25 May 07, Day 13 - Cesky Krumlov to Prague
We took a bus from Cesky Krumlov, transferred to another bus in Ceske Budejovice and arrived in the afternoon (3pm) in Prague Roztyly bus station, a rather ulu bus station.
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Going on a 5 hour bus journey with food is a mistake. We gobbled down sandwiches at the bus station before taking the subway to our accomodation at Marriot Prague.
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After throwing down our luggages, freshening up, we intend to take a 1/2 hours walking tour, but ended up in the shopping district, and buying Ecco shoes - one for me and one for her.
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This is the shopping district where many visitors would walk around and looking at the shop windows. Soon it was the end of the day (short eh, due to the bus trip from Cesky Krumlov)
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26 May 07, Day 14 - Prague Castle with St Vitus Cathedral
This morning, after powering up with coffee and a nice breakfast, we walked and made our way to the subway to go the castle. Along the way, we took a photo of the Municipal House (Obecní Dům) and Powder Tower (Prasna brana).
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Our hotel is near the Náměstí Republiky subway station. This is a part of the signboard of the station taken while waiting for the train...
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After alighting from the train, it was a pretty long walk to the castle. Today, the clouds were white and greyish - not a good day for photography, but we will try. Here, Pei poses on the Powder Bridge (Prasny most) leading to the palace gates.
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We are now in the 2nd courtyards, where Kohl's fountain stood in the middle of the square. The fountain and St Cross Chapel was formed on a buried moat in the 16th century.
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A short walk away, we reached the St Vitus Cathedral. It is a very big cathedral and everyone is tilting their camera and hopefully able to capture every part of the building. It's also like a herd mentality to take a photo here....
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In the same square, I took a photo of the people here. The crowds came in groups, so this is considered quite light traffic. A man in blue takes a break to eat some food while doing some people watch.
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A little sick of the crowd, we moved out a little through the Matthias' Gate into the courtyard where the change of guards supposedly take place every hour. Also crowded with people.
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Walking out of the courtyard, we landed in the Hradcany Square (Hradcanske namesti), where people are just there, standing and watching the buildings and happening around them. It's quite a interesting situation here.
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In the corner of the square, a 4-man team of music provided nice entertainment for those around. Didn't see many people putting money in the hat on the ground, though.
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In the Hradcany Square, stood the statue of Tomas Garrigue Masaryk) or T. G. Masaryk. He is the first president of Czechoslovakia. On the foot of the status was inscribed T.G.M.
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Soon, it was time for the famous change of palace guard procession. The highly-publicized change of guard will take place at the main gate to Prague Castle where we were just now.
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Yes, the guards came in orderly fashion. I pity them cos the sun was very strong and the weather was pretty hot. Here, they are taking dressing from their right in order to maintain the slight lines of the ranks.
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This is the rifle drill here. Looks like the command "ruso senja ta" in our normal army rifle drill in Singapore. Of course, their uniform nicer and more colourful than my green army camo version :p. And also - the white gloves!
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Another photo of the change of guard, towards the end of the ceremony. A band playing majestic music accompanied the ceremony from beginning to end.
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After the ceremony, we continue on to the St Vitus Cathedral. Even with a normal wide angle, it was not possible to take it all from the small walkway entrance.
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Interesting composition which I took when I saw the curved stream of line in the sky in the shadow of the gothic, black (and a little sinister-looking) outline of the cathedral.
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Walking to the right side, we were able to see the cathedral from a further distance (from namesti U Sv. Jiri and the Old Royal Palace). Here with a 10-20mm lens, it is possible to capture the cathedral in its entirety.
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If my memory does not fail me, this is taking near the entry to the Vladislav Hall of Prague Castle.
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Vladislav Hall of Prague Castle is built in the 15th Century. It was used as a throne room, for coronation feasts and also for assemblies of the Bohemian nobles.
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View of the Charles Bridge from the Vladislav Hall balconies. As you can see, there are alot of people on the bridge...
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