A Trip Home, to Prague

Sunflower fields in northern Austria.

If you ask my littlest ones where they are from, they will most likely tell you Prague, Czech Republic.  They crack me up!  It's a difficult concept for them to grasp that they are American, born in Prague and lived only in America for 16 months.

A common billboard in Czech Republic.  An advertisement for their very popular sparking water.

We had the idea to take a quick trip to Prague before our 6 month return to the US.  We thought the kids would enjoy seeing the place where they hold so many memories.

Our first stop was to meet up with our long time Ukrainian friends.  We met within the first weeks of arriving to Prague, in 2001.  We've been through a lot together.  Love this family!

Wouldn't you know, we forgot our big camera.  Please excuse the fuzzy IPhone photos.

Our kids had such a great time together!  It doesn't matter if kids can't speak each other's language.  They still know how to play.  It's a universal activity!!  Hee hee!

Prague, on a summer night, is something you can't miss!!  It is gorgeous!

We only had one full day in Prague.  So much of the city is compact and walkable that you really can see a lot in a short time.

We were surprised by the braveness of the peacocks at the Valdštejnská zahrada (Wallenstein Gardens).  

I remember calling this the fairy tale wall.  I couldn't find any history on it, but it is a fascinating wall with hidden creatures in the stone.  You can see one of them below.

There are 3-4 owls living in the little house structure in the top right picture.

The view from Karluv Most, the famous Charles Bridge.

I never tire of these views!

 The band performing in the picture above, right, is a jazz band.  Jazz was popular when it was  Czechoslovakia in the 1920s and became even more popular after World War II.
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The area below the Prague Castle, and where the waterwheel (below) is located, is my most favorite area of Prague, Mala Stranska, or Lesser Town.  I just love this area!

Staromestska or Old Town Square.

I love the narrow cobblestone streets in this city!

And the statue (above right) is by a controversial Czech artist.  It is a statue of Wenceslas (you know, "Good King Wenceslas looked out.  On the feast of Stephen.....").  Short story is that it is making fun of politics of the country. 

Since we were in the area we decided to eat at Prague's Hard Rock Cafe.

They really cater to kids with their own menu and if you are a part of the kid's club, the kids get a free sundae!!  Hard Rock has only been in Prague a few years.  Before that, this building was a crystal factory.  I remember shopping in this very building.

And the morning before we left we met up with one of Karis' first playmates, Katka.

We met some other friends, but we were so busy talking that I forgot to get the camera out!

It was a quick trip, but it was a fun time!!

It might be a bit before I get back to the blog as we head to Greece for an annual meeting this week.
So looking forward to our time there!

Czech Republic on Dwellable