This is the beautiful old silver mining town of Kutna Hora :-
Ken.
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by Ken » 31 Aug 2006 08:38 pmBohemia is a strange place with few inhabitants per square mile. Kutna Hora is no exception, despite being one of the principal towns & for centuries the source of all Czechoslovakia `s silver & coinage.It is eerie & you dont see many people. You have to press a buzzer on the front of many of the shops to get service and a hatch opens where you have to peer inside & point at what you want !
Nevertheless , its very pretty :-
Ken.
Nevertheless , its very pretty :-
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by Daffy » 31 Aug 2006 09:01 pmIt looks very clean and well maintained. What is the food like? Are the locals friendly? Thanks for another interesting thread. Daffy
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by Ken » 31 Aug 2006 09:54 pmThe food is excellent and very cheap but most true bohemian dishes come with "dumplings". These come in slices like bread & have all sorts in them. There are usually too many but they go really well with the superb bohemian goulash as they`re useful for soaking up the gravy.
More importantly, you can buy a good pint for 17 crowns ( about 42p ).
Ken.
More importantly, you can buy a good pint for 17 crowns ( about 42p ).
Ken.
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by Ken » 31 Aug 2006 10:00 pmHow would you like this chandelier in your lounge ? :-
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Last edited by Ken on 13 Sep 2006 09:19 am, edited 2 times in total.
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by Black Knight » 31 Aug 2006 10:44 pmYes please. Can you get me one next time you`re over there ? 
B.K.
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by Ken » 01 Sep 2006 05:21 pmHow about this one as well then B.K. ?
It would make a nice pelmet for your lounge curtains !!
Ken.
It would make a nice pelmet for your lounge curtains !!
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by Firefly » 02 Sep 2006 05:59 pmYuk !!
Looks like a nice country tho. Have you any on Prague . see my other post.
Babs
Looks like a nice country tho. Have you any on Prague . see my other post.
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by Ken » 04 Sep 2006 09:45 amThe author Franz Kafta once wrote :-
"Prague is dear Mother but she has sharp claws and will never let go of you."
How true this is. Its the only city in the world that I feel drawn back to.
Here`s a nice view of the Charles Bridge and Castle area of Prague :-
Ken.
"Prague is dear Mother but she has sharp claws and will never let go of you."
How true this is. Its the only city in the world that I feel drawn back to.
Here`s a nice view of the Charles Bridge and Castle area of Prague :-
Ken.
Last edited by Ken on 13 Sep 2006 09:20 am, edited 1 time in total.
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by Chel » 04 Sep 2006 11:17 amThese are lovely, makes me want to get a passport and go travelling 
Keep them coming.
Keep them coming.
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by Kattaddorra » 04 Sep 2006 01:23 pmThey are amazing photos Ken. I don't like travelling, so it suits me to see the wonderful places of the world, this way.
Katt
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by Ken » 04 Sep 2006 09:48 pmThank you Chel & Katt. There really are so many lovely places in & around Prague.
A good place to start is Wenceslas Square. Its full of life & bustle. Its a good place to go on your 1st day if you`re sussing out local food as there`s a great choice of snacks from stalls. The best hotdogs I`ve ever tasted made from a choice of every type of sausage you could imagine for about 40p . Czech goulash is also to be savoured.
Apart from the impressive statue of the good king himself , Wenceslas Square ( which is actuall a long sloping oblong) was the scene of the relevently recent " Velvet revolution" when the Czech people had had enough of soviet domination & decided to pull together & speak their minds. The communist regime collapsed in December 1989.
Ken.
A good place to start is Wenceslas Square. Its full of life & bustle. Its a good place to go on your 1st day if you`re sussing out local food as there`s a great choice of snacks from stalls. The best hotdogs I`ve ever tasted made from a choice of every type of sausage you could imagine for about 40p . Czech goulash is also to be savoured.
Apart from the impressive statue of the good king himself , Wenceslas Square ( which is actuall a long sloping oblong) was the scene of the relevently recent " Velvet revolution" when the Czech people had had enough of soviet domination & decided to pull together & speak their minds. The communist regime collapsed in December 1989.
Ken.
