Beautiful Prague!

Our free day in Prague was jam-packed. There's so much to do and see! We started out by hopping on a tram and heading up to Prague Castle. The steep climb to the top of the hill was definitely worth it:

The castle and immediate surrounding areas are enclosed by a wall and guarded by the traditional guards:

Upon entering the gates we came upon an amazing gothic cathedral. The archetecture was amazing, but the real surprise came when we walked inside:

The church had the most incredible stained glass windows I'd ever seen. They were very intricately done copper-foil style with hundreds of tiny pieces making up each pane.

The colors cast on the columns and floor of the church were prismatic:

After the church we headed into the castle. I had never been inside a castle like this before. It was modern enough that you could really picture the monarchy holding meetings and the royal family living there. It felt like a fairy tale.

Adjacent to the palace is a small cathedral that was used as a place for prayer but also as a burial spot of royals- most notably princes of the Hapsburg family. 

Our our way out of the castle grounds we walked down Golden Lane which was once full of shops and services necessary to the people of the area. Now some of the shops continue to function, and some are set up on display.

We walked back towards old town and got some great views of Charles Bridge:

After a bite to eat, some shopping, and enjoying the Old Town Square and it's astrological clock:

We set off for the National Marionette Theater. Prague is known for it's puppet theaters. Puppets are sold everywhere and on any given day you have a choice of several different shows in theaters throughout the city. Against my typical uneasiness about puppets I was really interested in seeing the show. We decided on Don Giovani. The show was fantastic. The stage was small- think the puppet scene from sound of music- and the marionettes were very intricately made and controlled by the puppeteers who could be seen the whole time and were even incorporated into the show. There were even special effects such as a rainy thunderstorm that splashed the audience a bit. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but I didn't think I'd laugh as hard as I did or enjoy the Italian opera as much as I did!

Tomorrow is an early morning- next stop, Berlin!!