Prague - Good Kings and Opera - Part 3

"Bring me flesh and bring me wine

Bring me pine logs hither

Thou and I will see him dine

When we bear him thither."

Page and monarch forth they went

Forth they went together

Through the rude wind's wild lament

And the bitter weather

 

With visions of Carmen in our heads:

 

 

(not our show, but this is what we saw. Our Carmen was less seductive from the back row)....

we got another early start, checked bags with hotel desk and then headed across the bridge for the Prague Castle (and of course to go to Mass).

Gorgeous Prague castle from the bridge.  Amazing morning

You know, just another Sunday morning stroll.

There is a plaque fixed to a statue on Charles Bridge, depicting a man being thrown off the bridge. The statue represents Saint John of Nepomuk, the court priest of King Wenceslas IV. Legend has it that he was killed by request of the king (not the good king revered in song), because he refused to tell the king about the queen's confession. The truth is that he invited a bishop to Prague who was the king's enemy. Touching the statue is a Prague ritual. It is supposed to bring good luck and to ensure that you return to Prague soon.
I don't usually do this kind of stuff, but it worked when I touched it in May, so I went with it.  We debated whether touching it with gloves would lessen the power, but I firmly believe I'll be back to Prague thanks to EasyJet anyways.

 An attempt at capturing the slow stroll along the bridge.  I'm clearly not the best fake walker.

After a monstrous climb up to the castle, we paused for pictures overlooking the old town.  Gorgeous city. 

"Sire, the night is darker now

And the wind blows stronger

Fails my heart, I know not how,

I can go no longer."

"Mark my footsteps, my good page

Tread thou in them boldly

Thou shalt find the winter's rage

Freeze thy blood less coldly."

 

 

St Vitus church, where the good king St. Wenceslas is buried (or at least it is thought that his remains are there).  We did the tour of the royal palace, the old nunnery chapel, Golden Lane and then stopped for hot chocolate and food on the terrace overlooking the city.  We ended it with wandering through St Vitus (for Mass of course).  As a colleague in Houston told me, going to church to look at the art work and glass counts.

Overlooking city again, nice and warm with hot chocolate in me.

 

 St Vitus Christmas tree

 

St Vitus Cathedral

Playing with camera in St Vitus

We then wandered and shopped some more and had a long lunch/dinner on the river.  I had some chicken kiev with Prague Ham (not sure if that's a thing, but they were selling it everywhere) and some mulled wine and beer.  After that it was time to head back to the hotel to catch cab, which we used Collin's suggestion on cab companies and were not ripped off (as far as we know).  Fantasized about getting on the wrong flight on "accident" to any number of cities.  And had some more wine/beer.

Number of times I saw snow during weekend:  3 times.
Number of times L denied I saw snow:  3 times.
Number of oohhhss/ahhhhs:  Countless.

In his master's steps he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing

Merry Christmas, ya'll!