Prague: Czech it out!

Tori’s European Escapade

Summer 2012

August

24/8 - 25/8

Mounthausen - Austria and Prague - Czech Republic

On the way to the Czech Republic we stopped in at Mauthausen Concentration Camp, 20km away from the town of Linz. It was one of the largest labor camps run by the Nazi regime and it included quarries, munition factories and mines, with roughly 85,000 inmates. It's death toll is estimated at close to 320,000 and was one of the last camps liberated by the Allies. The main camp at Mounthausen was  labelled as "Grade III" (Stufe III), which meant that they were intended to be the toughest camps for the "Incorrigible Political Enemies of the Reich". It was referred to by the nickname Knochenmühle—the 'bone-grinder' and was specifically reserved for the extermination of the 'intelligentsia' - educated enemies.

The most effective method of 'self extermination' was the "Stairs of Death". Inmates worked in the quarry at the base of the stairs, extracting the stone in blocks that weighed up to 50 kg and hauled them up the 186 rough cut stone stairs in chained lines. The state of near starvation that most workers were in saw many fall while on the stairs, creating a horrific domino effect with the first prisoner falling onto the next, and so on, all the way down the stairs.

After independently touring the barracks and chambers, we walked down these stairs to meet the bus, and that was an experience that will stay with me forever.

Graveyard

Entrance to the execution chambers.

The crematorium.

The hill is covered in artistic memorials dedicated to those who perished at the camp. This one was exceptionally powerful.

The Stairs of Death, from the top.

Looking down the stair.

When we got to Prague, it was fairly late in the day, but we were given 2 hours to freshen up before our night time walking tour. Well, we took 20 minutes to get ready, which gave us over an hour and a half to twiddle our thumbs before our departure. What happens if you put 20 "young adults" in a room with time to kill?

This is the state we were in when we caught the underground into the city. YES, Lisa has her bra on outside her dress - that was my genius dare. Emily, Rody and I were dared to wear pigtails and side ponies. (Lisa, Me, Emily, Rody, James and Maddy and George in the background)

The walking tour was an unmitigated disaster - we managed to make it to the main square with about 80% of the group a wiggly, giggly mess, when our tour leader gave up, led us to the nearest bar and organised a free round of shots, and the whole group proceeded to party the night away.

The next morning was all seriousness again, as a group of us headed into town, trying to retrace out steps from the night before with a hazy memory. We eventually made it into town and had a pick-me-up lunch a block away from the Charles Bridge. After we crossed over the bridge we spied the best-thing-ever. A vintage open top car that would trundle us all over the city, ensuring we saw everything - a feat that would be near impossible in our slightly-hungover half day left.

Lisa, Me, Kimmie, Luke, Ryan. Best. Idea. Ever.

We saw the John Lennon Wall - originally a protest piece against the communist regime, the wall features Beatles lyrics and philosophies inspired by John Lennon.

We past all the main sights - seeing the gorgeous Charles Bridge in the distance again. The bridge crosses the Vltava river and was commissioned in 1357 during the reign of King Charles IV, and finished in the beginning of the 15th century. As the only means of crossing the river until 1841, the Charles Bridge was the most important connection between Prague Castle and the city's Old Town. It is flanked by towers in the civil gothic style, and they are considered one of the most 'astonishing' examples of that period of architecture. The 621m long bridge is decorated by many baroque statues all erected centuries after the bridges completion.

Charles Bridge

The gothic Church of Our Lady before Týn in the Old Town Square, with horsies!

The Prague Astronomical Clock. Established in 1410, it is the third oldest clock of it's kind, and the oldest still working. A be-costumed tooter blows one of those fancy royal horns  with the dangly flag, each time it chimes - thats once an hour! Bet he has fun climbing those steps 12 times a day.

We paid the extra to sit in the wee car as it struggled up the hill to Prague Castle. The conglomeration of buildings combines to make the world's largest castle, with virtually every architectural style of the last millennium represented. The most notable building is the Roman Catholic Saint Vitus' Cathedral. It contains the tombs of many Bohemian kings and Holy Roman Emperors and is a fabulous example of Gothic architecture - it's towering pinnacles visible from most of the city.

Before crossing into the castle grounds we had a wee 'we are a bit rough today' rest in the gardens, I held a huge hawk (awesome) and we got told off for sitting on the grass by a surly guard in a silly uniform.

Saint Vitus' Cathedral

The view from the Grand Entrance to the castle - we stopped at a wee restaurant for traditional dumplings.

A shop selling unique, artist made, outrageously expensive marionettes - a speciality of Prague.

After a hard day sightseeing  Kim and I decided to do something about the abysmal state of our feet - near 2 months of touristing in travel sandals do horrific things - so we stuck our feet in a tank of fish, who helped us out! We had Czeched Prague out, and we loved it!

Fish Pedicure, with Kim.