Medieval Archery in Barga on May 12

                                     King Guglielmo and Queen Cinzia

PRAGUE: from the Sublime to the Ridiculous

                                                     Welcome Praha 

When I first visited Prague, fifteen years ago, I thought it was the most beautiful city in the world. So it was with great anticipation that Robin, Bill and I decided to spend Easter Sunday there. What was discovered was a great contrast: soaring spires drew our eyes upwards, but the almost impenetrable crowds, the kitsch, even the prostrate beggars gave us an impression of a downward spiral -- once-great spaces brought to a mundane level of commerce, rampant tourism, the sacred day of Easter marked by a roaring, raging parade of four-wheeled ATVs.

Ah, but still we relished the graceful lines of rooftops against the vivid blue of sky, the delicate tracery of Art Nouveau gateways, the achingly beautiful buildings, touched with gold, their paintings carefully preserved, the ubiquitous towers. Still sublime.

      Wenceslas 'Square'

    Charles Bridge

                                          Charles Bridge 'Guards'

                        Charles Bridge Portrait Artist

                        Charles Bridge Denizens

 

     Robin in the Old Town Square

 

Old Town Square &  Our Lady Before Tyn Church

 
    Our Lady Before Tyn Church-drawn by Cynthia

Town Hall

Gliding Man

    Astrological Clock

                         Trompe L'Oeil Painted Building

     Massed ATV's
 

    Selling British Lingerie

 

 
     Franz Kafka Statue

CESKY KRUMLOV: a Hidden Gem

 We had never heard of this small city in the Czech Republic, near the border with Austria. But Kate Church (Robin's friend and ours) had a small, perfect exhibition in the Castle Krumlov. So we drove there, over dirt roads, through fields, certainly not expecting the delightful town we found with a sparkling river encircling the Castle, where we had arranged to stay in the first courtyard.

Kate and Rick welcomed us, unexpectedly accompanied by Peter Pereira, born in Krumlov, but resident in Canada and teaching theatre in Halifax since 1966. He was our host and was a fount of information: about the town, about the correct way to down an evil drink called Ferocious Dog, about the amazing Baroque theatre in the Castle, where his Foundation has established an equally amazing museum. We marvelled at the workings of the theatre, once the place where the royal family entertained one another in dramatic performances. Perhaps most interesting was the ballroom, the site of masked balls. The walls of this were embellished with painted trompe l'oeil figures of masked revellers, seemingly celebrating here continuously since the 17th century.

The town was lovely; now a World Heritage site, it had its Japanese and Russian tourists, but the beauty and serenity of the place was undisturbed against the gentle sounds of the river, always nearby. We loved being here: the houses, all painted with (again) trompe l'oeil features, the colours, the beautifully decorated towers of the castle and cathedral... our room, all 83 square metres of it. The food! The people! The art! We vowed to return.

 Our Ample Bedroom

 Medieval Alchemists' Building

                       Building Corner Detail

 Peter, our By-Chance Krumlov Guide

 

                      The Castle Tower with Trompe L'Oeil Exterior

    Nice contrasts here.

    Ball Room for Masked Balls

    One of the Masked Ballroom Murals

                      Clever integration of the painting with a real mirror

                       The Hoi Polloi peeking at the Masked Goings-On

   Model of Old Baroque Theatre

    Costumes from Old Baroque Theatre

    Robin, Rick, Kate, Bill, Cynthia at Castle Entrance

                                               One of Kate's Figures on Exhibition in the Castle

                                                               Robin Turns Ladies

    Extremely Fresh and Very Yummy Cinnamon Buns for Sale on Street