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adnanoktarmehdilik-iddia-ettimi · 3 years

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MÜMİN ALLAH’TAN GELEN İŞARETLERİ GÖRÜR VE HAYRA YORAR

Son günlerde sosyal medyada yapılan bazı paylaşımlar konu edilerek Sayın Adnan Oktar’ın güya Mehdilik iddiasında bulunduğu, kendisini sevenlerin de deprem ve korona salgını gibi olayları Mehdilik alameti olarak algıladığı iddiaları ortaya atıldı.

Bugüne kadar defalarca açıkladığımız gibi, Sayın Adnan Oktar hiçbir zaman Mehdilik iddiasında bulunmamış, ömrünün sonuna kadar da bu iddiada bulunmayacağına dair yemin etmiştir. Sayın Adnan Oktar yıllardır ısrarla “ben Mehdi değilim, Mehdilik de iddia etmiyorum” demekte, bazı çevreler ise yine ısrarla “sen Mehdisin, Mehdilik iddia ediyorsun” demektedirler. Değil Mehdilik, hocalık veya alimlik iddiası dahi olmayan Sayın Adnan Oktar kendisini sadece samimi bir Müslüman olarak nitelemektedir. Ve onu farklı ve özel kılan en önemli özelliği, insanlarda çok nadir bulunan, samimiyetidir. Onu tanıyan herkes de böyle güzel ve samimi bir ruhla tanışınca kömür madeninde elmas bulmuş gibi büyük bir sevinç ve heyecanla kendisini sevmektedir. Sosyal medyada yer alan ve haberlere konu olan paylaşımların ise Sayın Adnan Oktar ve yakın arkadaşlarıyla doğrudan hiçbir bağlantısı yoktur.

Bununla birlikte Adnan Oktar Bey’in eserlerini okuyup takip eden bazı insanların, son dönemlerde dünya çapında yaşanan büyük olayları ilginç bulmaları ve bunlara dikkat çekmelerinin Mehdilik iddiası gibi yorumlanması önyargılı bir yorumdur. Her şeyden önce 2020’nin başından itibaren ardı ardına yaşanan olaylarda bir olağanüstülük olduğu tüm dünyanın hemfikir olduğu bir husustur. İnancı, dili, ırkı farklı da olsa dünyanın dört bir yanından insanlar “2020 felaketler yılı oldu, 2020’de bir gariplik var” yorumlarını sürekli gündeme getirmektedir.

Her insan kendi düşüncesi ve inancına göre sıra dışı ve olağanüstü gördüğü şeyleri yorumlayıp değerlendirebilir. Kuran’a tabi olan Müslümanların böyle durumlardaki yorumları ise her zaman Allah’tan bir hikmet ve hayra işaret görme yönündedir.

İNSANLARIN HAYATLARINDA BEKLENMEDİK ŞEYLERİ YA DA BAZI ÖZEL DURUMLARI HAYRA YORMALARI, BUNLARA GÜZEL BİR ANLAM YÜKLEMELERİ İSE ÖZELLİKLE ANADOLU’DA VE TÜRK TOPLUMUNDA ÇOK YAYGIN OLAN BİR DAVRANIŞTIR. Mesela gözü seğiren bir insan bunun misafir geleceğine işaret olduğunu düşünür, kulağı çınlayan bir insan birilerinin kendisi hakkında konuştuğuna inanır, avucu kaşınan bir insan ise yakında eline yüklü miktarda para geçeceğine dair bunun bir işaret olduğunu düşünür. Bir evin çatısında alakarga öterse o eve iyi ve güzel haber geleceğine inanılır. Ayağının altı kaşınan insanın ise yolculuğa çıkacağı düşünülür. Yolda omuzuna güvercin konduğunda bunun berekete işaret olduğunu, rüyasında beyaz atlı birisini gördüğünde bunun kısmet anlamına geldiğini, Kadir gecesinde doğunca kendisinin mübarek bir insan olduğunu düşünen milyonlarca insan vardır. Bu tavır şaşkınlıkla karşılanan bir durum olmadığı gibi, bazı haberlerde yer aldığı gibi “sapkınlık” da değildir. Karşılaşılan bir olayı hayra yormaktır, ki Allah’ın Müslümanlara Kuran’da tavsiye ettiği ahlak da budur.

Ayrıca, söz konusu haberlere konu olan olayların gerçekleşmiş olması da fiili bir durumdur. Gerçekten de 1999’daki 12 Kasım depremi tam da Sayın Adnan Oktar ve arkadaşları göz altına alınıp üzerlerine nezarethane kapısı kilitlenirken meydana gelmiştir. Bundan 20 yıl sonra İstanbul’da olan deprem ise Sayın Adnan Oktar ve arkadaşlarının Silivri’deki duruşma salonunda yargılanması sırasında gerçekleşmiştir ve depremin merkez üssü Silivri’dir. Bilindiği gibi o güne kadar Silivri'nin tarihinde hiç bu büyüklükte bir deprem olmamıştır. Deprem, Sayın Adnan Oktar’ın hayatında ilk defa orada bulunduğu bir zamanda, tam da duruşmanın yapıldığı dakikalarda ve son derece ilginç bir biçimde Mahkeme Heyeti'nin Sayın Başkanı, Sayın Adnan Oktar'ın ismini söylediği esnada gerçekleşmiştir.

Öyle ki bu durum farklı ideolojilerden birçok insanın da dikkatini çekmiş ve twitterda gündem olmuştur.

Yine benzer şekilde, Korona tedbirleri nedeniyle Sayın Adnan Oktar ve arkadaşlarımızın uzun süredir ertelenen duruşmalarına yeniden başlandığı geçtiğimiz 23 Haziran 2020 günü İstanbul ve Silivri'nin de büyük ölçüde etkilendiği yurt çapında olağanüstü bir sel, fırtına, dolu ve hortum olayları meydana gelmiştir. Aynı gün, 108.4 kg/m2 lik düşen toplam yağış miktarıyla İstanbul ilçeleri arasında Silivri birinci sırada yer almıştır. Silivri'ye en yakın ilçe ise bu rakamdan çok geride kalan 75.4 kg/m2 ile Kamiloba'dır.

Sayın Adnan Oktar ve arkadaşlarının uzun bir aradan sonra duruşmalarının başladığı 23 Haziran 2020 günü Silivri'ye düşen rekor yağış miktarı.

Her şeyden önce tüm bunlar ve benzeri felaketlerde maddi, manevi, fiziki zarar gören herkese Allah'tan acil yardım ve şifalar diliyor, hayatlarını kaybeden değerli vatandaşlarımızı rahmetle anmayı bir borç biliyoruz.

Resulullah Efendimiz (sav)'in hadisinde bildirdiği üzere, deprem ve benzeri felaketlerde yaşamlarını yitiren Müslüman kardeşlerimizin inşaAllah, Allah Katı'nda şehitler, yaralananların gaziler, kaybettikleri malların da sadaka hükmünde olduğunu bu vesileyle bir kere daha hatırlatmak istiyoruz.

Elbette ki hiçbir Müslüman, hiçbir inançlı ve vicdanlı insan bu tür felaketlerin, acıların gerçekleşmesini asla arzu etmez, gerçekleşince de bunlara sevinmez. Müslümanlar Allah'tan her zaman en hayırlı ve en güzel olanı niyaz ederler. Ancak dünyadaki imtihan ortamının bir gereği olarak Allah'ın pek çok hikmet üzere yarattığı felaketleri, belaları da tam bir sabır, tevekkül ve teslimiyet içinde, kader ve hikmet gözüyle değerlendirirler. Zahiren olmsuz gibi görünen bu olaylardaki hayır, hikmet ve işaretleri görürler.

Aynı şekilde samimi bir Müslüman arkadaş grubu olan camiamız da her türlü olayı olduğu gibi bu tür sıra dışı olayları da hep hayır ve hikmet gözüyle değerlendirmektedir. Hiçbir olayın asla tesadüf ve rastlantı eseri olmadığını, her şeyin tümüyle Allah'ın dilemesi ve emriyle yaratıldığını bildikleri için her olayda Allah'ın hikmet ve işaretlerini ararlar. Allah'ın yakın takibini görürler. En olumsuz gibi görünen olayları bile her zaman hayra yorarlar.

Tümüyle Kur'ani bir Müslüman tavrı olan bu bakış açısından, Adnan Bey’in şahsına Mehdilik, vb. uhrevi anlamlar yüklemek gibi gerçek dışı anlamlar çıkarmaya çalışmak tamamen art niyetli ve algı amaçlı kasıtlı bir çarpıtmadan başka bir şey değildir.