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by Ken » 04 Sep 2006 11:40 pmFrom there, stroll to the bottom & take any one of the charming little alleys to continue forward :-
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by Ken » 04 Sep 2006 11:47 pmThey all lead to the beautiful old town square :-
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by Ken » 05 Sep 2006 12:05 amWith its unique old astronomical clock on the old town hall :-
Its hard to believe that its not so long ago that the locals were throwing molatov cocktail bombs at Russian tanks just here.
Ken.
Its hard to believe that its not so long ago that the locals were throwing molatov cocktail bombs at Russian tanks just here.
Ken.
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by Chel » 05 Sep 2006 09:05 amI like you telling us about the history of the places you have beeen also. Keep them comming
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by Daffy » 05 Sep 2006 09:38 amYes thank you Ken, it is hubby's 5oth birthday next year may have to treat him to a weekend break in Prague 
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by Ken » 09 Sep 2006 11:05 pmSorry about delay/break in continuity. Been very busy this last week. Will post a few more tomorrow.
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by Ken » 12 Sep 2006 08:55 pmYes,Chiana. They are. Even the underground system is quite beautiful. The standard you`d expect in a 5-star hotel :-
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by Ken » 12 Sep 2006 11:07 pmHowever -- back to the old town square & its stunning buildings :-
Each so different in style:-
Ken.
Each so different in style:-
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by Kattaddorra » 16 Sep 2006 04:20 pmYou must have taken loads of photos Ken.I'm looking forward to seeing more
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by Ken » 16 Sep 2006 10:33 pmA little bit of dialogue here before the next few pics. I`ve already replied with this to all who`ve PM`d & e-mailed me so for those , please bear with me.
Prague must be the tourists guide`s dream. One fascinating area leads to another, another & yet another.
From Wencesles Square to the old town centre & now through some charming old alleys to the Charles Bridge.
Its featured in so many films ( & adventure games! ) . So beautiful & full of history. Bohemian nobles`s heads were hung from here during uprisings. The bridge itself is an experience to cross. Bohemian glass, artists , puppetteers, the views down the Vitava river , the black & gold statues & then over to the incredible "Castle Area".
One of the beautiful statues as you cross the Vitava has a well worn gold part. Legend has it that if you place your hand on this you will never be able to resist returning. I made the mistake of placing my hand there !
Ken.
Prague must be the tourists guide`s dream. One fascinating area leads to another, another & yet another.
From Wencesles Square to the old town centre & now through some charming old alleys to the Charles Bridge.
Its featured in so many films ( & adventure games! ) . So beautiful & full of history. Bohemian nobles`s heads were hung from here during uprisings. The bridge itself is an experience to cross. Bohemian glass, artists , puppetteers, the views down the Vitava river , the black & gold statues & then over to the incredible "Castle Area".
One of the beautiful statues as you cross the Vitava has a well worn gold part. Legend has it that if you place your hand on this you will never be able to resist returning. I made the mistake of placing my hand there !
Ken.
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by Michelle » 01 Oct 2006 08:06 amHow about continuing the tour if you`re feeling up to it now Ken.
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by Ken » 15 Oct 2006 09:45 amAnd so we proceed over the Charles Bridge and into the beautiful "Castle area".
The huge building with the Gothic towers at the top is St.Vitus Cathedral.
St.Vitus had a rough time. He knew quite a bit about medicine and concocted cures for many illnesses.When he refused to sacrifice to the pagan gods in celebration, his cures were attributed to sorcery, and he was tortured, and condemned to death.He was thrown to the lions but the lions would not touch him, so he was then thrown into boiling oil .
At the moment of his death, an immense storm destroyed several pagan temples in the region.
The term "St.Vitus dance" originates from the belief that folk could ensure a year`s good heath by dancing vigorously in front of his statue on his feast day.
Ken.
The huge building with the Gothic towers at the top is St.Vitus Cathedral.
St.Vitus had a rough time. He knew quite a bit about medicine and concocted cures for many illnesses.When he refused to sacrifice to the pagan gods in celebration, his cures were attributed to sorcery, and he was tortured, and condemned to death.He was thrown to the lions but the lions would not touch him, so he was then thrown into boiling oil .
