Ahoj from Prague! 🇨🇿

 City of a Hundred Spires

Our time in the City of a Hundred Spires has come to an end, and wow, did it leave an impression. Before we hop our train to Budapest, I wanted to share a few final, unforgettable highlights from this magical city. If you love deep folklore, stunning views, and quirky hidden gems without the massive crowds, these are the ultimate places to add to your bucket list.

Dancing House

The iconic Dancing House is a modern architectural masterpiece built in 1996 by Frank Gehry and Vlado Milunić. The building's two twisting towers look like they are spinning across the pavement, which is why locals lovingly nicknamed it "Fred and Ginger" after the famous Hollywood dance duo. While most tourists just take photos from across the street, the real secret is heading straight to the top. The Fred and Ginger Restaurant serves a fantastic breakfast, where you can relax while looking out over a completely unobstructed view of the Vltava River and the Prague Castle skyline.

View from the
Fred and Ginger Restaurant 

For an escape from the crushing crowds at the Charles Bridge, Vyšehrad is an ancient 10th-century fort perched on a hill. Legend says this peaceful park was actually the very first seat of the Czech rulers before Prague Castle even existed. It is absolutely loaded with local folklore.

Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul

Interior: Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul

Inside the gorgeous Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul, you can find the striking Devil’s Column mural painted on the walls.

Devil’s Column mural

The mural connects to a wild story found right outside in the park, where three broken stone pillars stand propped against each other.

As the tale goes, a local priest made a bet with the Devil. The Devil flew all the way to Rome to grab a pillar from St. Peter's Basilica to win the wager, but St. Peter tripped him three times along the way. Arriving too late and losing the bet, the furious Devil hurled the pillar through the church roof, shattering it into the pieces that rest in the grass today. 

Pieces of the Pillar 

The grounds also feature the quiet and beautiful Vyšehrad Cemetery, where it is incredibly moving to pay respects at the graves of legendary composers Antonín Dvořák and Bedřich Smetana.

Antonín Dvořák gravesite

Bedřich Smetana gravesite

 

Back in the historic center, the Prague Central Library houses a famous book tower. It is a massive, cylindrical column built entirely out of stacked books. 

Book Tower

The best part is peering inside the opening; mirrors are placed at the very top and bottom, creating a mind-bending optical illusion that makes the book tunnel look like it stretches down into the center of the earth and up into infinity.

Book Tower - inside

Prague's deep musical roots come alive at the Mirror Chapel, which hosts breathtaking concerts performed by members of the Royal Czech Orchestra. Hearing them play Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, Dvořák’s soul-stirring Sing Unto the Lord a Joyful Song, and Smetana’s sweeping masterpiece, The Moldau, is unforgettable.

Mirror Chapel

Mirror reflecting the organ

Standing in that beautiful room, the ultimate piece of trivia is knowing that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart himself once played the organ right there during his 18th-century visits to Prague. You can practically feel the history vibrating in the air.

Next Stop: Hungary! 🚂

The bags are packed, and the train is officially rolling through the countryside. We'll see you in Budapest! 🇭🇺

Prague: Day Trip to Český Krumlov

Chasing Fairy Tales and Castle Bears: A Day in Český Krumlov

If you want to step directly into a living storybook, Český Krumlov is your place. This tiny, UNESCO-listed town wraps around a bending river like something out of a fantasy novel, and a single day here is enough to completely steal your heart.

Český Krumlov

Here is what made my perfect day trip:

* The Moat Guardians: 

Crossing into the castle complex, I looked down into the deep moat and caught sight of a real, live bear roaming the grounds—a centuries-old tradition that makes the fortress feel truly alive.

Bear - Moat Guardian

* Renaissance Wonder: 

Standing in the castle courtyard, I was completely mesmerized by the ornate sgraffito facade, where geometric patterns and historic figures are etched right into the plasterwork.

* The Colossal Cloak Bridge:

Looking up from the banks of the Vltava River, the bridge completely dominates the skyline. It rises out of the rocky gorge as a dramatic, three-tiered arcade of massive stone arches stacked on top of each other. Standing below it makes you feel incredibly small; the open walkway spans a drop of over 130 feet deep. Even more amazing are the towering covered corridors built directly above it, creating a continuous royal passageway that winds through the air for nearly half a mile so nobility could cross between the palace halls, the theater, and the gardens out of the elements.

Cloak Bridge

* Wandering the Core: 

The rest of the day was spent happily getting lost in the charming, labyrinthine cobblestone streets, where every corner reveals another stunning view of the rushing Vltava River below.

Český Krumlov isn't just a destination—it’s a time-travel experience packed into a single, unforgettable afternoon.

View of Český Krumlov and Vltava River

Prague, Czech Republic

Our adventure takes us across the pond to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic! We are in the historic region of Bohemia, on the Vltava River.

On our first day out, we went to the Prague Castle complex, specifically to Lobkowicz Palace, to attend a Midday Classical Concert. The venue was charming and the musicians were wonderful. Later that evening we took a food tour. We tried lots of local food and beer!😋

We returned to the Prague Castle complex a few days later for a guided tour. 

High Noon: The Changing of the Guard

Palace Guards under statues of the Fighting Giants

To witness the ultimate military precision, we went to the Matthias Gate in the first courtyard. The daily noon ceremony is a sharp, theatrical display complete with a live brass band.