Adnan Oktar Bey’in hiçbir zaman kendisinde mucizevi, uhrevi veya gizemli özellikler olduğuna dair bir iddiası veya bir söylemi olmamıştır. Buna kendisinin yayınlarını izleyen milyonlarca insan da arkadaşları da yakinen şahittir. Sayın Adnan Oktar yaptığı canlı yayınlarda sayısız kereler kendisinin Allah’a layık olmaya çalışan sıradan bir kul olduğunu, hiçbir alimlik, hocalık, mürşidlk iddiasının olmadığını belki binlerce kez dile getirmiştir. Hatta, eserlerini beğenip seven kişilerin iyi niyetlerle kendisine “hoca” demelerine bile gerek olmadığını, kendisinin “hoca” veya “alim” olmadığını dahi birçok kez ifade etmiştir: Örneğin;

ADNAN OKTAR: “…Bana arkadaşlarımız Hocam falan diyorlar ağız alışkanlığıyla diyorlar, o bir lakap. BENİM HOCALIKLA FALAN ALAKAM YOK. ALİM DE DEĞİLİM, MÜCEDDİT, MÜÇTEHİT DE DEĞİLİM, MEHDİ HİÇ DEĞİLİM BUNUNLA İLGİLİ YEMİN DE ETTİM. Durup durup aynı şeyi söylemeye gerek yok. Türk milletinin herhangi bir ferdiyim. Samimi bir insanım, samimi bir Müslümanım o kadar başka bir özelliğim yok. Hoca diyen öyle ağız alışkanlığıyla der…” (A9 TV, 7 Şubat 2018)

Dolayısıyla, 2020’nin başından beri ardı arkası kesilmeyen felaketlerin olağanüstü bir durum olduğunu ifade etmek Sayın Adnan Oktar’a Mehdi iması yapmak anlamına gelmez. Bu, son derece taraflı, maksatlı, ön yargılı ve zorlama bir yorumdur. Düz ve samimi bir akılla bakıldığında ise son iki yıldır, özellikle de 2020’ye girdiğimiz andan itibaren ardı arkası kesilmeyen büyük olayların Allah’tan bir işaret olduğu görülür. Allah zaman zaman insanların Kendisine yönelmesini sağlamak, vicdanlarını açmak, iyiliğe davet etmek, güzel ahlaka yönlendirmek, haksızlıklara, zulümlere razı olmadığını göstermek için sıra dışı olaylar yaratabilir. Bir mümin sıra dışı bir durumla karşılaştığında, hiçbir şey olmamış gibi davranırsa asıl anormallik bu olur. Müminin yapması gereken her olayda “Allah burada bana ne gösteriyor, ne kastediyor, ne anlamamı istiyor” diye düşünmesi ve her neyle karşılaşırsa karşılaşsın onun hayır olduğunu bilmesidir.

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karlhabyalimana-blog · 4 years

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Esthetica blog

Mijn eerste uitstap: TheJoker. Ik heb The Joker gezien in Kinepolis Brussel. Recensie:Naast een meeslepend verhaal en een opmerkelijke acteerprestatie van Joaquin Phoenix kan je bij “Joker” ook genieten van de geweldige muziekkeuze, die naadloos bij de sfeer van elke scène past. Ook bij het prachtige beeldmateriaal, waarin Gotham City helemaal tot leven wordt gebracht als deprimerende metropool, kan je je ogen uitkijken. Het is een stad waar armoede en onrust heerst, een gitzwarte blik op onze hedendaagse maatschappij, en hiermee brengt “Joker” meteen ook een zeer actueel thema aan. Je hoeft dus geen superhelden-kenner of comicbook nerd te zijn om iets van de film te snappen, aan voorkennis heb je hierbij niet zo veel. “Joker” staat volledig op zichzelf en weet zowel de fanatieke geek als complete leek te bekoren. Mijn mening: Toen ik te horen kreeg dat de film 'The Joker' uitkwam. Was ik zeer enthousiast. Ik dacht dat het een echte actiefilm ging zijn. Nu dat ik de film heb bekeken vind ik het een aparte en leuke film. Je kijkt op een andere manier naar de film. Net zoals in de recensie vermeld werd is de muziek zeer rakend tijdens bepaalde scènes. Conclusie : ik zou een film in die genre nog eens willen zien,maar ik vind deze ook niet de beste films. Tweede uitstap: Museum Hôpital Notre-Dame à la Rose in Lessen. Webartikel:De originaliteit en het belang van de collecties van het Hospitaal liggen vervat in hun variatie en kwaliteit. Ze illustreren talrijke domeinen van de geschiedenis van kunst en wetenschappen. Bovendien zijn ze in situ gebleven, waardoor ze opnieuw de sfeer van weleer oproepen en tegelijk een eigen leven creëren voor dit oord waar de tijd schijnbaar stil is blijven staan. We kunnen heel wat banden aanwijzen tussen de vandaag tentoongestelde objecten en het dagelijks leven of de grote gebeurtenissen zoals de mannen en vrouwen die de geschiedenis van dit Hospitaal “gemaakt” en geschreven hebben, ze hebben beleefd.De kunstcollecties omvatten verscheidene duizenden objecten. We hebben het dan over gotische en renaissancemeubelen, maar ook over Naamse meubelen of lambriseringen uit de barok en Régence. De credenskasten en de koffer-banken vormen een uniek ensemble in België. Wat ik ervan vond: Ik heb veel geleerd bij deze uitstap. Niet alleen over de wetenschap van in die tijd, maar ook de kunst. Ik ben eerst en vooral niet zo een persoon die geïnteresseerd is in de kunst. En ik heb wel nagedacht over de kunstwerken die in het museum aanwezig waren. Achter de schilderijen schuilden steeds 2 visies, 1 die je letterlijk kon zien en de andere waarbij je over moest nadenken. Vb: 'De beweging van Christus met borsten.' Dit schilderij stelt Christus voor met borsten. Dergelijke uitbeeldingen van Christus als spirituele vader en moeder, verwijzen naar talrijke godsdienstige en mystieke geschriften, die Christus vrouwelijke en moederlijke trekken verlenen. Christus heeft zijn hand op de borst gelegd en hij schenkt op deze wijze “spirituele voeding” aan de zusters. Wat ik erachter zie is dat Christus gelijkheid wil voorstellen. Hij heeft de mensheid geschapen man en vrouw. En dat daarom iedereen gelijk is. Extra 1: Urugendo Part 2 twavamo omwe ntitwarya. Dit was een théâtre in les beaux arts in Brussel. Het is een théâtre gespeeld in het Kinyarwanda mijn moedertaal (Rwanda) . En het gaat over hoe we als familie en vrienden moeten samenspannen om ons doen te bereiken. Extra 2: Top Boy (Netflix-série) Deze serie is het vervolg van Summerhouse. Het zijn zeer bekende series waarin 'Drugs' de grootse hoofdrol speelt. Top boy speelt zich dan ook af in Summerhouse (London). Het gaat over een jonge kerel genaamd Jamie die succesvol wilt worden en daardoor terechtkomt in de drugswereld. Waarbij het probeert om de grootste drugshandelaar te worden. Na het bekijken van deze serie vroeg ik mij echt af hoe het in de realiteit aan toe gaat met de drugswereld in Antwerpen bijvoorbeeld. Extra 3: Kinyarwanda leren Ik heb onlangs besloten om mijn kennissen in het Kinyarwanda uit te breiden door cursussen te volgen. Ik zou graag de taal vloeiend willen leren spreken. Het zijn zeer leuke ervaringen dat ik meemaak om beter te worden in de taal.

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maximvandaele · 5 years

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Duinkerke en LAAC met de bus - een aanrader!

Veel mensen denken ten onrechte dat de enige manier om met het openbaar vervoer van Vlaanderen naar Frankrijk te gaan via Moeskroen - Lille Flandres is. Niets is minder waar. Bij het station van De Panne - Adinkerke is er een bushalte van DK’Bus, de busmaatschappij in Duinkerke en omstreken. Tot mijn verbazing zijn deze bussen volledig gratis! Elk uur rijden er twee van die bussen vanuit Adinkerke langs de Franse kustgemeentes Bray Dunes, Zuydcoote naar Leffrincoucke.

In Leffrincoucke kun je de overstap nemen met een bus die tot het station van Duinkerke rijdt. Ik had vandaag niets in het bijzonder te doen, dus besloot ik deze reis te ondernemen, met als bestemming het moderne kunstmuseum ‘Lieu d’Art et Action Contemporaine’ (LAAC). In totaal duurde de reis tussen mijn huis (in Torhout) en het LAAC in Duinkerke zo slechts twee uur. (Het is een afstand van 50 km). Onderweg kon ik mijn Frans wat oefenen in een kort gesprekje met een lokale buspassagier. Ook in het museum zelf hield ik even een praatje met een mevrouw drie daar werkte.

Hier volgt een korte beschrijving van het museum en de omstreken. Het museum heeft een beeldentuin.

Er zijn niet echt veel beelden te zien, maar ze zijn wel leuk, zoals deze gezellige kerel:

Of deze fantasierijke installatie die doet denken aan een veld vol gigantische klaprozen:

Dit is het LAAC zelf, gezien vanaf de beeldentuin. Ook de zee is al in zicht! Na vijf minuten stappen ben je er.

Het voelt net als een Belgisch strand aan, maar dan veel ruimer en breder. De zee en de wind en het zand zijn exact hetzelfde als elders, maar het is in Frankrijk!

Wegens een gebrek aan echte vrienden die vandaag meekonden heb ik voor een alternatief moeten zorgen. Nu, het LAAC is een klein museum, in een uur kun je het zeker volledig bezocht hebben. De twee hoogtepunten in de collectie waren volgens mij enerzijds de feestelijke installatie ‘Het Circus’ van Karel Appel:

En anderzijds heeft het werk ‘le Musée de Ben’ door Ben (eigenlijk: Ben Vautier) iets van een postmodern meesterwerk. Net zoals traditionele kunstenaars met verf kunst maakten, schildert Ben zijn werk met woorden op alledaagse objecten. Ben gaat uit van het principe ‘Alles is kunst’ en voert dit door tot de meest extreme versie, met ironische en vaak komische resultaten. Zijn werk is vergelijkbaar met de vroegere dada uit de jaren ‘20 en wordt tot de ‘Fluxus’-beweging gerekend.

‘Le musée de Ben’ bestaat uit deze zwarte kast, gevuld met een aantal voorwerpen, waarbij soms poëtische, soms ironische, soms cynische teksten hangen.

