April 17th

We met in the lobby early (as usual) for our tour of Prague. Alexandra was our local guide. We drove from our hotel over the Vltava River along a road next it. Albert let us all out near the Manesuv Most (bridge) where we began our tour.

We passed the Winged Lion Memorial and the Pomník II. odboje (war memorial - Czech flag). As we turned down a street along side the river, Alexandra pointed out a building where you could see signs of the 2002 Prague flood. The difference in the colour of the building showed just how high the river had gotten. Knowing how bad floods can be in Winnipeg but knowing that we're protected for the most part from our floodway, perhaps Prague should think of doing the same. The water level was above the first storey of the building!

We continued down the street to a spot where there were many swans (and a bride getting pictures taken in the rain). From there, you had a good view of the Charles Bridge and the area surrounding it.

We travelled further down the street and ended up at the Frank Kafka Museum. Out front is a statue by David Cerny of the Peeing Lords. The statues are animated and pee in a pond in the shape of Czechia. Needless to say, many of Cerny's works are considered somewhat controversial.

Next, we passed a "street" which evidently is one of the narrowest in the world... merely a walkway down to the river. We turned onto another street to approach the Charles Bridge. ALong that street, it was interesting to note the symbols above the doors which were once used to identify the different residences.

More of April 17th