Golden City of a Hundred Spires

The first two weeks are already over as time flies by. Since we are making good progress on the project (Niki will give you an update on that!) we paid a visit to Prague. Since we had roughly 2 days, we decided to simply walk through the city to experience our host country at its heart and to get more than just the postcard impressions. But I have to admit, where ever you go, everything could be a site for a postcard. Not without reason Prague is also called the “Golden City of a Hundred Spires”  – the name refers to the numerous sandstone towers in the city centre that shimmer golden in the sunlight.

Niki and I on the Charles Bridge in Prague

An old lady who doesn’t seem to grow old

Despite her age, the city seems to quiver – and that not just because of the nearly 2 million tourists per year. Every corner and every niche of the city has its own story that brings an unparalleled vibrancy to the city although she has to bear more than a thousand years of history. Even afar from the tourist centres, the city was vivid and bustling. Sometimes, I wished my Czech would have been better to talk to some of the people; but anyways, just watching the scenerey was a great experience.

We stayed a long time in the city and at night Prague seems to be even more gorgeous. It was almost full moon which wrapped the golden city in silver and the sky was clear, no cloud dared to push against the dark blue sky. The Prague Castle, which is already imposing at day, seemed to protrude even further into the sky and perched majestically over the city and the melodic sound of Vlatava. A picture that I won’t forget too soon.

View from Charles Bridge on Prague Castle in twilight

Prague Castle and the Royal Gardens

On the next day, we started to wander through the city again, but this time we went to some of the major tourist spots. I have been several times to Prague but I don’t grow tired to admire it. We climbed up to Hradcany and walked through the Royal Gardens, which are of exceptional splendour and are home to many different trees and flowers that were all flowering. It was very fortunate that the weather was co-operating so we could rest in the parks and enjoy the shadow casted by the trees.

The Royal Gardens

But my absolute highlight were the hunting birds and owls. I could not resist to hold Alexandra, the eight year old golden eagle – far the biggest of the birds. Thanks to the hollow bones, she was considerably lighter than she looks! Golden eagles are among the largest members of their species, females grow up to a meter tall and their wingspan can be far greater than two meters – in a dive they can reach up to 125 km/h hunting down their prey! That’s why I was very happy that Alexandra was such a friendly fellow.

Alexandra and I – I could even pet her!

From there we walked to the Prague Castle where the Second Prague defenestration took place which initiated the Thirty Years’ War – a major turning point in European history. The Prague Castle, build in the 9./10. century, is the largest closed castle complex in the world and is still the official residence of the President of the Czech Republic. Over the centuries, countless generations of builders worked on the castle, so it is a reflecting the history of architectural eras in Central Europe. In the middle of the castle houses the St. Vitus Cathedral, a Gothic cathedral, and the largest church building in the Czech Republic, which was built in 1344, but its history dates back to the 10. century.

View on St. Vitus Cathedral from the Royal Gardens

Prague seen from the Prague Castle

I tried to give you some of my impressions and experiences, but Prague is one of the cities you have to see for yourself, nobody can tell you how this sense of historical importance feels, the unique braid of mere beauty and the load of its history, of a historical relevance which is without equal. I wish we would have had more time to explore this fascinating city that knows how to tell the history of Europe unlike any other.