Hier zien we naast een ‘namaak’ Yves Klein-werk, een ‘totale kunstluciferdoosje’, dat kan gebruikt worden om ‘alle kunst - musea - kunstgalerijen’ te ‘vernietigen’.

Of wat dacht je van deze ‘mysterieuze voeding’, die vooral mysterieus is omdat Ben ‘het etiket verwijderd heeft’. Vlak ernaast zien we een golfbal die blijkbaar God zou bevatten - ‘God is overal, inclusief in deze bal’.

Is het een knop? Als het van Ben afhangt, is dit geen knop maar een ‘psychotactiel object’. Hoewel dit object van 1961 gedateerd is, kan je het zien als een soort ironische parodie op de toenemende invloed van het psychologisch en medisch taalgebruik op het taalgebruik in het dagelijkse leven. Maar Ben kan nog veel duidelijker provoceren dan dat:

Hier zien we een scheermesje vergezeld van het opschrift: ‘de dood is kunst, pleeg zelfmoord’. Met dit stuk uit Bens ‘museum’ maakt hij terechte kanttekeningen bij de notie dat alles kunst is - want als alles kunst is, is de dood dan ook kunst (laat staan de zelfmoord)? Op frappante wijze tast Ben de grenzen af van deze overtuiging die tegenwoordig bon ton is in de hedendaagse kunstgalerijen.

Vooral de manier waarop Ben met taal speelt om het publiek te doen nadenken vind ik knap, zeker in een tijd waarin mensen vooral verward en eerder minder dan meer wijs uit het museum stappen. We mogen het woord niet verbannen uit de moderne kunst!

Na mijn museumbezoek geraakte ik weer met de DK’Bus vlot weer in België, en nam ik vervolgens de trein van De Panne naar Lichtervelde, en vervolgens de trein richting Brugge om in Torhout af te stappen. In Vlaanderen zou men soms durven vergeten dat de wereld niet stopt voorbij de Westhoek. Deze rit is zeker een aanrader, Duinkerke is een mooie en ondergewaardeerde stad!

En tant qu’exercice de français, et afin de maîtriser encore mieux la langue, j’ai rédigé une traduction française de cet article avec l’aide de Google Translate.

Il y a beaucoup de gens qui pensent à tort que la seule manière d'aller de Flandre en France par les transports en commun, c'est via Mouscron - Lille Flandres. Ce n'est absolumment pas le cas. Chez la gare de La Panne - Adinkerke, il y a un arrêt de bus de DK'Bus, la compagnie de bus de Dunkerque et ses environs. À ma grande surprise, ces bus sont complètement gratuits! Chaque heure, il y en a deux qui passent d'Adinkerke à Bray Dunes et Zuydcoote à Leffrincoucke.

À Leffrincoucke, c'est possible de descendre du bus et prendre un autre qui passe à la gare de Dunkerque. Aujourd'hui, je n'avais pas de grand chose à faire, donc j'ai décide de faire ce voyage, avec destination le musée des arts modernes ‘Lieu d’Art et Action Contemporaine’ (LAAC) Au total, le voyage entre ma maison (à Torhout) et le LAAC ne durait que deux heures. (C'est une distance de 50 km). Sur le chemin, je pourrais pratiquer mon Français en entretenant une courte conversation avec un passagère d'autobus locale. Aussi dans le musée, j'ai bavardé avec une dame qui y travaillait.

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Voici une brève description du musée et de ses environs. Le musée possède un jardin des sculptures.

Il n y en a pas vraiment beaucoup à voir, mais elles sont en effet bonnes, comme ce mec particulier:

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Ou cette installation imaginative qui rappelle un champ plein de coquelicots géants:

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Voilà le LAAC, vu du jardin de sculpture. La mer est également visible! Après cinq minutes d'aller à pied, on y arrive.

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On se croirait dans une plage belge, mais plus spacieux et plus large. La mer et le vent le sable sont exactement comme aillers, mais ici c'est en France!

À cause du manque de vrais amis qui pourraient m'accompagner aujourd'hui, j'ai dû proposer une alternative. Donc, le LAAC est un petit musée, on peut certainement l'avoir visité tout en une heure (mais moi j'ai pris deux heures). Les deux faits saillants de la collection étaient, selon moi, d'une part, l'installation festive 'Het Circus' (Le Cirque) de Karel Appel:

Et d'autre part, l'œuvre 'le Musée de Ben' de Ben (actuellement: Ben Vautier) quelque chose d'un chef-d'œuvre postmoderne. Comme les artistes traditionels font de l'art avec de la peinture, Ben peint ses œuvres en peignant avec des mots sur des objets du quotidien. Ben part du principe que 'Tout est art' et met en œuvre cela à la version la plus extrême, avec des résultats ironiques et souvent comiques. Son travail est comparable à celui de dada des années 1920 et il est considerée comme faisant partie du mouvement 'Fluxus'.

'Le Musée de Ben' consiste de cette armoire noire, rempli d'un certain nombre d'objets, chez lesquelles on voit des textes parfois poétiques, parfois ironiques, parfois cyniques.

À côté d'une œuvre 'faux Klein', on voit une 'boîte d'allummettes totale d'art', qui sert à 'détruire tout l'art - musées - galeries d'art'.

Ou que trouviez-vous de cet 'aliment mystérieux', qui est surtout mystérieux parcue Ben a 'enlevé l'étiquette'. Juste à côté, on voit une balle de golf, qui contiendrait Dieu car 'Dieu est partout, y compris dans cette balle'.

Ceci n'est pas un bouton. Si cela dépend de Ben, ceci n'est pas un bouton mais un 'object psychotactile'. Bien que ce object soit daté de 1961, on pourrait le voir comme une espèce de parodie ironique sur l'influence croissante du langage psychologique et médical sur notre langage familier. Mais Ben sait provoquer encore plus clairement que cela:

Voici une lame de rasoir accompagnée de l'inscription: 'la mort est art, suicidez-vous'. Avec cet œuvre du 'musée' de Ben, il critique à juste titre la notion que tout est art - parce que, si tout est art, est-ce que la mort est elle aussi art (encore moins le suicide)? Ben explore d'une manière frappante les limites de cette conviction aujourd'hui banale dans les galeries d'art contemporain.

J'aime particulièrement la façon dont Ben joue avec le langage pour faire réfléchir le public, certainement à une époque où les gens sont principalement confus et moins avisés en sortant le musée. Nous ne pouvons pas bannir le mot de l'art moderne!

Après ma visite au musée, je suis rapidement rentré en Belgique avec le DK'Bus, puis j'ai pris le train de La Panne à Lichtervelde, et alors le train à Bruges afin de descendre à Torhout (et y écrire cet article). En Flandres, on oublierait parfois que le monde ne s'arrête pas au-dèla la région Westhoek. Ce voyage est vraiment à recommander, Dunkerque est une belle ville sous-évalué!

#Duinkerke #Dunkerque #Adinkerke #DKBus #De Panne #voyages #LAAC #art moderne #Ben #Ben Vautier

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diekerel · 1 year

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Just realised I didn't post this one. Enjoy some Kerel Lore.

#twewy #the world ends with you #kerel art #meme #megumi kitaniji #koki kariya #sanae hanekoma

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schotsenscheef · 7 years

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De week van 29 mei: beers, pizza and Heleen <3

Ik was deze blogtekst eigenlijk gisterennacht al aan het typen, maar na echt massa’s typwerk besloot mijn browser dat het een goed moment was om even te crashen. Ik heb zelfs nog zeer nerdig geprobeerd nog wat tekst terug te winnen door een programma te installeren en mijn RAM-geheugen te doorzoeken, helaas zonder resultaat. Vanaf nu ga ik dus braaf eerst in Word typen.

Ik moet toch even goed nadenken wat er in die week allemaal gebeurd is, want het was een drukke en leuke week. Eerst nog even vertellen dat het gezin hier hondjes in huis heeft genomen. Ik weet niet meer welk ras, maar het zijn kleine schattige volwassen hondjes die graag knuffelen en niet al te vaak blaffen. Enige ambetante: ze heten Bailey en Bella. Wat op zijn Schots uitgesproken al best hard op elkaar lijkt. Dan moet ge nog in gedachte houden dan 1 der dochters Hayleigh heet, en ze mijn naam een beetje uitspreken als Nailey/Nayleigh. Ge kunt begrijpen dat er soms verwarring is of er op mij, de dochter of de hond wordt geroepen.

De week van 29 mei was de laatste week voor de Glasgow en Edinburgh studenten, dus besloten we nog eens op café te gaan. Ook Marlies ging mee om nog wat te socialiseren. Ik heb mijn kennis over Schotse bieren wat verruimd, maar de meeste gewone ‘pintjes’ zijn hier niet zo geweldig. De Stella die ze hier verkopen is eigenlijk niet beter, dus ik ga gewoon Schotse bieren blijven proberen. Er zijn er behoorlijk veel eigenlijk! Ik heb de indruk dat IPA hier wel vrij populair is, wat languit Indian Pale Ale betekent. Wikipedia leert me dat IPA voor het eerst werd gebrouwen in Engeland, dus dat verklaart de populariteit wel deels. Daarnaast zijn het meestal gewoon ook smakelijke biertjes. Anyways: we bezochten een paar bars. De ‘pints’ zijn hier standaard halve liters, dus dat is wel wat opletten wanneer ge u hebt voorgenomen om ‘niet te veel’ pinten te drinken ;-).

