We had a distressingly early start this morning, so we were at the station in very good time for our train to Prague. The station has some wonderful murals in the entrance hall, though the platforms themselves look very old fashioned.
Our Hungarian guide was very keen for us to take photos of the murals, suggesting we could use Photoshop to select the angel above and use it to send in Christian emails to our friends! She didn't leave us quite enough time to take the pictures though, so mine was too hurried and not satisfactory. I really need to photoshop out the stray hand which got into this photo!
The train journey took 8 hours, taking us through Slovakia and eventually bringing us to Prague where a coach collected us to take us to our hotel, which is the smartest yet. We had dinner there - a very nice buffet - and then set off with our tour leader to see the city centre by night. It certainly is beautiful.
We caught the Metro to Wenceslas Square, then walked to look at the medieval astronomical clock.
Later, we were back to hear it strike 10, but somehow we missed the figures coming out, I think perhaps they do it at the beginning.
We then walked through the old town at a pretty fast pace, our tour leader having forgotten my painful knee. It was very crowded and the shops were all open even though it was after 9, but we didn't have time to stop and look at anything as the party galloped on towards the Charles Bridge.
This is the tower that protects the entry to the bridge. There's one the other end too.
The Bridge crosses the Vltava river. Construction on it was started in 1357, and when it was finished at the start of the 1400s, it was called the Stone Bridge.
The bridge is 621 m long and nearly 10 m wide, resting on 16 arches. It is is decorated by a continuous alley of 30 statues, most of them baroque-style, originally erected around 1700 but now all replaced by replicas. I'll take photographs of them in the light, you couldn't see them in the dark.
This is the tower at the other end of the bridge.
It marks the entry into what is called the Malá Strana or "Little Side", because it was on the left bank of the river Vltava, on the slopes just below the Prague Castle.
Thank goodness we went no further, but turned back to retrace our steps. My back and hip both hurt from walking fast on the irregular cobbles. I hope to be recovered by tomorrow, as this is clearly a beautiful city and I look forward to seeing it.
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