The March to the Palace: 

The real highlight was watching the incoming guard march in perfect, unblinking synchronization toward the palace. Dressed in sharp, retro uniforms, they stride forward with chrome-plated rifles held high.

Flawless Choreography:

They cut through the crowds with rigid, rhythmic boots on cobblestone, marching right under the fierce statues of the Fighting Giants flanking the gates.

The Handover:

Once inside, the marching units met for a sharp 15-minute sequence featuring a flag exchange, synchronized rifle drills, and fanfares blasting from the castle windows.💂 

Guard Trivia: 

The guards' sharp uniforms weren't created by a military outfit—they were designed by Theodor Pištěk, the Oscar-winning costume designer behind the famous 1984 film Amadeus!

St. George's Basilica: The Ancient Time Machine

St. George's Basilica

Inside St. George's Basilica we instantly left the bustling castle crowds behind for a world of quiet, medieval majesty. While the outside catches one's eye with its bright, cherry-red Baroque front, the interior is a complete surprise: a raw, powerful space that is Romanesque, austere, and monumental.

Interior of St. George's Basilica 

Pure Architecture: The minimalist interior features thick limestone walls, heavy stone pillars, and simple arches that look almost exactly as they did a thousand years ago.

The Ultimate Contrast: It offers a great photo opportunity to capture the stark difference between the plain, medieval stone inside and the ornate, colorful design outside.

St. Vitus Cathedral: The Gothic Masterpiece

St. Vitus Cathedral

You can’t miss it—literally. As the crown jewel of the castle complex, St. Vitus Cathedral is a jaw-dropping monument that took nearly 600 years to fully build. It is loud, dramatic, and absolutely spectacular.

The Last Judgment Mosaic: 

Above the historic Golden Gate entrance we admired  the massive, 14th-century Venetian mosaic depicting the end of the world.

The Last Judgment Mosaic

Interior of St. Vitus Cathedral

Organ and Stained-glass window 

The Mucha Window:

We were dazzled by the brilliant, technicolor stained-glass window designed by iconic Czech Art Nouveau artist Alfons Mucha.

The Mucha Window

Golden Lane: Prague’s Storybook Alley

Tucked along the northern wall of the castle perimeter is Golden Lane (Zlatá Ulička). 

This miniature street feels like stepping straight onto a movie set, lined with tiny, brightly colored 16th-century houses built directly into the castle arches.

Kafka’s Secret Hideout: 

No. 22

The bright blue house at No. 22 is where legendary author Franz Kafka lived and wrote for a few years to find quiet inspiration away from the city noise.

The Hidden Film Stash (House No. 12): 

No. 12

This house belonged to amateur historian Josef Kazda. During WWII, Kazda heroically hid thousands of pieces of banned Czechoslovakian film history in canisters right under the noses of Nazi occupiers. Inside the house we could see the vintage film reels and posters left behind.

View of Prague from Castle

The Grand Finale: Panoramic City Views

After navigating the historic interiors, our ultimate reward wss to take in Prague's iconic skyline from the castle overlooks. The sea of terracotta-tiled roofs, winding cobblestone lanes, and distant river bridges look incredibly dramatic from up here.

The Hidden Palace Viewpoint:

For the ultimate overlook, we wandered toward the eastern end of the complex to the privately owned Lobkowicz Palace. We passed through the main courtyard and headed out onto the open-air balcony of the Lobkowicz Palace Café. 

We enjoyed a tasty lunch and a slice of homemade cake as we processed the incredible history we just walked through while soaking in the best view in town.

Lobkowicz Palace Café Terrace view

I ❤️ New York!

I want to share one more hidden gem in New York City! 

The General Society of Mechanics & Tradesmen of The City of New York was founded in 1785 by the skilled craftsmen of the City. 

The history of this 240-year-old organization is fascinating. In 1820 The General Society opened one of the New York City's first free schools and it continues to provide tuition-free instruction in the areas of Electrical Technology, HVAC Systems, Plumbing & Heating Systems and Construction Project Management.

Founded in 1820, The General Society Library is the second- oldest library in New York City.

The Larry Weingarten Antique Water Heater Collection is housed in the General Society building. Industry veteran and plumbing historian Larry Weingarten donated his lifetime collection of antique and vintage water heaters to the Society.

Rare & vintage water-heating units

This collection serves as an educational resource for plumbing and HVAC students, as well as a historical archive for trade professionals.

The Society is also home to the John M. Mossman Lock Museum. The Museum represents one of the most complete collections of bank and vault locks in the world. There are more than 370 locks, keys and tools dating from 4000 BC to the modern 20th-century!

European Renaissance iron door or chest lock

Antique keys

Antique keys

Circular Time Clock

Wow! So much in one building! And that's not all!

The Horological Society of New York, founded in 1866, is America's First Watchmaking Guild.

In an effort to advance the art and science of horology, the Horological Society provides a library of resources and educational programs for amateurs. 

Also housed in the General Society building, their library is open to the general public. The librarians there are AWESOME!

When we visited, we saw the engaging exhibit: Early American Pocket Watches.

This is the oldest pocket watch in the collection:

JOHN WRIGHT NEW YORK CITY, CA. 1715

One of the librarians brought out a special treat for us to see. This is a rare singing bird box automaton shaped like a turtle, a highly complex mechanical timepiece and musical box!

Turtle Automaton

It was necessary to contact the General Society to schedule a visit.

We're in Prague, Czech Republic now. My next post will feature our Czech adventures!