Luke en ik sloten de avond nog af met een pizza. Het duurde alleen heeeeeel lang eer we besloten wat we op onze pizza wouden, want we gingen er 1tje delen en onze smaken verschilden toch wat. Uiteindelijk werd het pizza funghi/tikka masala. Tikka masala is over het algemeen belachelijk populair hier. DE BESTE PIZZA OOIT, echt waar. Zalig gebakken bodem, perfecte korst, dikke laag kees, heerlijke combinatie van toppings, groot en enorm zwaar (als in ‘zwaar op de maag’, maar ook gewoon als in ‘zwaar in gewicht’). Met pizza in de hand wandelden we van Falkirk terug naar huis. Stevige wandeling zo laat op de avond, maar dan werd die pizza toch al een beetje weer verbrand ;D. De volgende ochtend zag iedereen er een beetje minder fris uit, maar we hadden teaching ingepland (als ik het mij goed herinner) en dat was wel chill. ‘s Avonds kwam Luke me thuis nog een bezoekje brengen om piano te spelen, Ben & Jerry’s te eten en gewoon nog een babbeltje te doen omdat het zijn laatste avond was. Alweer een toffe avond seg.

Ondertussen had Heleen ook besloten om last-minute een vlucht te boeken naar Glasgow om me te komen bezoeken, HOERA! Perfecte moment om eindelijk eens Loch Lomond te bezoeken, want anders moest ik er alleen naar toe (Marlies had het loch al bezocht toen moeder en vader mij kwamen bezoeken). Heleen kwam zaterdagmiddag aan, dus ik had de trein naar Glasgow genomen. Toen ik het station uitkwam wachtte mij al een leuke verrassing, want om de hoek verscheen een grote massa mensen. Blijkbaar was er een Independence March aan de gang, want de meeste Schotten zijn Engeland kotsbeu. BOE ENGELAND. Er waren een vijftienduizend-tal mensen opgedaagd in kilten, met doedelzakken, met eenhoorns, met Schotse vlaggen... Het gaf me kippenvel en een lach op mijn gezicht. JA, BLIJF IN DE EU, SCHOTLAND!

Heleen arriveerde aan het station en we gingen naar het visitor information centre (wat ik ondertussen maar al te goed wist liggen ;D), gevolgd door een trappenklim in the lighthouse om een uitzicht over de stad te hebben. We waren gepakt en gezakt om te gaan kamperen aan Loch Lomond, dus dat was wel niet zo praktisch met al ons gerief. Om rugpijn e.d. te vermijden, gingen we eens kijken in het station wat de prijzen waren om onze bagage daar achter te laten. Er werd onderscheid gemaakt tussen small/medium and large luggage. De kerel achter de balie keek naar onze kabassen en zei tegen onze verwachtingen in dat hij het ALLEMAAL SAMEN wel in een medium locker kon krijgen. Dat wil zeggen: 1 gewone rugzak, 1 trekkersrugzak, 1 slaapzak, 1 matje, 1 tent. Ik vraag me af wat ze hier zien als large luggage, maar hé, wij waren content want we konden voor een klein prijsje op het gemak Glasgow doorkruisen. AHJA misschien even de tent uitleggen: we hadden geen zin om dure accommodatie te betalen aan het loch, en ik had goedkope tenten in de supermarkt gezien (gotta love Asda). Dus ik kocht een tent (15 quid), een slaapzak (10 quid) en een matje (4 quid) voor maar NEGENENTWINTIG QUID EH (quid = pound = pond)! Ik ga er geen plaats voor hebben in mijn valies, maar dan nog is het een mooie deal.

We bezochten Kelvingrove art gallery & museum, alweer een gratis museum. Echt gigantisch groot en divers. Ik denk dat ge er niet alleen een hele dag kunt spenderen, maar dat ge u ook nog eens een hele dag kunt amuseren daar. Beetje interactief en verdwaalbaar veel ruimtes. We hadden niet zo veel tijd, dus we zijn snel door de interessantste kamers gewandeld. We vervolgden onze tocht naar de University of Glasgow waar het Hunterian Museum ligt. Ik was er ook al geweest met mama en papa, maar toen hadden we niet veel tijd en het is zeker voor medische studenten een cool museum. Het is een vrij klein museum, wat het net zo aangenaam maakt. Overzichtelijk, niet te veel saaie ‘pottekes vanuit een of ander land uit een of andere tijd’, en een uitgebreidere medische sectie. Placenta in een pot, afwijkend foetushartje, oude instrumenten, oude operatietafel, opgezette siamese dier-tweelingen... De universiteit zelf is ook echt een pareltje. Ge treedt binnen, gaat wat trappen omhoog, en komt dan uit op een binnenkoer met grasvelden, dat dus eigenlijk op een dak is gebouwd. Crazy. Tussen de grasvelden staat dan een soort kerkachtige structuur op een ‘underpass’, waarin zich het museum bevindt. Moeilijk uit te leggen, maar het is gewoon cool.

EINDELIJK kon ik naar de Tim Hortons gaan want de eerste Europese Timmies had de dag voordien zijn deuren geopend in Glasgow. Ik ging voor het meest Canadese dat ik kon bestellen: een double double en Timbits. Double double slaat op ‘2 suikerkes, 2 melkskes’ en timbits zijn donutachtige balletjes. Heleen ging voor een iced capp supreme met oreo, zeker een aanrader (moest er ooit een Timmies openen in België. Binnen een jaar of 5 ofzo). We wandelden nog wat random rond door de straten en in parken, en waagden ons voor de verandering aan de Maleisische keuken, nom. Het kan niet elke dag fis hand chips of Indisch zijn. Toen de buiken goed gevuld waren, was het alweer half 10 en moesten we dringend naar het station gezien de luggage-dienst sloot om 22u. We kwamen ruim op tijd aan in het station, maar de luggage-dienst was tot onze verbazing al gesloten. PANIIIEEEKKKK, PURE PANIIEEEKKK. Haha, nee, wij zijn 2 chille mensen en wisten dat de vriendelijke mensjes in Schotland wel iets zouden fixen. Dus een meneertje kwam al snel met de sleutel om onze baggage te bevrijden uit de locker. Blijkbaar was er gewoon wat miscommunicatie (of eerder geen-communicatie) want ze hadden ons niet meegedeeld dat de dienst sloot om HALF 10 ipv 10 uur (zoals op het info-bordje stond). Achjaaa, we hadden onze baggage terug en namen een trein naar Balloch, wat helemaal beneden aan Loch Lomond ligt. Het was al donker toen we arriveerden, wat het wel wat lastig maakte om een goede tent-plek te vinden. Na een uurtje (pure gok) wandelen door het donker kwamen we eindelijk bij een ideale plaats: op het strand aan het Loch. Ik denk dat het nooit écht pikkedonker wordt in Schotland, wat ons nu wel goed uitkwam. ’s Ochtends ontwaken aan het Loch heeft absoluut zijn charmes. Amai!

We wandelden in de voormiddag naar Luss, een suuuuperklein schattig dorpje aan het loch, zo’n 13km ten noorden van Balloch. We hadden de nacht ervoor natuurlijk al een stukje in de juiste richting gewandeld ;-). Helaas lag niet zoooo veel van de route echt langs het loch, maar op de eindbestemming konden we natuurlijk nog genoeg van het meer genieten. Aangekomen was het eerst dringend tijd om eten te kopen, want we hadden eigenlijk ook nog niet echt ontbeten. Er was 1 supermarktje in Luss, dus veel keus was er niet. Scottish rolls met hummus dan maar. Schotland zou Schotland niet zijn, als er niet af en toe een stortbui uit de lucht valt, en natuurlijk moest dat tijdens onze lunch gebeuren. We vonden een schuilplaats(je) in een houten speelhuisje in een speeltuin. Krap, maar droog. Superkrap. Toen het weer wat opgeklaard was, gingen we liggen aan strand. We palmden met ons tweetjes een klein ‘eilandje’ in dat bereikbaar was via dikke takken die het eilandje verbonden met het vaste land. AVONTUURLIJK HOOR. Omdat ze slecht weer voorspelden, besloten we een dagje vroeger dan gepland terug naar mijn thuis te keren. We dachten er aan om de ferry terug te nemen naar Balloch, maar die was ons toch wat te duur. Dus het werd een gewone bus, en dan nog met de trein naar Galsgow, frietjes eten in de blue lagoon (een frietketen) (dé blue lagoon waar Justin Bieber ooit blijkbaar een frietje heeft gestoken OMGGG), stoppen bij Timmies (deze keer bestelden we elkaars drankje van de vorige keer. Ik had een kleine iced capp besteld, en de persoon voor mij een medium. Maar die persoon wou geen slagroom erop en dus kreeg ik hare medium, HOERA upgrade naar een maat groter), dan de trein naar Larbert en met de beentjes naar Stenhousemuir. Een goed slaapje, en dan de volgende dag Falkirk verkennen. Ik had de maandag vrijaf genomen omdat Heleen dinsdag pas terug naar huis ging. Marie had nog een fiets waarvan we de ketting even moesten opleggen en de banden moesten oppompen, en dan kon onze fietstocht beginnen. We gingen naar het Falkirk wheel (dat rad dat boten naar een hoger kanaal brengt) en the Kelpies (die gigantische paardenhoofden). Dan wat rondhangen in het Helix park, en stiekem ook een beetje spelen in de speeltuin daar. Daar zijn we nooit te oud voor, toch? Eentje drinken in Falkirk centrum en Heleen overtuigen van de goedheid van de pizza die ik eerder die week had gegeten met Luke. De kerel achter de toog herkende me nog van enkele dagen geleden en verzekerde me ervan dat ik aaallllee tijd van de wereld mocht nemen om een keuze te maken. Elk een pizza bestellen was uiteindelijk echt te veel, want we kregen er met ons tweetjes maar 1 op. Schandalig zwaar, maar we hadden wel nog een lekkere lunch voor de dag nadien ;-).

