Prague - a segway

The problem with overseas travel, if I am permitted to complain, is the lack of down time to actually reflect, appreciate and write about one’s vast and precious experiences. There is the constant need to be in the moment, planning for the day ahead or the upcoming location.  So now I find myself in a difficult situation as Chief Memory Keeper of the Gleeson Clan. Here I am, still needing to record moments, filter through photographic overkill and attempt to sound both knowledgeable and interesting, whilst all the time I am living a life about three counties ahead of where I currently find myself.  It’s just a tad frustrating.

So, where were we...

Armor with built in conveniences

Torture Chamber's standout (or sit down) winner

They obviously started them young

 

Cross bow in The Golden Lane...Not bad, not bad at all boys

A Major highlight for the boys was visiting The Golden Laneways of the Prague Castle District. There was armor galore, medieval hand weapons, a torture chamber (unfortunately for viewing only) and a cross-bow you could try for a small fee. So for a bit of fun, crazy mum here took on her boys and gave the whole weaponry thing a blast proving myself superior in yet one other area. Perhaps I'm not an ambidextrous knight in a spiral staircase, but I'd be a mean shot from the ramparts.

Mum's "BULLS-EYE

     

With targets accomplished and our precious time together, we have to say fare-thee-well to our sweet Fui and locate our darling Annabelle who is singing within the grounds of Prague Castle. The weather has been superb so far, albeit a little too warm for some of the performers, yet the passers-by pause to appreciate their dedication and talent. When they realise these kids are from Australia, there is further praise simply for the mighty distance they have traveled to get here. 

Annabelle and Claudia with the arvo off

Speaking of travel...nice segway...Segways are quite the touristy thing in Europe so with some extra cash at our disposal (someone got too much out of the auto-bank!) we became a family of 6 for the day and rolled out with Annabelle and her buddy Claudia to take in the sites, Segway style. With the initial squeals and dramas of practice aside, we traveled throughout both the old, and OLD old towns, and through the picturesque Royal Gardens with fabulous views over all of Prague. The kids were having a great time zooming around the cobblestone streets and trying to overtake each other. However, with two major falls on footpaths and roads (thankfully no broken bones for either Daniel or myself), if we never try them again it will be too soon!

 

Annabelle has adjusted really well to being on the road and without the constance of family...I think parents back home hear from their missing kids more than we see ours! Although sharing a room and bathroom space with up to 5 other girls (all trying to keep their washing and makeup up to date) can prove to be a little challenging. A number of the kids on tour are proving to be a little needy and I think the chaperones and teachers have their work cut out for them just holding it all together. So the girls enjoyed the slight detour with us for a couple of hours but were then ready to join their friends on their ‘day off'...lucky for us they are a lovely bunch of kids. 

The Dancing House

Sight seeing in Prague has taken us on and off the beaten track, sometimes a little bit (too) cultural and other times just a little quirky. One of the latter is notorious office block known affectionately as "Fred and Ginger" or simply "The Dancing House". Also, the Observatory on Petrin Hill lets you look at the sun through enormous telescopes, watch the surface of the great fire ball jump around and reveals sun spot on it's surface. Patrick was in heaven and tried to share his knowledge with the astronomer who was not hesitant about letting him know his 'Facts' had some flaws...(giggle giggle from his adoring parents).

Also on Petrin Hill is the miniature Eiffel Tower left over from a world expo some years back. It's a bit of a hit here still. We decided to wait and take Annabelle up on her day off, but unfortunately it never eventuated. We did visit the old Room of Mirrors though which was a blast. Simple pleasures for the vain and deluded!
 

Of course there was time to climb trees and eat icecreams and play Lego at Lego World (really this was a Lego museum...interesting but not so much). This was another life lesson about how sometimes you nail it in the choices you make and find a really great place (either by chance or planning) whilst other times it's more a miss than a hit. You let yourself feel it, make the most of a disappointing situation and look forward to the next adventure.

 

The Jewish Quarter

This was a little too rushed for me, but as poor planning had us arrive at the Jewish Synagogues at lights out (thankfully not sundown on the Sabbath - embarrassing!) we had to squeeze the visit in before leaving for Cesky Krumlov the next morning. 

One humble synagogue stands as a memorial to the Czech Republic’s Holocaust victims of WWII. The Pinkas displays wall after wall inscribed with the names of the deceased – 80,000 of them in all from the one country. It was a very sombre visit as we viewed these names, often times representing not only an individual, but sometimes many members on one family. It was obvious that respect in the remembering was paramount, but the Jewish people have always been extremely gifted in that area and we have much to learn of it's power.

In the small graveyard adjoining the synagogue there are estimated to be over 100 000 buried. As Jewish custom doesn't allow remains to be disturbed, once all the space was used, the tombstones were removed, the dirt laid over the top and this was used. The tombstones were put back in place along with the new resident's. In some places, there has been up to ten layers where bodies have been laid to rest with all the tombstones competing for space.

I love the Jewish custom of bringing a small rock or stone to place on the grave or tombstone of a beloved or respected person. Perhaps not as temporarily beautiful as a flower, but unlike a flower it lasts and is there for others to see, and remember to remember.

 We also visited the Spanish Synagogue, more famous for it's impressive beauty and museum that houses many of the Jewish artifacts confiscated from the Jews. The Nazi's actually brought many items here with plans to set up their own museum of "The Exterminated Race". It is just utterly appalling and to see their prayer 'Tefillin' -the small box and straps they bind around their heads and arms when they pray, saddened me deeply.