Prague, Praha, Bohemia; take your pick

We finally fixed the car trouble and hit the road. Prague ended up being just as I hoped, beautiful, sparkly (if that is possible) and a good family getaway. I take them when I can. The weather held out as well, cold but dry.

We started by riding a funicular which takes you up Petrin Hill to the tower Rozhledna (lookout). This tower is called the little brother to the Eiffel, 299 steps to the top and worth it, the view is fabulous. The first day it looked like this, so we didn't:

But the second day it looked like this, so we did!

Us on the funicular, it is a really fun word to say. Say it with me, "FUNicular". We heard the word funicular enough just from the two little Frandsen's.

The main attraction in Prague is Prazsky Hrad which is just easier to call the Prague Castle. More of a complex really as it has many fabulous sites within the walls of the castle. Here we are just outside the castle walls. The guard wasn't even distracted by my bright red coat, but I know it was hard for him. I love that coat!

Outside the castle was a large display about the Czech Rebublic during WWII. There were pictures and interviews with survivors and this red boxcar was on disply. It was built in the 1920's in Prague but was later used to transport Czechoslovak Jews to concentration camps. Everytime I see things like this my heart weighs heavy with the new information that I gather and try to comprehend. Despite the fact that Czech's have their own history and involvement with the war, the city of Prague was untouched by the war. All historic buildings are still intact which is amazing.

Here is the facade of the St. Vitus Cathedral. It was begun in the mid 14th century and wasn't completed until 1929! The only thing that was difficult is that you come right through the castle walls and run smack into it. You can't step back and take it all in. Very hard to get a shot that really tells the story.

This photo of the girls was taken on what is called The Golden Road which is an alleyway of the smallest houses ever! Now they contain tiny little shops, perfect for the grand tourist but then it is difficult to imagine the initial use of the little houses. Many times tourism ruins things.

So in a big city like this, you can't expect to walk the legs off your children without giving them something in return, an incentive, an award if you please. Folks, we can not avoid the beast, even when we enter into eastern Europe. There she is, big, yellow, archy and screaming out to the children "eat me"! What is it about putting a "McD" in front of a food that makes it so desirable? I. don't. get. it. So we gave in, it was a weak moment, I'm not proud. Here they are trying to feel "the force" and be one with Yoda.


The kids also liked the toy museum that we ran across inside the Prague Castle. They had a fabulous display of Barbies which was nostalgic and a little weird. It is a total American icon, smack dab in the middle of Prague. Some were familiar to me, some weren't, like these which are called prototypes. Prototypes of what?!


I think yellow banana Barbie is reaching up screaming, but always with a smile, "Help me!" And then there was one that we all just stared at for the longest time, no questions were asked because we couldn't even begin to understand. It was naked Barbie with her stomach open to reveal an upside down fetus. What is that? Pregnant Barbie? Scary Barbie? It scared me. People, the fetus was smiling. After we got home I realized I didn't get a shot of it. All I can think was that it was too much of a distract for my trigger finger. And then there was this, the most disturbing of all:

Those Mormons, they're EVERYWHERE!

Here is Bailey on the St. Charles bridge, which is under construction right now, lot's of dust and canopies.

Here we are on the next bridge over from the Charles. The Charles bridge is in the background. McKenna is not hiding, she is passed out. hard.

Here is the Astronomical Clock in the Old Town Square.

There is always room for treats, even if we have never had them before and we can't pronounce what they are called, which is why I added this picture so that you don't think I'm embellishing. What is that "turd-elneck", "turtle-nick"? Whatever it was, it rocked the sweet!



Finally, you can't have a true European city experience without finding the strange, disturbing but yet, intriguing musician. We have started a little collection I like to call, "What we hope Mark ends up NOT doing with his degree". It gives us motivation to drive on.