Dinsdag moest Heleen vroeg vertrekken naar de luchthaven. Marie was zo lief om haar aan het treinstation te droppen, en heeft mij dan ook meteen aan het ziekenhuis afgezet. HANDEEUG. Verder was het nog een korte werkweek (pas op, ik ben nu wel al bezig over de week van 5 juni, dus ziet dat ge niet in verwarring raakt) voor mij, want vrijdag had ik ook vrijaf om een ander leuk weekend te doen. Dus 3 dagen werken, chilll. 1 van die dagen ging ik mee met de ‘community midwives’ (vroedvrouwen) op huisbezoeken. Verse mama’s mogen hier 6u na hun bevalling het ziekenhuis al verlaten met hunne kleine, maar ze krijgen de eerste dagen nadien wel dagelijks een huisbezoek, en vervolgens om de 2 dagen enzovoort. Ze worden dus niet aan hun lot overgelaten. Ik arriveerde mooi om 8u50 zoals me verteld was, maar de midwife zei dat ik om 10u mocht terugkomen. M.a.w. nog een koffietje in de zon gedronken, wat altijd welkom is.

Tegen 15u kon ik alweer naar huis, dus het was écht een rustige week. Ik heb ergens die week ook nog een film gekeken met de familie hier thuis, wat ook wel gezellig was. Een film over een hond, waardoor de hondjes hier in het begin wel wat argwanend blaften naar de tv. Good thing they’re so cute.

Noouuu, dit zal wel weer genoeg leesvoer zijn voor jullie. Foto’s volgen ooit, en binnenkort ook een tekstje over het voorbije weekend (wat wil zeggen dat ik bijna ben bijgebeend, yes!). Ik heb ook gemerkt dat ik - zelfs wanneer ik deze blog schrijf - mijn zinnen vaak eerst in het Engels denk. Maar de blog int Engels schrijven, dat zal ik jullie maar niet aandoen zeker? ;D

xoxoxo

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neiyigelirportali-blog · 5 years

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Cinsel perhiz ve tüp bebek başarısı

Art arda yaşanan başarısız tüp bebek denemeleri çiftleri maddi – manevi zor durumda bırakıyor. Kadın Hastalıkları ve Doğum Uzmanı Doç. Dr. Emre G. Pabuçcu, son yıllarda özellikle teknolojik gelişmeler ile gebelik başarısında ciddi artış olduğuna dikkat çekiyor.

Gebelik arzulayan bazı çiftlerin, tekrarlayan kereler tüp bebek tedavisi görmelerine rağmen gebelik elde edemiyor oluşu ve ardı ardına alınan olumsuz sonuçlar tüp bebek tedavilerinde bebek sahibi olma hayali kuran çiftleri ve merkezleri yeni yöntemler keşfetmeye davet ediyor.

Tüp bebek denemeleri devamlı başarısız ise

Daha önce tekrarlanan tüp bebek sahibi olma denemelerine rağmen gebelik elde edemeyen çiftler için Centrum Clinic Kadın Sağlığı ve Tüp Bebek Merkezi Kadın Hastalıkları ve Doğum Uzmanı Doç. Dr. Emre G. Pabuççu önemli açıklamalarda bulundu: “Bu durumun birçok sebebi olabilir. En önemli faktörlerden biri, elde edilmiş embriyoların kalitesi. Kaliteli embriyonun tutunma olasılığı daha fazla. Kaliteye de etki eden en önemli faktör kadın yaşı ve sperm durumudur. İki ve daha fazla denemede, iyi kalite embriyo elde edilemedi ise ve yaş sorunumuz yok ise sperme yönelmek gerekir. Başarı elde edebilme noktasında en iyi spermi seçmek son derece önem taşıyor.”

Genetiği hasarlı spermler ayıklanmalı

En iyi sperm seçimi özel bir takım büyütme yöntemleri ile seçilebiliyor. Aynı zamanda özel akışkanlar kullanılarak doğala en yakın spermler seçilebilir. Özellikle genetiği hasarlı spermleri ayıklamak çok önemli. Bunun için en az 3 ay düzenli ilaç kullanılması gerekebilir ancak bizim de üzerine çalıştığımız ve 2017 yılında Avrupa Üreme Kongresi’nde sunumunu yaptığımız bir yöntem var: Yumurtaları döllemek için kullanılacak olan spermleri klasik cinsel perhiz süresi ile değil de çok kısa perhiz süresi sonunda almak. Böylece, beklemiş ve DNA’sı hasarlı spermler yerine geriden gelen dinamik spermleri kullanıyoruz. Sonuçta da, daha iyi döllenme ortaya çıkıyor. Bu da gebe kalma oranını büyük bir oranda olumlu etkiliyor.

Kaliteli embriyo sağlıklı gebelik şansını artırıyor

Bu yöntem ile DNA’ları daha sağlıklı spermlerin işleme alınması mümkün oluyor. Döllenme iyi olunca iyi kalite embriyo oranında artma izleniyor. Zaten iyi kalite embriyo var ise, sağlıklı gebelik şansımız da artıyor. Bu yöntemi özellikle sperm DNA hasarı olan ve ikiden fazla denemede iyi kalite embriyo verilememiş veya verilmiş ancak tutunma olmamış olgulara öneriyoruz. Çiftlere de ek maliyeti yok. Herhangi bir işlem yapılmıyor.

Cinsel perhiz ve tüp bebek başarısı

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captaingardening100-blog · 5 years

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Weekend in Prague: The Best Things To Do in Prague in 3 Days

New Post has been published on https://gardenguideto.com/awesome/weekend-in-prague-the-best-things-to-do-in-prague-in-3-days/

Weekend in Prague: The Best Things To Do in Prague in 3 Days

Original content owned& copyrighted by Green Global Travel.

We commonly don’t like cities much. They’re generally mobbed by overtourism, congested with traffic, and homogenized by the rise of globalization.

To get the feel of the soul of a destination, you really need to get outside the major cities, assure the area’s natural beauty, and connect with local communities.

Still, we couldn’t travel to the Czech Republic and not visit Prague, the culture heart of Bohemian central Europe. After all, the capital city’s history includes the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque eras, and the entire Historic Centre of Prague is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site.

So when we found out that ThinkPrague offers fully customized Prague tours with your own private local guide, we jumped at the opportunity to explore the best things to do in Prague.

Unfortunately, after spending five days at the TBEX meeting in Ostrava and another four traveling around the South Bohemia region, we only had one day left to see the city’s highlights.

If we were to do it again, we’d definitely expend a whole weekend in Prague, allowing us more time to explore some of our favorite attractions( such as the Prague Castle exhibitions and St. Vitus Cathedral) in-depth.

But our guidebook, Ales Pitin, seemed to relish the challenges facing dedicating us a condensed look at where to go and what to do in Prague. Based on our interest in ecotourism, history, and culture, he put together an amazing Prague walking tour that encompassed dozens of impressive attractions.

What follows is a detailed itinerary for ensure the best of Prague in 3 days. It takes in most of the city’s most important attractions, yet allows plenty of hour for touring the individual gardens, churches, and other historic sites you’ll assure along the way.

READ MORE: The 50 Best Travel Shoes for Walking Tours

Prague Tourist Map Petrin Hill Hradcany District Mala Strana& Old Town Prague

PRAGUE TOURIST MAP

iframe> DAY 1: PETRIN HILL

Located at altitudes of 1,073 feet smack dab in the center of the city, Petrin Hill is a great place to begin your weekend in Prague. Easily the city’s largest green space, Petrin is covered in parks, and offers exceptional the opinion of the Mala Strana, Prague Castle, and the Vltava River.

The historic hill, which was named after its abundance of marlstone rocks( petrus is Latin for boulders ), has been important to locals since the mid-1 300 s.

That’s when a Medieval defense wall- known as the Hunger Wall because it chores for the poor during a famine- was ordered to be built on Petrin Hill by King Charles IV.

Petrin featured prominently in writer Franz Kafka’s early short story,” Description of a Struggle ,” and was mentioned in the Milan Kundera novel The Unbearable Lightness of Being.

Now spending a day on Petrin Hill easily ranks among the best things to do in Prague. It’s a beloved recreation area for locals, as well as a popular Prague tourist attraction. Here’s an overview of the many things there are to see and do on Petrin Hill during your Prague vacation.

READ MORE: The Tallest Mountain in the World( World Travel Bucket List )

Memorial to the Victims of Communism

If you merely spend a few days in Prague before heading off to another country, you might not realize that the Czech Republic was under a fairly brutal communist regulation from 1948 to 1989.

Located at the base of Petrin Hill in Old Town Prague, the Memorial to the Victims of Communism pays tribute to the political prisoner who became victims of the oppressive regime. Created by Czech sculptor Olbram Zoubek and designers Jan Kerel and Zdenek Holzel, the public art piece was unveiled in 2002.

The installation is striking, to say the least, featuring seven bronze statues descending a flight of stairs. The further away the figures are, the more decaying their bodies appear, with missing legs and bodies broken open to represent the impact communism had on Czech people.

You’ll pass the memorial en route to the Petrin Funicular, but it’s worth stopping to ensure. Don’t miss the harrowing stats on the bronze strip that runs down the center.

