Powder Gate

Next to the Municipal House is the Powder Gate. It was built in the 11th century as one of the 13 gates into the Old Town. The Gate acquired its present name when it was used to store gunpowder in the 17th century.

Going up the Tower

Rose windows on both sides

Going back down the spiral stairs

Municipal House

The first building you will see when you exit the Namesti Republiky station is the Municipal House. This is Prague's most prominent Art Nouveau building completed in 1911.

Homage to Prague by Karel Spillar

Dejvicka Metro Station

Formerly known as Leninova Station. It was renamed  Dejvicka after  the Velvet Revolution to erase the memories of communism.

The first metro line started in 1978. The old Russian trains are slowly being replaced.

We took the metro from here to Namesti Republiky Station near the Old Town Square.

Hotel Denisa

We chose this hotel because it is only 200 m from Dejvicka Metro Station.

Unfortunately, we couldn't have our room until 12 noon. We left our luggage there and headed back to Dejvicka Station to begin our itinerary.

Praha, Prag or Prague?

Praha is in Czech while Prag is in German.

The Astronomical Clock

We were in Czech Republic for 5 days before leaving for Budapest. We spent 3 days in Prague and a day each in  Cesky Krumlov and Kutna Hora.

Day 1

Old Town Square
Powder Gate
Jan Hus Monument
Storch House
Church of  Our Lady Before Tyn
Church of St. Nicholas
Astronomical Clock
(Lunch near hotel)

Charles Bridge
Kampa Island
Lennon’s Wall
Grand Priory Mill
Church of Our Lady Beneath the Chain
Church of Lady Victorious (Holy Infant Jesus of Prague)
(Dinner in Kampa Island)

Day 2

Strahov Monastery
The Loreto

Prague Castle

St. Vitus Cathedral

Royal Palace

St. George’s Basilica

St. George’s Convent

Golden Lane

Dalibor Tower

(Lunch near Prague Castle)

Wallenstein Palace
Church of St. Nicholas

Church of Our Lady of the Snow

(Dinner near Malostranska Station)

Day 3

Jewish Quarter
Church of the Holy Ghost

Spanish Synagogue

Franz Kafka Statue

Pinkas Synagogue

Old Jewish Cemetery

Maisel Synagogue

The Old New Synagogue

The Ceremonial Hall

Klause Synagogue

Wenceslas Square
National Museum
Vysehrad
St. Martin`s  Rotunda
 Vysehrad  Cemetery
 Church of St. Peter and St. Paul
(Lunch near the Church)

The Emauzy Abbey
Dancing House
Memorial to the Victims of Communism
Petrin Hill
(Dinner near Andel Station)

Day 4

CESKY KRUMLOV
The Castle
Church of St. Vitus
The Cloak Bridge
Back to Prague
(Dinner near Hotel)

Day 5

KUTNA HORA
The Ossuary
(Lunch in town)
Monastery Church
Church of St Jacob

Church of St. Nicholas

Hradek

Jesuit College

Cathedral of St. Barbara

Stone Fountain

Church of St. John of  Nepomuk

Italian Court

Back to Prague

(Dinner near Hotel)

Day 6

Took the early train to Budapest
Heroes' Square
Vajdahunyad Castle
Szechenyi Baths

Day 7

The Hungarian Parliament
Monument to Imre Nagy
Statue of Attila Jozsef
River Danube
Shoes Memorial on the Danube promenade
St Anne's Church
Calvinist Church
Capuchin Church
Cave Church
Gellert Hill
The Chain Bridge
Castle District
Matyas Church
Fishermen Bastion
Vaci Utca

Day 8

St Stephen's Basilica
Hungarian National Museum
The Great Synagogue
The Holocoust Memorial
Flight home

Prague Ruzyne International Airport

We reached here after transit from Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. To our surprise, the immigration officers just gestured us to move on when we made signs about getting our passports stamped.

We bought a day ticket for the Metro at the airport. This ticket can be used on the metro and buses in Prague for the whole day and including our trip from the airport into the city. We took the air port bus No 119 to Dejvicka Metro Station which is near our hotel.

The Czech Republic and Hungary

We visited The Czech Republic and Hungary in November 2008. We decided to leave Austria out as the 10 days that we have is too short to see the 3 countries 

The Czech Republic was formerly part of Czechoslovakia until 1st January 1993 when it was divided into The Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Daito Pagoda

This pagoda is also known as the Peace Pagoda was built in 1984.

Shinshoji Temple

From here, you can see the spacious ground surrounding the buildings.

The Main Hall

Issai-Kyoso Hall

Prayer Wheel in Issai-Kyoso Hall

Pilgrims are no longer allowed to spin the prayer wheel to make their wishes.

Three Storey Pagoda

The Columbarium

Back to Naritasan

We went back to the temple sfter lunch.

A tortoise shaped island in the pond

 

After passing the Niomon Gate, a flight of stairs will lead you to the Main Hall

An altar at the top of the stairs

Unagi in Narita

It started to drizzle so we decided to have our lunch  at this restaurant along the Omotesando.

 Narita is also known as the town of eels, is famous for its unagi.

 

Shakado Hall

Built in 1858 as the main hall of this temple before the present one was built. On the walls are the carvings of the 500 rakan (arhats)(chinese luohan)