- An amazing network (spider web) of trams and Metro that enable one to get around as long as you have a map of the routes (obtained on day one)
- Much architecture, buildings and monuments from the history starting with the Holy Roman Empire, the Ottomans, the Hapsburgs (Austria-Hungarian empire), the Nazis during WWII, and the Communists to the present.
- Many public buildings that have been renovated.
- Tourist attractions for all interests and age groups.
- Restauraunts catering to all nationalities.
- Plenty of classical music to be found.
- Hearing Dvorak’s New World Symphony was special.
- Karistejn Castle - a 45 min train journey out of town.
- A comfortable AirBnB with excellent high speed internet (for posting Blog photos).
- Time to learn past and present history.
- Very worthwhile to hire a private guide on day one to get orientated and find out how to get around.
- Fun to experience a completely different culture (and cultures) compared with the life back home in Victoria B.C.
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Highlights from Prague
As I get ready for flights home Prague-Heathrow-Vancouver here are some memorable things about Prague.
Last evening in Prague
The Church of St Nicholas in Old-Town Square has early evening concerts. The Church is used as a place of worship by the Czechoslovak Hussite Church - a denomination that was founded in 1920. The building though is Baroque and was built in 1735.
The concert was organ and soprano.
Some interesting organ pieces were. Suite Gothique by Leon Boellmann (1862-1897), Cesar Franck’s Choral III (1822-1890).
The soprano consisted mostly of popular pieces like an aria from the Messiah, Schubert’s Ave Maria and Mozart’s Alleluja from the motet “Exsultate Jubilate”.
By the time the concert had finished it was dark outside and the floodlighting is of another building across Old-Town Square.
The concert was organ and soprano.
Some interesting organ pieces were. Suite Gothique by Leon Boellmann (1862-1897), Cesar Franck’s Choral III (1822-1890).
The soprano consisted mostly of popular pieces like an aria from the Messiah, Schubert’s Ave Maria and Mozart’s Alleluja from the motet “Exsultate Jubilate”.
By the time the concert had finished it was dark outside and the floodlighting is of another building across Old-Town Square.
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Last day in Prague
There was time for another day of sight seeing. The tram took me to the Museum stop and I found that I could get a ticket for about $12 CDN (seniors rate) that enabled entry to nine museums for five days! I only went into the main National museum with its magnificent painted ceilings and architecture. However within there were four most interesting exhibits.
- A commemoration of the Czech pilots who joined the Allies and the Royal Air Force in 1940 and some who would have fought in the Battle of Britain. After the war the Czech pilots went and assisted the development of the military in the new state of Israel.
- A special exhibit emphasizing the role of credible Journalists and the role they play today particularly with social media and the rise of people power and the spreading of misinformation (fake news). “In the Czech Republic alone, it is estimated that some forty significant websites engage in systemic disinformation”
- Another exhibit on Kazakhstan.
- A famous fin whale skeleton which was originally obtained for the Prague National Museum by Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen in about 1896.
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Karlstejn Castle
Karlsteijn Castle is a gothic castle and was founded in 1348. It is 45 minutes by train from Prague. It holds a unique position among other Czech castles. It was built by the Bohemian king and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV. It was built in several stages and over a period of seventy years (which was quite fast at the time).
Initially Charles IV wanted it as a place for safekeeping of royal treasures, especially Charles’ collection of holy relics and the Crown Jewels of the Holy Roman Empire.
The Holy Roman Empire existed between 962 and 1806 when it was destroyed by Napoleon Bonaparte.
To-day the castle it is owned by the Czech state. At one stage it fell into disrepair but in the 19th Century, helped by the Hapsburg’s it was restored.
You can only see part of the inside (where photos are not allowed). There is an ornate chapel “the Chapel of St. Catherine” that visitors are only allowed to see a few times a year.
The following was written in 1365 “The Emperor built this remarkable castle with very strong fortifications.. and established a large chapel inside the upper tower, the walls of which he covered with pure gold and precious stones... and decorated it with valuable wall paintings. This is the most valuable castle and chapel in the entire world, and justifiable so, because the Emperor gathered the imperial symbols and treasures of his whole kingdom here.”
The guide was a very well informed historian and there are many original and reproduction exhibits from the time of Charles IV. He lived 1316-1378 and was Holy Roman Emperor from 1355-1378.
Initially Charles IV wanted it as a place for safekeeping of royal treasures, especially Charles’ collection of holy relics and the Crown Jewels of the Holy Roman Empire.
The Holy Roman Empire existed between 962 and 1806 when it was destroyed by Napoleon Bonaparte.
To-day the castle it is owned by the Czech state. At one stage it fell into disrepair but in the 19th Century, helped by the Hapsburg’s it was restored.
You can only see part of the inside (where photos are not allowed). There is an ornate chapel “the Chapel of St. Catherine” that visitors are only allowed to see a few times a year.