It says that there were 205,486 people apprehended, 170,938 forced into exile, 4,500 who died in prison, 327 shooting trying to escape, and 248 executed during the era of” totalitarian despotism .”

READ MORE: Rwanda History at the Kigali Genocide Memorial

Petrin Funicular Railway

If your sightseeing in Prague includes a visit to Petrin Hill, as it should, taking the Petrin Funicular Railway( a.k.a. the Prague Funicular) to the top is an absolute must. It’s fast, affordable, easier than climbing all the way up a 30 o incline, and also offers a stellar scenic position of Old Town Prague.

The funicular opened in 1891, and was originally shorter and powered by water balance propulsion. It shut at the start of WWI in 1914, then reopened after redevelopments in 1932.

Service was suspended again in 1965 after a landslide on Petrin Hill, opening with new vehicles, an electric motor, and a new track in 1985.

Today the railway has three stops, but most people get on at the Ujezd station at the bottom of the hill, which is in the Mala Strana district. It operates from 9AM to around 11:30 PM, with departures leaving every 15 minutes or so. Tickets cost the same as the Prague tram- 26 CZK( about $1.14 ).

Be aware that there may be long lines on the weekend when the weather is warm, as Prague locals love spending the day on Petrin Hill with friends and family. If you do the same, consider packing your lunch, as it’s an excellent place for a picnic!

READ MORE: The 40 Best Backpacks for Travelers

Petrin Park( a.k.a. Petrin Gardens)

Much of Petrin Hill has been divided up into beautifully landscaped gardens, many of which have been cultivated for nearly 200 years. The largest( Kinsky Garden) is outside the Hunger Wall, while the oldest( Lobkowicz Garden) is part of the German embassy and not open to visitors.

Of the Petrin gardens you are able to explore, the 8-hectare Nebozizek Garden is the biggest, spreading from the foot of Petrin Hill to the upper funicular station. Originally an orchard, it was modified into a garden and opened for public use in 1842. In addition to being able to a gorgeous array of flowers, the garden is home to sculptured monuments to famous Czechs such as composer Vitezslav Novak.

Built in 1836, the park around the Petrin Tower encompasses about 2.5 hectares on the plateau of Petrin Hill. It was modified from 1933 to 1937 and connected with the Seminary Garden, which was formerly the garden of the White Friars from the Church of Our Lady of Victory. You can see a bronze monument to renowned Czech writer Jan Neruda there.

The newest garden in Petrin Park is the Rose Garden, which incorporates about 5.6 hectares on top of Petrin Hill. It replaced what used to be military land in 1934, and includes three segments as well as sculptures by Czech artist Ladislav Saloun. There’s also a beautiful garden filled with thousands of perennials and bulb flowers.

Collectively, this oasis of fabulous flora was definitely among our favorite Prague highlights.

READ MORE: What is Permaculture Gardening?( Intro to Design& Principles )

Petrin Tower

The Petrin Tower is a historical Prague landmark that can be seen from virtually any part of the city. Especially at night, when its resemblance to the illuminated Eiffel Tower really makes it stand out.

Also commonly known as the Petrin Observation Tower or the Petrin Lookout Tower, the 208 -foot-tall steel frame attraction was built in 1891 for the General Land Centennial Exhibition. Its design was directly inspired by Eiffel’s, which members of a local Czech travel club had find at the 1889 World Expo in Paris.

Unlike its French equivalent, the Petrinska rozhledna( as it is known in the Czech language) has an octagonal cross-section.

Under its legs is the entrance hall, where guests can pay 50 CZK ($ 2.20) to climb the 299 steps up to two observation platforms. There’s also an elevator to the top that costs around 50 C/ more, but it was broken when we visited.

The views of the city from the top are spectacular, but be aware that this is one of Prague’s most popular tourist attractions. Lines can get long, but there’s a small exhibition area you are able to check out while you wait, as well as a a small gift shop and cafeteria on the main level.

READ MORE: Weird Foods the French Consider Delicacies

Cathedral of St Lawrence

Located right next to the Petrin Lookout Tower and the Hunger Wall, the Cathedral of St Lawrence served as the Czech Republic’s primary church of the Old Catholic faith for centuries.

Local legend holds that the church( which is known as Kostel sv. Vavrince in the Czech language) was built sometime in the 10 th century on a hilltop site once held sacred by pagan Slavs. The earliest written information of the church dates back to 1135 and is attributed to Duke Sobeslav I.

The St Lawrence church was originally built on a Romanesque style, and the walls of that single-nave build remain intact today. Prominent designer Killian Ignaz Dientzenhofer( who also worked on St. Loreto Church in Hradcany and St. Nicholas Church on Prague’s Old Town Square) rebuilt and expanded the church in the Baroque style in the early 1700 s.

Noteworthy features on the exterior of the cathedral include statues of the Holy Trinity, St Adalbert, St John of Nepomuk, and St Mary Magdalene.

On the inside of the cathedral you’ll find a paint of St. Lawrence’s martyrdom by Jean Claude Monnot. And next to the church is a Calvary chapel built in the 1730 s, which has a gorgeous sgraffito etching of Christ’s resurrection.

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Mirror Maze

With its Disney-style castle exterior and wacky dorm of mirrors on the inside, this is arguably one of the most fun things to do in Prague with kids. The entrance fee is 90 CZK ($ 4) per person, or 250 CZK( around $11) for the whole family.

Known locally as the Zrcadlove bludiste Petrin, the Mirror Maze was built around the same hour as the Petrin Tower for the Czech Tourists Club pavilion at the Prague Jubilee exhibition of 1891. It was originally installed at a different location, then moved to Petrin Hill two years later.

Designed by Czech architect Antonin Wiehl( a leading figure in the country’s neo-Renaissance in the late 19 th century ), the building was inspired by a similar tourist attraction in Vienna. In addition to the main labyrinth, the Prague Mirror Maze includes 14 different convex and concave mirrors, which were added later. We had a fun day insuring ourselves stretched and squatted by the illusion.

For history lovers, the highlighting of the attraction is a huge diorama at the end. It features an 80 -square-meter painting that illustrates that combat between Prague locals and invading Swedes on the famous Charles Bridge in 1648.

Painted by friends Adolf and Karel Liebscher in simply 50 days, the diorama offers an epic glimpse of how the left bank of the Vltava River seemed in the 17 th century.

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DAY 2: HRADCANY DISTRICT

The Hradcany district( a.k.a. the Castle District ), is the area that surrounds Prague Castle.

Because of this proximity, different districts is dominated by spectacular scenery and noble palaces of historical importance. Many of these are now part of Prague’s National Gallery collection of art exhibition halls.

Our guide included numerous Hradcany attractions in our Prague walking tour, as we attained our route down the Strahovska from Petrin Hill and stimulated our way towards the castle.

If you have a full 3-day weekend in Prague, you might have time to explore different districts at the end of your day on Petrin Hill. But in view of the diversity of Petrin attractions, we recommend touring the Hradcany district in the early morning, then spending the rest of the day visiting the castle complex.

The Church of Our Lady of Loreto

This stunning church, which was designed by Italian architect Giovanni Orsi and financed by local noblewoman Katerina Benigna, dates back to 1626.

The original church was surrounded by cloisters in the late 1600 s, with K.I. Dientzenhofer adding an upper level and a baroque facade in the early 18 th century.

The church has since become a popular pilgrimage destination for Christians from from all over the world. It’s easy to see why only from looking at the cathedral’s exterior, which boasts gleaming green and gold steeples, dozens of statues, and the famous clocktower.

It’s the latter feature for which the church is arguably most famous. The clock was constructed in 1694 by watchmaker Peter Neumann, with thirty bells of differing sizings. Its melodious chime can be heard throughout the Hradcany district every hour.

Touring the Loreto Church is amazingly pricy- admission is 150 CZK( virtually$ 7) for adults, or 310 CZK( virtually $14) for families. But it does home an impressive collect of liturgical tools, and you can often see intriguing exhibitions on the first floor of the cloister.

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Schwarzenberg Palace

Although currently closed to the public for renovations, Schwarzenberg Palace is one of the most beautiful early Renaissance-style palaces in Prague.

Located around the corner from Prague Castle in Hradcanske Square, the striking t-shaped mansion was developed for wealthy Bohemian nobleman Jan Popel of Lobkowicz. Construction of the main build lasted from 1545 to 1567, while the west wing was finished several years later.

The most distinctive characteristics of Schwarzenberg Palace is the black-on-white sgraffito( a method of etching that exposes color underneath) designs that adorn its walls. Built by Agostino Galli, with clear northern Italian and Venetian influences, it appears more like a castle than a true palace.

Inside, the palace’s ceilings are decorated with classic paintings( including The Conquer of Troy, The Judgment of Paris, and The Kidnap of Helen ), all of which date back to 1580.

When the attraction reopens on September 13, 2019, it will include a new permanent exhibit, Old master. The exhibit will feature art by icons such as El Greco, Francisco Jose Goya, Rembrandt van Rijn, Peter Paul Rubens, and many others from the 16 th to 18 th century.

Owned by the National Gallery Prague, the palace offers free admission to children and students under 26 years old. For everyone else, a CZK 500 ($ 22.30 US) ticket gets you entry to all of the National Gallery’s permanent exhibitions( details below) for 10 days after purchase.

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National Gallery Prague

It wasn’t until we reached the National Gallery, which is directly across the street from the Prague Castle entryway, that I realise how brilliant our Think Prague tour itinerary was.

