Monday, August 22, 2016

Charles Bridge and the Jewish Quarter

Monday, June 28, 2015
 
Our tour bus took us the short distance from the Castle to a point on the Vitava River near the east side of the Charles Bridge.  Dating from the 1300's it is almost 1700 feet long and along with the Old Town Square and Prague Castle it is the third leg of the tourist stool of popularity in the city.

 
To reach the bridge we walked a short distance along the shore and through a park. A  modern art museum had several outdoor sculptures on display including this one by the most eminent Czech sculptor--David Cerny.

 
Nestled in the area below the bridge were several little cafes--this one with a musical name.

  
 
 
In  an almost hidden little corner we were shown a touching monument to our heroic 9/11 firefighters.  
 
 
Looking up once again we saw a piece of the Lesser Quarter Bridge Tower and one of the many statures that grace the Charles Bridge
 
We did finally make the climb up to the roadway.

 
The bridge is pedestrian only and generally crowded with tourists who are viewing the over 30 striking sculptures adorning the walkway and taking in the vendors, musicians,  and solicitors of funds that are everywhere. 



Here are a few of the statues. 

Not quite a statue but also a part of the bridge's ambiance. 
 
 
                        The street musicians add to the overall festive atmosphere on the span.

Looking north off the bridge you could see on the east bank the Frans Kafka Museum.  We wished it had been on our stopping list.
 
  
 You leave the bridge by walking through the Old Town Bridge Tower
 

 
Shortly you come to the Rudolfinum, a neo-renaissance concert and exhibition hall, which is now the home of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra.


And then it's a short walk into the Jewish Quarter.





Upon arrival back at the Old Town Square, we discovered that Elvis was now entertaining and pork was roasting on spits. 





It was pushing 2:00 PM and we joined the crowd to down some local delicacies.




On the way back to the hotel  we stopped at the Municipal House to purchase tickets for a chamber music concert that evening.  That will be the subject of the next entry.
 



 







 




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