someone had turned into a place to stay for tourists.  This island was the most quite of the three.

The castle was pretty cool looking.

This is pulling into our third island, Kolocep.  There are some different ascents on these names but my computer doesn't have them,  Sorry.

Almost docked.  There aren't really anymore of this island because I was running on fumes.  I did jump off the top of the boat into the water with some others.  It was invigorating.  

Some homes as we turned the corner to head back.

A much faster boat then we were on.