Last Day in Prague

I decided to stay in Prague until Monday for better train options and also to see more of the city. Alison was again kind enough to accompany me, yet we decided to explore an area she's never seen before. We opted for the Petřín, which is a big hill across from castle area. So we headed off by foot to check it out.



Along the way we encountered the Dancing House (also known as the Drunk House). It sort of looks like two people dancing if you use some imagination. The purpose of this architecture was to let the world know that Prague is a modern city, I'm not sure if it worked or not.





After crossing the bridge we ended up in this interesting park at the base of the hill. We encountered this really dark sculpture on the garden and we spent several minutes trying to figure it out. Regardless, it was powerful.


We took a tram up to the top the hill. It is possible to walk up it, but we really didn't feel like it.


When we got off the tram, we encountered this wonderful garden. The weather was exceptional and the colors of the flowers really stood out. You could literally find any color rose you wished here.






Here are more.


There was also this large maze where you have to try to get to the "heart". Metaphors anyone?

On the top of the hill, there is an observation tower that stands 60m (~200ft) in the air. It looks very similar to the Eiffel Tower, yet just smaller. Alison was interested in going up, however I was slightly reluctant as I have little trust in man-made heights. Nevertheless, I didn't want to wait on the ground in shame while she enjoyed the view, so up I went.



So we made it to the halfway point. We went up several stairs that spiral around the tower along the outside (i.e. the tower is to the inside and the fall of death is to the outside). Behind me in this photo you can see the Charles' Bridge.



Here's Alison pointing to the Charles' Bridge.



Here's a view of the cathedral.


So here's another portrait of myself with the cathedral clearly visible in the castle area behind me. Man, are we high up in the air!


After several hundred more steps, we made it to the top. Again, the height was really starting to bother me a bit. I guess it may be related to the fact that a couple of stairs I stepped on lifted up a bit when I stepped on the edge of them--not something you want when you're two hundred feet up in the air. However, here you can see Alison enjoying the view from the top of the tower. I wasn't enjoying it so much as it was swaying way beyond my comfort zone. But nonetheless, it was a great view. However, I'm looking forward to reducing the distance between my feet and the ground. At the bottom of the tower is a small, yet fantastic, museum of Jára Cimrman, a fictional character whom I would like to know more about.



Here's a picture of the cathedral from on top of the tower. You can see much more than photo of it at the halfway point.


Later that night, I watched the Czech soccer team lose at an English pub and waited awhile until the coast was clear before heading back to my hostel. Along the way, I found some great views of the city at night.


Another angle. Well tomorrow I'm back on the train and heading back to Germany. Prague was great fun, although at times a little crazy, yet the architecture was astounding. Definitely a place I would like to visit again.