Murals painted on the castle walls, Cesky Krumlov.
3 bears live in the moats of the Cesky Krumlov castle! (They looked pretty domesticated.)
A view of the countryside from the top of the castle tower, Cesky Krumlov.
Here is an opera house in the castle grounds. Note: the opera was done outside of the house, on the staircase and balcony.
... and in bright contrast to the historical presence of the Opera house, the seating area is high tech and actually revolves!
Here are some Eastern European friends I made during my stay at Cesky Krumlov... these guys were hilarious and tons of fun! (I can't believe we played the german version of monopoly together).
By the way, here is what the inside of the Tea House looks like (we were luck to find one in Cesky Krumlov as well!!)
Walking in a silver mine with hard hats, white coats (to absorb the constant dripping water), and a powerful flash light. (Kutna Hora)
Hehe... it's a street sign in Cesky Krumlov... I couldn't resist!
Here is the entrance to the Kotsnice (Ossuary) in Sedlec / Kutna Hora.
With 40,000 bodies... the King instructed artist "Frantisek Rint" to do something creative with them. The result, a chandelier made of every bone in the human body, giant bells / pyramids, chalices, and a coat of arms (no pun intended)... all made with human bones!
Here's another Tea House I found in Cesky Krumlov... I love those places!!
This is the main square in Prague... it is dotted with gorgeous houses, intricately weaved within one another... creating magical twisting and turning streets!
Here is a picture of Hotel Europa, the hotel I stayed at on the second night... spoiling myself a little... it was pretty pricey as it was on the main strip... but worth the money, especially on a vacation!
I loved this Puppet Show sign. In Prague, there are a lot of people who just stand in the street all day holding signs for tourist activities (Is there a law against setting it into a pot of cement and leaving it there??).
I took a picture of this key to make two points about the Czech Republic... 1) Old-style Keys are still being used here and there (I find their shapes so stylish), and 2) Locks in Eastern Europe have double padlock... so you have to work twice as hard to open doors.
The entrance to Prague's main parliament building.
The changing of the guard was interesting; I saw the guards smile twice! hmm... guess the training is not what it is in London!
Also, take a look at the morbid statues -- what a way to make people feel welcomed!
I took this picture in part because I loved this little wrought iron gargoyle bird, and also in part because of the artsy angle. The statue in the background adds a nice touch.
The tower in front of the Charles Bridge... it's a hike to walk up to the top... but it's not expensive...
... and the view is worth it!
I have never seen such impressive-looking subway stations as the ones in Prague!
Here is the alley way to a Prague Tea House. They keep the door locked, and rather than knocking on the door, you ring a bell. Once seated in a dim space, they hand you an extensive menu (with dozens of tea leaf types) and a small bell to alert them when you are ready to order. A fascinating and mysterious experience overall!