At the moment of his death, an immense storm destroyed several pagan temples in the region.
The term "St.Vitus dance" originates from the belief that folk could ensure a year`s good heath by dancing vigorously in front of his statue on his feast day.
Ken.
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by Kristof » 15 Oct 2006 10:04 amWell done Ken. It is good to have a bit of history and background with your photos. I have learned something already and it is still early morning in the Kristof household.
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by Ken » 26 Oct 2006 01:30 pmThis is an interesting little area up in the Castle district called Golden Lane.
The streets are very narrow with many of the little houses & shops built onto the side of the castle walls. Its where all the alchemists and magicians used to live in the middle ages.
Ken.
The streets are very narrow with many of the little houses & shops built onto the side of the castle walls. Its where all the alchemists and magicians used to live in the middle ages.
Ken.
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by Ken » 01 Nov 2006 10:11 pmI`m posting this next pic more for its interesting past and more as a recommendation than for its photographic merits. Its the Cafe Slavia on the banks of the Vitava :-
The cafe used to be frequented by artists , writers & students. Because most of them were dissidents & not afraid of speaking their minds, the communists (and later the policie) regularly raided & closed the place.The dissidents would return in the middle of the night & re-open for business.
The authorities eventually got sick of this & gave up.
Its continued to thrive to this day. Its a beautiful cafe with a vast menu. Everything is reasonably priced and you can get an excellent meal for a few pounds. The beer is good as well !
Ken.
Ken.
The cafe used to be frequented by artists , writers & students. Because most of them were dissidents & not afraid of speaking their minds, the communists (and later the policie) regularly raided & closed the place.The dissidents would return in the middle of the night & re-open for business.
The authorities eventually got sick of this & gave up.
Its continued to thrive to this day. Its a beautiful cafe with a vast menu. Everything is reasonably priced and you can get an excellent meal for a few pounds. The beer is good as well !
Ken.
Ken.
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by Ken » 19 Nov 2006 05:41 pmHere`s another interesting one & also very topical. Its actually one of the embassy buildings in Prague but any of you seeing the new Bond film will see it as the Casino Royale :-
Ken.
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by Michelle » 03 Jan 2007 12:44 amHope you didn`t lose too much ! 
Any more pics ? I still haven`t been yet.
Michelle.
Any more pics ? I still haven`t been yet.
Michelle.
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by Ken » 03 Jan 2007 10:44 amNearly finished the tour now. Will dig a last couple out over the next few days.
Ken.
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by Ken » 13 Jan 2007 12:20 pmPrague was quite badly damaged during the war but thankfully the old part has been fully restored to its former glory.
Much of the newer area (Novo Mesta ) has been built more recently but even the modern buildings are quite beautiful and Bohemian in style.
This one is known as "The Dancing House" :-
The original house was destroyed during bombing in 1945, its remains finally removed in 1960. The neighboring house (with a small globe on the roof) was co-owned by Czech ex-president Vaclav Havel. Frank Gehry was commissioned to design the house on an almost unlimited budget. The construction started in 1994 and the house was finished in 1996.
Ken.
Much of the newer area (Novo Mesta ) has been built more recently but even the modern buildings are quite beautiful and Bohemian in style.
This one is known as "The Dancing House" :-
The original house was destroyed during bombing in 1945, its remains finally removed in 1960. The neighboring house (with a small globe on the roof) was co-owned by Czech ex-president Vaclav Havel. Frank Gehry was commissioned to design the house on an almost unlimited budget. The construction started in 1994 and the house was finished in 1996.
Ken.
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by Graham » 13 Jan 2007 12:48 pmThese pictures have been a real eye opener to me, Ken. I never realised what a lovely place it was.
Seeing that last picture (what a great building) reminds me of the beautiful traditional architecture of Barcelona sitting side by side with Gaudi's work, in complete harmony.
Seeing that last picture (what a great building) reminds me of the beautiful traditional architecture of Barcelona sitting side by side with Gaudi's work, in complete harmony.
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by Daffy » 13 Jan 2007 03:03 pmKen that last pic is fantastic, thanks so much for sharing them all, Daffy
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