As we celebrate Good Friday and head into the Easter weekend, I think back to the beautiful crucifix on the Charles Bridge in Prague.  It is sad to think that christian icons like this are currently frowned upon in the U.S. if represented on public or government property.  Separation of church and state is a founding principle of our country.  I wholeheartedly support this, but we continue to evolve toward freedom from religion rather than freedom of religion.

Regardless, He has died and risen for all of us.  No person, government, 0r circumstance can deny us of this.

Christ on the Cross - Charles Bridge, Prague

I was never aware how great of a city Prague would be before visiting. I would go back in a heartbeat, and I hope to return someday. The city is very clean, quaint, and has so much to offer a tourist. Another reason I think it is so enticing is because of it’s rich and varied history, as well as architecture. Most of my prior images have been traditional cityscape photos without people. It should not lead you to assume it is a not well traveled and visited. People were everywhere as we traveled the streets and explored the city. There are small shops, restaurants, and bars everywhere. One tourism report I read indicated that tourism has increased by 30% since 2006.

Tourists on the Charles Bridge - Prague

5D MkII, 50mm f/1.4, f/5.6 @ 1/60 sec., ISO 1600, handheld

Visitors and locals on sidewalk - Prague

Tourists near Old Town Square - Prague

5D MkII, 16-35L II, 19mm, f/3.5 @ 1/60 sec, ISO 1600, handheld

The Black Star Restaurant next to the Hotel U Cerne Hvezdy captured the eyes of a couple of colleagues and I while exploring the streets on our first day in Prague.  The curb appeal was definitely there with the outdoor tables, bottles of wine, and the lovely sidewalk.  So what was the first thing I did?  Take a couple of photographs, of course! 

This ambiance of this restaurant became engrained in our minds, so much so that we brought a small group here for dinner one evening.  The interior was as classy and intriguing as the exterior.  I must admit, though, that service was terrible and the food was so-so.  I walked away with a couple of nice images as a satisfying consolation, however.

Black Star Restaurant - Prague

5D MkII, 35L f/1.4, 1/40 sec. @ f/5.6, ISO 500, handheld

Interior of Black Star Restaurant - Prague

5D MkII, 50mm f/1.4, 1/50 sec. @ f/1.8, ISO 1600, handheld

A couple of work colleagues and I spent a few hours wandering Prague upon our mid-Sunday arrival.  As we worked our way toward the castle having crossed the Charles Bridge, we came upon St. Nicholas’ Church.  We ascended some 300 steps to the bell tower for a spectacular view of the city.  Little did we know, this was a location of historical significance.  The StB (communist secret police) used this tower as a place to spy on the nearby embassies below.  We learned of this when we reached the very top of the tower where a man in StB uniform shared the history.  There are 4 “port holes,” one peering in each direction.  The U.S and other embassies could be seen through one of the lookouts, while the British embassy was visible from the another.  Due to the vantage point and the relative secrecy due to this being a church, it was an ideal place from which to spy.  One thing that astonished me was that this location was used by communist spies up until the fall of the communist regime in 1989 … barely more than 20 years ago.  It is easy to imagine this being the case in WWII, or even during the 50’s.  But using it for such operations within the prime of my lifetime is still somewhat hard for me to comprehend.

I love the patterns and shapes of the terracotta roofs throughout the city, as well as the curves of the meandering streets below.

Prague street from atop St. Nicholas' Church

5D MkII, 35L f/1.4, 1/200 sec. @ f/5.6, ISO 500, handheld

Prague street and rooftops from atop St. Nicholas' Church

5D MkII, 35L f/1.4, 1/400 sec. @ f/5.6, ISO 500, handheld