Out Traveler May/June 2005

The May/June issue of OutTraveler has printed a picture I took while I was in Praha in October. What better incentive for me to go back. Click the image to be taken to the OutTraveler site to see the larger image and some of the copy they printed about the image.

Praha, Charles Bridge & Castle Webcam

Heavy Metal

Prague is host to stone, wood and metal. All materials are still used to bring this incredible city into another millennium. Metal is my favorite architectural medium used in Praha. Stronger than stone, fashioned botanically or gracing the cheeks of a goddess; it continues to delight evermore generations of visitors.

Libuse in one of her many incarnations.


Intense features of statuary.


On the grounds of the Castle near St. Vitus.


A New Town Hero.


Parking barriers in Mala Strana.


Intricate lamp structures in the Castle's courtyard (another guise of Libuse).

Ceske Roadiokomunikace

Tower Praha is the highest building in Prague. Located in Zizkov's Mahler Gardens (look about half way down the page), it scrapes the sky at 1,555 feet above sea level and 709 feet above its surrounds.


The story behind the tower isn't pretty. Built under Soviet authority to jam radio signals in the 1980's, they knowingly built the tower over part of a Jewish cemetery.

They reassured the public that the graves and stones had been moved but after further inspection only the stones were moved to make way for construction.

A funny thing happened as the tower was built...Time. It wasn't completed until the 1990's and only operational a few years later, long after the Soviet occupation of Prague.


In 2000 artist David Cerny was commissioned to do an installation on the towers as a tribute to Prague as a center of culture.

The black, truck-sized babies were only supposed to be a temporary installation but created an overwhelming positive amount of feedback from the citizens. The babies are expected to remain in place for the next 10 years.

The view was incredible. When the conditions are right you can almost see the curvature of the earth from that height.


Interesting not about this last pic is the knoll in the middle-leftish side. I was told that the Nazis used that spot as a place for public executions. Now its reborn as a children's park.

A spin around Stare Mesto (Old Town)

Let's start our high spots visit of Old Town with the Jan Hus monument. Religious reformer and Czech hero, Jan Hus was burnt at the stake after being pronounced a heretic by the Council of Constance in 1415. This gargantuan monument by Ladislav Saloun was unveiled in 1915 on the 500th anniversary of his death.




Situated just above the square is a sign of an medieval town palace. The House at the Stone Bell helps you find your way down a narrow alley on the side of the Tyn Church.


The Church of Our Lady before Tyn (pronounced "teen") dominates Old Town Square. Construction of this gothic house of worship was started in 1365 and became associated with the reform movement in Bohemia. Known as a Hussite church from the 15th century till 1620, denoted by a large golden chalice that used to adorn the facade. After 1621 the chalice was melted down and became part of the Madonna that replaced it that still is visible today.


The late 19th century painting of St Wenceslas on horseback by Mikulas Ales appears on this ornate Neo-Renaissance building called the Storch House.


Just a bit further down the side of the square is another finely painted building, the Rott House.


U Rotta, now Hotel Rott, is a former inronmonger's shop, decorated with colorful paintings by the 19th century artist Mikulas Ales.


This morning shot is barely does justice to the strength & beauty of the Old Town Hall Clock.


Lastly is another Church of St Nicholas. Its baroque church dominates one whole corner of Old Town square. Besides its original purpose as a parish church; later a Benedictine monastery church; this has served as a garrison church and concert hall.

Doorway to Praha

I've noticed that outside America art and daily life constantly converge. Never are the two more apparent than in what we might call mundane, everyday objects...For example the door. We see them and use them everyday and think of them more as a hindrance when busy or when needing privacy and your are without one. Praha's doors are hardly normal. They raise the bar on design and tell the story of how art and humanity can exist in harmony on every level of life.


This door is crowned by a mosaic tiled phoenix and baroque detailing. Located on Masarykovo Nabrezi on the Vltava river.




Located near Vysehradska in New Town.




Located near the Rudolfinum in the Jewish Quarter.




Located in the powder tower on Karluv Most (Charles Bridge).


Located on the grounds of Prague Castle. Was just sitting open and I took a quick look around and ducked inside to see what was hiding.


Inside the door at the castle was a wrought iron gate with this tremendous crow lock.

Sights of Praha

Though it has been repaired many times since, the mechanism of the clock we see today was perfected by Jan Taborsky between 1552 and 1572.


Just a small sampling of the gothic architecture and gargoyles of St. Vitus Cathedral.


One of the breathtaking views of Praha from Prague Castle overlooking the church of St. Nicholas.


On August 12, 1881, just days before the official opening, the National Theater was completely gutted by fire. It was thought to have been started by metalworkers on the roof. But just six weeks later, enough money had been collected to rebuild the theater. It was finally opened two years late in 1883.


Some of the exterior decoration that dots all of Praha. This tile constructed woman is near the Jewish Quarter.


One of my favorite buildings in the Jewish Quarter. The intricacy of this particular structure is mind blowing and only goes to show the relationship of function and art.

Big head Todd and the monster...

The friend I was seeing in Praha is Angel. He has been in my life in one form or another for almost 20 years. Seeing him again with his renewed sense of drive and accomplishment was humbling. He has a brain that would give most intellectuals a boner. Problem solving on the fly and the ability to blend into the most difficult of situations. The flip side to this cognitive coin are his cravings for great music, food and friends. This man could make anyone laugh with his not so subtle sense of humor. I've only just recently realized how long he stood next to the gaping maw in the US. But like Madonna he has the ability to rise like a phoenix from the ashes and start anew. Nas drave Angel!