Chris Roman: Prague - Round Two, Day Two

Back with more great pictures from my second trip to Prague! Considering this is my 5th blog post about the city and still have one more to write, we are about to become legitimate Prague experts.

On the second day of our trip, my American friend Tony and I first hung out with his host family for a bit and checked out a mirror maze. That was the first time I've ever been in one, and it was much more disorienting than I ever thought it could be. I definitely walked straight into my reflection in the glass one or two times.

Tony, the kids, and I enjoyed the funhouse mirrors

This is a kaleidoscopic cinema, which showed a bunch of cool images that have to do with Prague. Mirrors reflect the image from one central screen over and over again, creating a kaleidoscope

Apparently medieval-looking guys playing medieval-looking instruments isn't just a thing for Spandau in Berlin

Next stop for Tony and I: Vyšehrad fort, first built in the 10th century on a big hill overlooking Prague from the south

The Rotunda of St Martin is Prague's oldest surviving building, dating back to the 11th century

We were blessed with some sun just as we were drinking in the panoramic views of Prague. Thanks, weather gods!

On the left, you can see a wall running up the hill. That's the Hunger Wall, a medieval defense wall built in the 14th century, so named because it was built in a time of great famine. The construction of the wall was a mode of employment for poor and starving Prague inhabitants, and with their wages they could buy food for themselves and their families

The fortress walls look pretty intimidating

The Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul is a neo-Gothic church located within the fortress. It also dates back to the 11th century, but was destroyed and rebuilt several times

The gorgeous interior was decorated by prominent 15th-century Czech artists

I find relics to be so morbid and strange. These are some remains of St. Valentin

Outside the church, also in the fortress, is a big cemetery that contains some of history's most famous Czechs, including the composer Antonín Dvořák

Another look at the fortress walls

Back into the main part of town

Prague's 19th-century National Theatre

Yet another view of the Vltava River and the Prague Castle

Next destination: after taking a funicular up a mountainside, Tony and I scaled a tower to get an amazing view of the entirety of Prague, just in time for dusk

Awesome!

I do have to give Tony some credit here, as he waited at the top of the tower with me for at least 15 minutes as i took countless pictures. The results are worth it, though!

The tower we had climbed

Making our way to the castle, on the left

These tasty pastries are Trdelník. They are like delicious cylindrical cinnamon rolls, sort of. They're all over Prague

Once more at the castle, once more at St. Vitus

Inside St. Vitus

The Old Royal Palace

Walking around Prague's castle complex

The Golden Lane once housed lots of craftsmen and soldiers

It was built around the 15th century, so everything is built for very small 15-century people

Gates to Prague's castle

Back on the Charles Bridge. We tried eating dinner near the castle, although we knew that area catered exclusively to tourists. After sitting down in not one but two different restaurants there, higher-than-advertised prices (outside, the dishes were marked as being cheaper than in the actual menu) and extra charges like a 15% gratuity (extremely unusual in Europe) or $3 for "condiments" scared us off. You can't fool our street smarts that easily, dishonest restaurateurs!