By starting our walking tour at Petrin Hill and not arriving to the castle until late afternoon, Ales ensured we avoided the masses. There was a small crowd on the National Gallery steps next to a statue of Tomas Garrigue Masaryk( who is considered the father of the Czech Republic ), but it wasn’t anywhere near as bad as the elbow-to-elbow overtourism we were expecting.

Known locally as Narodni Galerie Praha, Prague’s National Gallery has roots dating back to 1796. That’s when a mixture of Czech noblemen and middle-class intellectuals from the Enlightenment motion came together in an effort to” elevate the deteriorated savour of the local public .”

These culture connoisseurs established Prague’s Academy of Fine Arts and the Picture Gallery of the Society of Patriotic Friends of the Arts. In 1902 Franz Joseph I( leader of the Austro-Hungarian Empire) generated the Modern Gallery of the Kingdom of Bohemia, a private foundation devoted to collecting 20 th century art.

By 1919 the Picture Gallery has begun to create a central art collect for the freshly independent country of Czechoslovakia. And in 1942, after the Modern Gallery was abolished, the Nationally Gallery( then officially known as the Czech-Moravian Land Gallery) was established.

Now, in addition to the main gallery, the National Gallery also has exhibitions at the Convent of St. Agnes of Bohemia, Schwarzenberg Palace, Sternberg Palace, and the Trade Fair Palace at one low price.

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PRAGUE CASTLE TOUR

Prague Castle is arguably the most important of all Czech Republic attractions.

In addition to being the President’s official office/ residence, it has been a seat of power for Kings of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperors since the 9th century. It’s also where the Bohemian Crown jewel are maintained hidden.

Taking a Prague Castle tour ranks high on most people’s listings of the best things to do in Prague. While ThinkPrague offers a 3-hour walking tour, we would personally recommend spending at least half a day there. It is, after all, the largest castle complex in the world!

Doing so would allow you to spend a little more hour at each attraction, or perhaps take a more leisurely( and detailed) audio tour of the Prague Castle complex.

We left actually wishing we had hour for a tour of the inside of St. Vitus Cathedral, which is arguably the world’s greatest example of Gothic architecture. Its famous stained glass windows are genuinely masterful works of art that they are able to stare at for hours.

Admission to the castle complex is free, but be aware that there is a wait to get through the security line during peak times. Here’s a look at the ticket prices if you want to explore inside its major attractions. More detailed information about the individual attractions follow.

Prague Castle Entrance Fees

CIRCUIT A: St. Vitus Cathedral, Old Royal Palace,” The Story of Prague Castle” exhibition, St. George’s Basilica, Golden Lane( with Daliborka Tower ), Rosenberg Palace

Entrance fee: Adults CZK 350, Students/ Seniors CZK 175, Families CZK 700

CIRCUIT B: St. Vitus Cathedral, Old Royal Palace, St. George’s Basilica, Golden Lane( with Daliborka Tower)

Entrance fee: Adults CZK 250, Students/ Seniors CZK 125, Families CZK 500

CIRCUIT C:” The Treasure of St. Vitus Cathedral” Exhibition, Prague Castle Picture Gallery

Entrance fee: Adults CZK 350, Students/ Seniors CZK 175, Families CZK 700

Prague Castle Hours

General Area: Open daily( except December 24) 6 AM to 10 PM

Historical Monuments: Open daily April 1 to October 31, 9 AM to 5 PM; November 1 to March 31, 9 AM to 4 PM

Garden of the Bastion: Freely accessible during Prague Castle hours

Other Garden: Open daily 10 AM to 6 PM.

Gate of Giants/ Matthias Gate

The main entryway into the Prague Castle complex is called the Gate of Giants( Brana gigantu ). It’s named after the ginormous statues of battling giants that frame both sides of the Rococo grille gate.

The Gate of Giant devised by designer Niccolo Pacassi in the latter 18 th century during the reconstruction of the Royal residence, with original statues sculpted by Ignac Frantisek Platzer.

The gate separates the 1st Courtyard of the castle( the Court d’honneur) from Hradcany Square, with grey-and-white guard boxes at the base of each statue. There’s a ceremonial changing of the guards daily at midday, but from all accounts it’s not anything worth day your Prague Castle tour to.

Just past the Gate of Giants is the huge stone Matthias Gate, which separates the first and second courtyards of Prague Castle. It’s named after Matthias, who was Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia from 1611 to 1617.

Matthias’ Gate is noteworthy because it was the first Baroque structure installed at Prague Castle. The gate’s gable includes a list of the Emperor’s titles( he was also King of Hungary and Croatia ), coats of arms of the lands that he ruled, gryphons, and more intriguing details.

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Kohl’s Fountain

Once you pass through the gates and enter the second Prague Castle Courtyard, you’ll notice a large, lavishly decorated fountain right near the center.

It’s often called the Lion’s Fountain( because of the lion statues on the centre for human rights) or Leopold’s Fountain because it was built in 1686, during the reign of Emperor Leopold I ).

But it’s actually named after sculptor Jeronym Kohl, who built the beautiful Baroque fountain with an Italian stonemason named F. della Torre. Kohl’s work includes several statues on Prague’s famous Charles Bridge as well as various other fountains and sculptures.

Fed by an ancient tube, the fountain historically brought water to the palace from nearby creeks and ponds. Behind it are some of the largest rooms in the castle, where the President of the Czech Republic often satisfies with foreign dignitaries.

To the left you’ll find the Prague Castle Picture Gallery and a passageway leading to the Imperial Stables and the Royal Garden. Surrounding the garden you’ll find the Riding School, Ball Game Hall, Orangery( greenhouse ), and Royal Summer Palace , not to mention a great view of St Vitus Cathedral.

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Chapel of the Holy Cross

Also located in the castle’s second courtyard, you’ll find the white Chapel of the Holy Cross. It was originally built in the Baroque style between 1758 and 1763, then rebuilt in the Classicist style in the 19 th century for Emperor Ferdinand I.

Noteworthy features found inside the chapel include a high altar from the Baroque era, a life-sized painting of Christ’s crucifixion created by Frantisek A. Palko in 1762, statues by I. F. Platzer, and impressive paints featuring famous scenes from both the Old and New Testaments.

The church became known as the Treasury in the early 1960 s, after it was turned into an exhibit space for the “Treasure of St Vitus Cathedral” exhibition.

This permanent exhibit includes the most valuable items collected by the Cathedral of St Vitus, St Wenceslas, and St Adalbert over the last 1000 years or so. These include an array of jewels, liturgical items, embroidered vestments, shrines, and other priceless objects made from silver and gold.

The exhibit is included as one of the purposes of Prague Castle’s Circuit C ticket package( which also includes the Prague Castle Picture Gallery ), which is CZK 350( around $15.50) for adults, CZK 175( around $7.75) for students and seniors, or CZK 700( around $30) for families.

St. Vitus Cathedral

Words cannot adequately conveyed the intricate detail of this gorgeous Gothic landmark, which is more formally known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saints Vitus, Wenceslaus and Adalbert. You don’t have to be Catholic, or even religious, to recognize it as one of the world’s most stunning architectural marvels.

It’s the largest church in the Czech Republic: The Cathedral measures 407 ft x 197 ft, with a 337 -ft main tower, 269 -foot front towers, and a 109 -ft tall archway. It’s also by far the most important, as the historic seat of the Archbishop of Prague and home to tombs of numerous Bohemian monarches and Holy Roman Emperors.

The current building is the third on this ancient site, all of which have been dedicated to Saint Vitus. The Italian saint, a martyr who died during the Roman persecution of Christians circa 303 AD, was the sole name on the current church before its 1997 rededication. The triple dedication marked a return to that of the previous Romanesque basilica in 1038.

Construction of the current Cathedral began in 1344, with King John of Bohemia laying the foundation stone. St. Vitus was designed to be a coronation church, household crypt, a pilgrimage site for patron St. Wenceslaus( whose relics remain in the chapel named after him ), and a treasury for the priceless relics of Bohemia.

Work on the Cathedral continued off and on for centuries, in all regions of the Renaissance and Baroque periods. In the mid-1 9th century, a” Union for Completion of the Cathedral of St. Vitus in Prague” was formed for that purpose. The Cathedral wasn’t ultimately finished until just before the St. Wenceslas jubilee in 1929, virtually 600 years after it started.

You could spend hours merely admiring at this ancient architectural marvel from the outside. But considering stunning photos of the interior stained glass windows, Cathedral nave and sanctuary, and St. Wenceslas Chapel left us profoundly regretting not taking the full tour. If you visit Prague Castle, I urge you not to construct the same mistake we did!

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St. George’s Basilica

Known locally as Bazilika Sv. Jiri, this is the oldest surviving church building in Prague Castle. St. George’s Basilica was founded in 920 by Prince Vratislaus I, the parent of St. Wenceslas( the patron saint of Bohemia, constructed famous by the Christmas carol” Good King Wenceslas “).

The church was substantially enlarged when the Benedictine St. George’s Abbey was added in 973. It was later rebuilt in the Romanesque style, with an apse and two steeples, after a major flame devastated the Basilica in 1142.

The current Baroque facade was added in the late 17 th century( around the same period the convent was reconstructed ), and designer F.M. Kanka added the Baroque Chapel of St. John Nepomuk in the early 18 h century.

On the inside, you’ll find St. George’s mausoleum in a Gothic-style chapel, as well as shrines to Prince Vratislav and Duke Boleslaus II of Bohemia. The house also houses the National Gallery’s 19 th century Bohemian Art Collection, and occasionally serves as a concert hall.

