The City of a Hundred Spires

On behalf of the city of Prague,
please "Google" the sites visited
to see pictures that actually do them justice.

For the first time ever in my almost two years of life (which, quick reminder, I turn two on August 6), my parents left me. Every day of my life up until this point I had been put to sleep by my parents, and woken up to find my parents still there. But they left me with Babi and left for Prague for three days. And, just like the t-shirt says (which they didn't buy me): My parents went to Prague and all I got was this lousy t-shirt.

Although, that's not entirely true. I did get a krtek shirt.

But they had to go to Prague so my dad could go to the U.S. Embassy and get some paper work taken care of (nothing major). I had fun with Babi Jitka and my cousins Julie and Petr, and my Teta Eva, and my parents enjoyed their time in Prague.

They took the train there from here in Uherský Brod and arrived four hours later in the capital city.

The train was really comfortable and they had a cabin all to themselves to put their feet up in and read.

Too bad there's no train back to America.

When they arrived they met their friend Jiři and his wife Klara before going for a walk around the city and going to Vyšehrad. Apparently it's a really famous church and all Czech children learn about it and the story that goes along with it; however, none of the Czechs could remember what the story was to tell my dad.

Pictured: "Famous Church" Not Pictured: Mom, Dad, Jiři, or Klara

Dad: "So, is this church famous?"
Mom: "Yeah. There's even a story that goes along with it that they teach to all the little kids."
Dad: "So... What's the story? Why is it famous?"
Mom: "Um... Nevermind. It's not a famous church. It's just really big and pretty. Now smile."

They even walked along the shores of the Vltava and saw the heart of Prague from afar.

A quick stop on Karlův Most, or the Charles Bridge,

before continuing on through the city.

Vyšehrad's spires are on the right and the U.S. flag is on the left, which is weird because that building is not the embassy.
U.S.A.! U.S.A.!

The day ended with a brief stop at the gates of the Prague Castle before heading home for the evening. 






The next day I went to the pool in Hluk with my babi, cousins, and teta. Mom and Dad went to the embassy. Well, actually, Dad went to the embassy. Mom had to wait outside.

The second-most heavily guarded embassy in Prague.
More police are located along the street than pictured,
including required searches of all vehicles on the street for bombs.

After completing the paperwork (all of fifteen minutes) and dropping it off at home, my parents were back out on the streets of Prague. They claim to have walked for ten hours straight. I bet they also claim to have had to walk to school up hill both ways in the snow too.

They started their day back at the Prague Castle

and made their way to the awe-inspiring, ever impressive, breath-taking, and truly unique gothic St. Vitus Cathedral.

It has the most impressive stained-glass windows. These are just a few of them.

My parents cement their memory of themselves in the church with the self-photo.

After a few other stops on the tour, it was time for the scenery photos.

The Charles Bridge already crowded with people.

Old Town Square from afar.

Then onto Golden Lane.


Here's Mom in front of "the pretty blue house," which also happens to be Franz Kafka's home.

Above the Golden Lane is an Armory.

On Dad's first visit to Prague he shot an old-fashioned cross bow here.

Despite modern art's attempt to keep my parents away,

they were able to successfully make their way back to Charles Bridge.

Although, they still faced challenges while trying to cross the bridge.

They were able to get through this throng of people...

...and into this crowd in the Old Town Square.

Behind Mom is the Týn Church, and on the right is Prague's famous astronomical clock, Orloj.

They finished their day running back and forth across the bridge a few more times in vain attempts to remember where they saw certain souvenirs, knickknacks, and tchotchkes until it was time to meet Jiří and Klara for dinner at "U Medvidků." Dad hasn't stopped talking about it, "Great guláš, great špekovými a knedlíky. And great beer!"

But then, it was time to say good-bye to Jiři and Klara and head back home.


We loaded them up with baby gifts from OSU and Eskimo Joe's (Klara is eight months pregnant in this photo!) and made one last stop:

Wenceslas Square, named for the Good King Wenceslas in that one Christmas song, and home to the Velvet Revolution.

Then it was back down to the subway...

down very steep escalators...

...because the subway is burried beneath the Vltava River and the rails are sometimes more than ten stories underground.











My parents' train ride wasn't as comfortable as their ride into Prague. It was filled with rowdy people leaving a music festival who were still rather rambunctious. But, they made the best of it. After all, they were coming back to me.

They actually got off the train a few stops eariler (in Uherskě Hradiště) where I joined them along with Babi Jitka, Teta Eva, Julie, and Petr. Then we all road the train home together!