{"id":3155,"date":"2013-01-13T20:31:00","date_gmt":"2013-01-13T20:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/2013\/01\/13\/the-grounds-of-prazsky-hrad"},"modified":"2021-09-21T05:49:01","modified_gmt":"2021-09-21T12:49:01","slug":"the-grounds-of-prazsky-hrad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/?p=3155","title":{"rendered":"the grounds of Prazsky hrad"},"content":{"rendered":"<script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"22826\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"22827\">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<\/script><div dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<div dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<div dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\">It was the morning of my first full day in the city of Prague. As I open my window and look out, I see the spire tips of Prague castle. I use internal GPS to make a map in my mind, and set out on foot to find the entrance.\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/0d833-img_0120.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/0d833-img_0120.jpg?resize=640%2C426&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>The morning air is crisp but not overly cold. I get happily lost along cobblestone streets, yet the spires eventually guide me to the entrance. In perfect European fashion, I find an old and narrow street with high walls on both sides. I start walking up to the castle quarters. At the top are two guards solemnly standing their ground, with a breathtaking view of old Prague below. It is still early for tickets to be sold, and I finish a coffee while the city rises.<\/p>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/f932d-img_0183.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/f932d-img_0183.jpg?resize=640%2C426&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>The castle quarters are on an expansive piece of land, housing several palaces, basilica&#8217;s, and cathedrals. Starting in the 880&#8217;s, these buildings have housed the Kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman Emperors, and today&#8217;s Czech President.<br \/>The history of this place is mesmerizing. I start by exploring Svatovotsky popklad, the Treasury of St. Vitus Cathedral.<\/p>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/2e469-img_0129.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/2e469-img_0129.jpg?resize=640%2C426&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>From the great hall that brings to mind the underground scene in the movie &#8220;The Lord of the Rings&#8221; to the paintings and statues housed within, the cathedral does not disappoint.<\/p>\n<p>I then head to Stary kralovsky palac, the Old Royal Palace.<\/p>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/29dac-img_0158_snapseed.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/29dac-img_0158_snapseed.jpg?resize=640%2C426&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>Before the crowds become unbearable, I find the entrance to Prazsky hrad, the Prague Castle, surprisingly desolate. Resting against ancient stone, I have the time to truly admire the artwork and architecture of this place.<\/p>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/4de2f-img_0122_snapseed.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/4de2f-img_0122_snapseed.jpg?resize=640%2C426&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>After the castle I find myself in Bazilika sv. Jiri, the Basilica of St. George. It is here that a tomb to a great King of old lay in rest, guarded by the ruler of Death in Bohemian times.<\/p>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/db7af-img_0162_snapseed.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/db7af-img_0162_snapseed.jpg?resize=640%2C452&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"640\" height=\"452\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>My last stop is the Zlata ulicka, the Golden Lane. In here are small shops were the infamous Czech crystal is made, as well as a old marionette toy making shop, the Frank Kafka museum, a 1920&#8217;s Czech movie studio, and a long hallway showcasing the history of weaponry and battle uniforms of the Bohemian and Czech people.<\/p>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/9a6c8-img_0170.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/9a6c8-img_0170.jpg?resize=640%2C426&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>As you exit the long hallway, there is one last area, the torture chamber the rulers used. From the Rack, to full body torture devices and human cages dangling from bottomless pits, it is a startling reminder of the cruelty humans devise to punish acts we see as wrong.<\/p>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/45c24-img_0178_snapseed.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/45c24-img_0178_snapseed.jpg?resize=640%2C426&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>It is a chilling end to a day of fascinating history. The sculpture before you as one exits perhaps sums it up best&#8230;.<\/p>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/65819-img_0181.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/65819-img_0181.jpg?resize=640%2C426&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>that history is there for one to learn from, and to try and not repeat the mistakes of the past. I think of this as I make my way back down the steps, passing through dead groves of the castle&#8217;s vineyards.<\/p>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/db18a-img_0184_snapseed.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/db18a-img_0184_snapseed.jpg?resize=640%2C426&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>The people of this earth are slow learner&#8217;s in many respects.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GIJsffNhOz0?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It was the morning of my first full day in the city of Prague. As [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3351,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"googlesitekit_rrm_CAowqprcCw:productID":"","_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"{title}\n\n{excerpt}\n\n{url}","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[7315],"tags":[589476282,79089,177,124,9127,29745,1813917,200,3021982],"class_list":["post-3155","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-a-day-in-the-life","tag-a-day-in-the-life","tag-alone","tag-art","tag-life","tag-museums","tag-prague","tag-prague-castle","tag-travel","tag-trudi"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mywalkabout.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/4de2f-img_0122_snapseed.jpg?fit=1600%2C1066&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p99I7P-OT","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3155","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3155"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3155\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15070,"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3155\/revisions\/15070"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3351"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3155"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3155"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3155"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}