Tours inside the Basilica are included in Circuit A and Circuit B Prague Castle tickets.

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Golden Lane

The Golden Lane was the first place in Prague where we felt the impact mass tourism was having on the city. Our ThinkPrague tour guide told us the crowds was pretty light that day, but the historic street was packed with people rushing to exit the castle complex.

Known locally as Zlata ulicka, the Golden Lane was built during the reign of Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II( who reigned as King of Bohemia from 1575 to 1611 ). It was originally constructed as a home for the king’s guards, but it’s named for the goldsmiths who lived along the street in the 17 th century.

The street’s houses have also served as home to some of the Czech Republic’s most famous writers. Franz Kafka‘s sister owned #22, and the iconic author ran there for nearly two years( much of 1916 and 1917 ). Nobel Prize-winning poet Jaroslav Seifert lied on Golden Lane in 1929.

These homes were all painted in bright colourings in the 1950 s. Most of them have now been turned into keepsake stores, but the jostling mob were too intense for us to be in the shopping mood.

There’s also a museum of medieval armory and Daliborka Tower( which was a prison from 1496 to 1781) accessible from Golden Lane. You’ll find stunning views of Old Town Prague from the Vyhlidka u Cerne veze( Observation Deck) right as you exit the castle.

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DAY 3: MALA STRANA& OLD TOWN PRAGUE

As you descend the Prague Castle mound and induce your style east towards the Vltava River, you enter the district known as the Mala Strana, which is Czech for Little Side( of the River ).

Also known as Mensi Mesto Prazske( Lesser Town of Prague ), this district was established by Bohemian King Ottokar II in 1257. It was historically home to ethnic German people, with more palaces for lords than the Bohemian Old Town, which is located on the east side of the river.

After it was devastated by a fire in 1541, the Lesser Town was rebuilt in the Baroque style. We didn’t have time to visit most of the popular Mala Strana attractions, such as Wallenstein Palace, Waldstein Palace( home to the Czech Senate ), or the Franz Kafka Museum. But we did check out the St. Nicolas Church and the John Lennon Wall, which we’ll discuss below.

After intersecting the crowded Charles Bridge- which was teeming with tourists even at sunset- we attained our route into the more Bohemian Old Town Prague. This part of the city( known locally as Stare Mesto Prazske) dates back to the 9th century, with merchant trade contributing to great wealth over the centuries.

Today, this part of Prague flourishes with a vibrant energy. Its cobblestone streets are bustling with students from the University of Prague, which was founded by Bohemian King Charles IV in 1348. Old Town’s main attractions include the 600 -year-old Prague Astronomical Clock, Old Town Bridge Tower, Old Town Square, and much more…

St. Nicholas Church

Just as the gothic spires of St. Vitus Cathedral stand out above the Prague Castle scenery, so does the green and gold dome of St. Nicholas Church in the Mala Strana district.

The church is named after the Greek Christian bishop, Saint Nicholas, who was born sometime around 280 A.D. in what we now know as Turkey. He was famous for his generous gift-gifting, and ultimately became the inspiration for the legends of Santa Claus and Father Christmas.

The church was constructed over the course of 100 years on the site of a Gothic church that had been built in 1283. It was designed by Krystof Dientzenhofer, Kilian Ignac Dientzenhofer and Anselmo Lurago( parent, son, and son-in-law ), whose architecture evokes Late Gothic and Baroque influences.

Built by a Jesuit named Thomas Schwarz from 1745 to 1747, the church’s immense main organ is comprised of more than 4,000 pipes, which range in lengths up to 20 feet. It was once played by iconic composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart during his stay in Prague.

Music remains a key aspect of the church’s programming. It will host more than 200 concerts between March 2019 and January 2020.

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John Lennon Wall

Located at the Grand Priory Square in the Mala Strana, the John Lennon Wall has become an increasingly popular Prague attraction for tourists over the past 40 years.

The tradition started in 1980, when a local artist painted an image of the assassinated Beatles icon along with some of his lyrics in tribute to Lennon’s untimely demise. Eventually the wall was filled with messages of love, peace, and, eventually, politics.

The Lennon Wall became a bone of contention for Gustav Husak’s communist regime in the late’ 80 s, as young Czech revolutionaries began airing their grievances there. This ultimately led to a showdown between hundreds of students and police on the nearby Charles Bridge.

The wall( which is owned by the Sovereign Military Order of Malta) is constantly changing. In 2014, on the 25 th anniversary of the Czech Republic’s Velvet Revolution against communist rule, it was painted entirely white by local students. Only the words “WALL IS OVER”( a clever twist on Lennon’s” War is Over” Christmas classic) remained.

Although the original portrait of John Lennon may be long gone and local authorities sometimes repaint it, the vocalist/ songwriter’s image and terms always have a place on the wall. And for those who believe in his doctrine of non-violent revolution, it’s a perfect Prague pilgrimage.

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Charles Bridge

Next to Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge is arguably the most popular Prague attraction.

It’s easy to see why: Connecting the Mala Strana with Old Town Prague and packed with artists, musicians, and ancient statues, it’s an incredible place to hang out, connect with locals, and gaze out over the Vltava River. Unfortunately, it’s also incredibly mobbed as a result.

Originally known as Prague Bridge, this landmark was constructed during the reign of King Charles IV. Interestingly, the first stone was laid by Charles( a.k.a Wenceslaus) himself at precisely 5:31 AM on July 9 in 1357. The Holy Roman Emperor believed in numerology, and supposed this palindrome( 1357 9, 7 5:31) would imbue the bridge with added strength.

The Prague Bridge was ultimately finished in the early 15 th century, and has played a major role in the city’s history ever since.

After leaders of a rebellion were executed in 1621, their severed heads were hung from the Old Town Bridge Tower to deter future resistance. Swedes combated the Czechs on the bridge near the end of the Thirty Years’ War in 1648, attempting to advance into Old Town Prague. The Baroque statues that line the bridge today were added in the late 17 th century and early 18 th century.

The bridge remained the only means of intersecting the river until 1841, and the name has been amended to honor King Charles in 1870. Despite the crowds, it remains one of the world’s most impressive medieval bridges, measuring 2,037 feet long and 33 feet broad, with 16 arches.

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St. Francis of Assisi Church

As you pass through Old Town Bridge Tower and induce your way towards Old Town Square, you’ll ensure the striking exterior of the St. Francis of Assisi Church.

Located next to the Charles Bridge Museum, the church was initiated in 1688 and designed by French designer Jean Baptiste Mathey. Owned by the Order of the Red Cross, the church’s Romanesque exterior and green domed roof stands out on the Old Town Prague skyline.

The interior is even more impressive, especially the Baroque-style fresco of the Last Judgement by famous Prague painter Wenzel Lorenz Reiner. The church’s floor plan is in the shape of a large cross, with statues of Bohemian patrons in the alcoves. There are also numerous other vivid paints by Reiner, as well as Johann Christoph Lischka.

The church is perhaps best known for having the second oldest pipe organ in Prague, which has been played by classical music icons like Mozart and Antonin Dvorak.

St. Francis often hosts concerts by members of prominent opu and orchestra ensembles, as well as educators from the Academy of Music and Prague Conservatory.

Old Town Square

If you want to see what Prague might have was like 500+ decades ago, head to the Old Town Square, which is the oldest and more important square in the city.

Known locally as Staromestske namesti, the square’s history dates back to the 10 th century, where reference is served as a bustling marketplace at the center of numerous European trade routes. Medieval-style markets are still held here numerous periods each year, and the Christmas Market was ranked amongst the Top 10 in the World by CNN.

The square has been the site of numerous significant historical events. Numerous Royal coronation processions traveled through Old Town Square on their way to Prague Castle. Hussite captain Jan Rohac z Dube a ze Sionu was executed there in 1437, as were 27 leaders of the Czech revolt against the Habsburgs in 1621.

At the center of the square is a statue of Jan Hus, a Czech theologian and philosopher whose teachings were influential on Martin Luther and other European Protestant reformers. His execution led to the Hussite Wars( a.k.a. Bohemian Wars ), which lasted from 1419 to 1434.

The cobblestone streets of Old Town Square are surrounded by historical landmarks, including the Baroque Church of St Nicholas, the Church of Our Lady Before Tyn, the Old Town Hall( home to the oldest Astronomical Clock in the world ), the Rococo Kinsky Palace, and more.

Though the square can get a bit mobbed, especially on weekends, it’s a great place to wind down at the end of your 3 days in Prague.

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Powder Tower( a.k.a. Powder Gate)

As we left the square, we constructed our route towards the Powder Tower, one of the 13 original city gates that separate the Old Town from the New Town( which, founded in 1348, is still really old ).

Constructed starting in 1475, the tower was intended to be an attractive landmark signifying your entryway to Prague rather than a defensive gate. It’s named for its primary purpose in the 17 th century, which was storing gunpowder.

The Late Gothic-era Tower was badly damaged during the 1757 Battle of Prague, and the exterior sculptures had to be replaced in 1876.

As we passed underneath it and bid our ThinkPrague guide farewell, we were overwhelmed by all of the incredible sights we’d seen during our Prague walking tour. Although major cities still aren’t our thing, we would rank Prague right alongside Athens and Rome in terms of their historical importance, art, and architecture.

So if you visit the Czech Republic, you are able to by all means take a walking tour to see as many of these attractions as you can. But do learn from our mistake and spend at least a weekend in Prague if you don’t want to leave feeling as if you’ve scarcely scratched the surface. -by Bret Love; all photos by Bret Love& Mary Gabbett

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