The following was written in 1365 “The Emperor built this remarkable castle with very strong fortifications.. and established a large chapel inside the upper tower, the walls of which he covered with pure gold and precious stones... and decorated it with valuable wall paintings. This is the most valuable castle and chapel in the entire world, and justifiable so, because the Emperor gathered the imperial symbols and treasures of his whole kingdom here.”
The guide was a very well informed historian and there are many original and reproduction exhibits from the time of Charles IV. He lived 1316-1378 and was Holy Roman Emperor from 1355-1378.
Don Giovanni
Mozart composed Don Giovanni especially for Prague where he personally conducted its first performance in 1787.
The National Marionette Theatre has performed Don Giovanni as a comedy accompanied by a recording of the Swedish Drottingholm Court Theatre Orchestra and Chorus since 1991. It has had many performances throughout Europe and in South Korea but not in North America.
I went to a performance at the National Marionette Theatre in Prague.
UNIMA - the International Organization of Puppeteers was set up in this Art Deco theatre in 1929.
Unfortunately I was unable to take any photos inside.
The performance was humorous with a puppet playing Mozart conducting and opera being sung and mimicked by the puppets. At the end the Puppeteers all appeared to great applause after one of them had appeared on stage that showed that the puppets were only about one third the height of a normal human.
It was great fun and much enjoyed.
The National Marionette Theatre has performed Don Giovanni as a comedy accompanied by a recording of the Swedish Drottingholm Court Theatre Orchestra and Chorus since 1991. It has had many performances throughout Europe and in South Korea but not in North America.
I went to a performance at the National Marionette Theatre in Prague.
UNIMA - the International Organization of Puppeteers was set up in this Art Deco theatre in 1929.
Unfortunately I was unable to take any photos inside.
The performance was humorous with a puppet playing Mozart conducting and opera being sung and mimicked by the puppets. At the end the Puppeteers all appeared to great applause after one of them had appeared on stage that showed that the puppets were only about one third the height of a normal human.
It was great fun and much enjoyed.
Monday, November 4, 2019
Political commentary about Czech
With a little time on one’s hands from tramping around Prague I cannot resist a little political commentary about Czech. Much of this thanks to Wikipedia.
The latest estimates are that there are 10.3 Million people living in Czech which means it is about a third of the population of Canada. About 1.3 Million live in the Prague area (about the same as the population of the lower mainland of BC - the Vancouver Region).
Andrej Babis is the prime minister. He is the oldest and wealthiest Prime Minister (he is 63) ever. He is said to be the second richest person in the Czech Republic (Estimated wealth $4.04 Billion). He owns Agrofert holdings which has 230 companies - mostly newspapers. He is meant to have put this in a blind trust since he became prime minister.
He is very popular. (Possibly because he controls most of the press but not so much as in Hungary and according to my guide some criticism of the government is tolerated).
Before Andrej Babis became prime minister he was investigated for fraud but on election as prime minister he was granted immunity from prosecution.
In 2014 Politico (a US political commentator) stated “The Czech Republic is now a paradox: a society disgusted with corruption has given huge power to a man whose business interests amount to the biggest conflict of interest in the countries post-1989”
He was previously a member of the Communist secret police. He visited US President Trump on March 7th 2019.
Peter, my guide, said that Andrej Babis has close ties with President Putin of Russia and Xi Jinping of China.
It seems Andrej Babis is another “gangster capitalist” whose interests mainly lie in improving their wealth rather that doing what is best for the people of their country.
The latest estimates are that there are 10.3 Million people living in Czech which means it is about a third of the population of Canada. About 1.3 Million live in the Prague area (about the same as the population of the lower mainland of BC - the Vancouver Region).
Andrej Babis is the prime minister. He is the oldest and wealthiest Prime Minister (he is 63) ever. He is said to be the second richest person in the Czech Republic (Estimated wealth $4.04 Billion). He owns Agrofert holdings which has 230 companies - mostly newspapers. He is meant to have put this in a blind trust since he became prime minister.
He is very popular. (Possibly because he controls most of the press but not so much as in Hungary and according to my guide some criticism of the government is tolerated).
Before Andrej Babis became prime minister he was investigated for fraud but on election as prime minister he was granted immunity from prosecution.
In 2014 Politico (a US political commentator) stated “The Czech Republic is now a paradox: a society disgusted with corruption has given huge power to a man whose business interests amount to the biggest conflict of interest in the countries post-1989”
He was previously a member of the Communist secret police. He visited US President Trump on March 7th 2019.
Peter, my guide, said that Andrej Babis has close ties with President Putin of Russia and Xi Jinping of China.
It seems Andrej Babis is another “gangster capitalist” whose interests mainly lie in improving their wealth rather that doing what is best for the people of their country.
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The Church of St Nicholas in Old-Town Square has early evening concerts. The Church is used as a place of worship by the Czechoslovak Hussi...