Prague had been on my bucketlist for quite some time, so when I first heard the Stones would perform here, the decision was quickly made. We would go there with 6 other friends on a private jet. We departed from Antwerp on July 3 and arrived in the Four Seasons Prague around noon. Our tour started on the Charles bridge, enjoying the many statues and the great view, and went on through the Mala Strana. 6 brave warriors walked 200 steps to visit Prague Castle. It has been an important symbol of the Czech state for more than a thousand years. It was founded in the 9th century and became the seat of Czech rulers and later presidents. The castle is one of the largest complexes in the world.
Afterwards we went to St. Vitus Cathedral, this Gothic cathedral was founded in 1344. Its impressive interior is home to such wonders as the beautifully decorated St Wenceslas Chapel with the tomb of St Wenceslas, the crypt where Czech kings are buried, and the Crown Chamber, where the Crown Jewels are kept.
On our way out we passed through the Golden Lane. This tiny street between the Bílá Tower and the Daliborka Tower is lined with colourful houses resembling something out of a fairy tale. These houses were built into the castle's fortifications around the end of the 16th century and were occupied until the Second World War. Franz Kafka lived and worked in house number 22 from 1916 to 1917.
Our short, but extremely hot tour concluded at the oldest café of Prague. The interior was nicely decorated, the beer was fresh and the food looked simple, but good. Afterwards we went through the hassle of picking up the wristbands at the Palladium and finished our day with a nice meal in an authentic Prague restaurant on a picturesque square.
After a lovely breakfast the next day we visited the Jerusalem Synagogue. The newest and largest synagogue of the Jewish community in Prague is an interesting example of Art Nouveau melded with Moorish style. Its interior is richly painted in Art Nouveau style.
On we went to Old Town Square, the most significant square of historical Prague. It was founded in the 12th century and has been witness to many historical events. In addition to the Old Town Hall and the Church of Our Lady before Týn, the square is dominated by the Baroque Church of St Nicholas, the Rococo Kinský Palace, the Gothic House at the Stone Bell and the monument to Jan Hus. In the pavement of the square are memorial stones marking the execution of 27 Czech lords in 1621, and the Prague meridian. I would have loved to take some photos of the Astronomical Clock, but it’s currently undergoing repairs. Dre went to visit an exhibit of Dali and Warhol on the square. Of course a lot of the latter’s portraits of Mick Jagger were on display.
We had lunch at Kampa Park restaurant, enjoying stunning views of the river and the Charles Bridge. Time to prepare for the concert. We went early to enjoy some time backstage and met up with our friends in the pit for the concert. We were back in the hotel before midnight, but the bar was to crowded so we went to bed early.
Our last day in Prague started with a walk and some shopping for souvenirs. We went for coffee at the Hard Rock Café and walked up to the Wenceslas Square. This square is the commercial and administrative centre of the city as well as the site of important social and historical events. In January 1969 in the upper part of the square student Jan Palach and later student Jan Zajíc burnt themselves to death to protest against the invasion of Warsaw Pact troops into our country; in August of that year the demonstration on the first anniversary of the invasion was brutally scattered.
On to the Dancing House for our last lunch in Prague. This pillar of modern architecture in Prague “danced” onto the Rašínovo Embankment in 1996. The project comes from the drawing board of world-renowned architects Vlado Milunić and Frank O. Gehry. Its concept was inspired by the dance skills of the famous film couple – the stone tower symbolizes Fred Astaire and the glass tower, his partner Ginger Rogers.
At the airport the weather took a turn for the worse and we had to wait half an hour in the plane before take-off, but after a luxurious quiet flight we arrived home safely after two months of lovely adventures following the Rolling Stones through Europe.
Comments