Twenty-Six is a Popular Number in Our Family

I tried to select a variety of photos to share from my 10 day trip. Enjoy!

Prague

This is the monastery that we saw the night of our first day in Prague. 

The next day we returned to the castle district, and below is a photo of my in the Cathedral within the castle grounds. It took about 600 years to complete, so there is a variety of architectural styles, although the decor is Baroque. 

Prague is famous for the defenestration of un-liked leaders. This is a photo out the window of the second, and most famous defenestration. Current presidential offices are all on the ground level with securely locked windows. 

My favorite area in the Prague Castle! This courtyard demonstrates architecture from Roman through 20th century neoclassical. 

This is a photo of my suitemate, Natalie, and myself, overlooking Prague. 

This beautiful garden was a formerly the garden of a private palace, but is now open to the public. This day was perfect for a stroll through the archways and passed the pond. 

And apparently it is common to have peacocks in Prague gardens!

A canal of the Vltava River. 

Old-town Square, Prague. 

Happy to be getting on the subway and going back to the hotel for the night. 

This is probably the best thing I ate the entire trip! 

The Prague Volksoper, built during the reign of Maria Therasia. Isn't it magnificent?

Krakow

"Eros Bandato, " by Polish sculptor Igor Mitoraj, which apparently controversially found its home in the Market square. 

In the bell tour at the Krakow Castle Cathedral. Touch the bell while making a wish, and it is supposed to come true!

I loved this little bit of art on a side-street in Krakow. 

Here is the wall I described in my blog a couple days ago. It was built from the remnants of headstones that were destroyed in this Jewish grave yard when it was used as a dump during World War II. 

Lunch at a fun little restaurant in Krakow. We noticed that restaurant wait staff was very friendly in Krakow! 

The sun decided to come out for our second day in Krakow. Here is a photo of the Krakow Market Square and the clock tour in the background. 

This salt mine chapel is constructed entirely of salt, with some wood. Even the chandelier! Absolutely incredible.

I had to taste the salt!

Budapest

The view from the fortress on the Buda side of the river. What a gorgeous day!

Statue park by the art museum. 

In the ruins of a Roman Amphitheater. The amphitheater was built slightly outside of the city walls, to be used as protection in case of invasion. 

These ruins were the public baths in the civilian section of the ancient city. Unlike in Vienna, the city of Budapest hasn't gained much elevation in the past 1600 years, so these ruins are essentially at ground level. 

The wholes in this stone were for drainage. I was standing on a 1800 year old road. How crazy is that?

My first big-kid coffee had to be documented. An Americano, although the proportion of espresso to water was probably only 50:50. It was pretty good! (Especially with my sweet desserts to cut the bitterness!)