The day, like all the others on this trip, was sunny and warm. We were going to trek uphill to the palace district, the highest point of land in the city. We, like dozens of others that day, began our ascent from the ancient, steeply graded streets at the base of the hill. A tall, massively muscled man, wearing tight jean shorts, rolled to just above the knee, a style we saw several times, passed up everyone moving upwards looking not unlike a Clydesdale.
As we got to the palace we saw a group of 4 young college aged kids. Upon hearing them speak English my husband, always the outgoing one, asked them where they were from. They were students at Washington State. We swapped a few travel tales, including the location of Happy Mart, they were really nice kids, and went on our way. We watched the changing of the guard, a quick and efficient affair, and, after going through a security checkpoint at the gates to the palace grounds, once again ran into our newfound young friends from Washington. As we talked one, on her phone, looked up my husband's Facebook profile. A friend request was received that evening. Since then we have become Facebook friends with all 4 of these charming young people following their adventures as they continued to travel through Europe, one was student teaching in Germany. They are the type, well mannered, curious and gracious, that give me hope for my country's future.
The palace grounds are dominated by the imposing St. Vitus cathedral. Construction on the present structure was begun in 1344 but due to fires, wars and other mishaps, was not completed and consecrated until 1929. Some sort of religious building has been located on the site since the early 10th century. As we stood in front of the cathedral the Washington 4 once again approached us asking us if we would take a photo of them. Later, in a Facebook post, was the photo of them, young and smiling, holding their University flag in front of them, enjoying their visit to Prague on that beautiful afternoon. The flag showed up time and again in the photos they shared as they traveled through Europe.
Although entry to the buildings of the palace compound requires a ticket wandering the grounds is free. Costumed employees engage in mock sword fights, 2 comely young men, dressed as stablemen in leather tunics, chatted off to one side. It almost appeared like a flirtation at a medieval gay bar. As we headed for lunch on the grounds we saw another, in the garb of a more noble servant, pacing back and forth talking on his cell phone. Bells pealed the hour as we strolled across a plaza in the palace complex.
After lunch we left the grounds and began our final walk through the city streets. We stopped and purchased cashmere scarfs, at least they said they were cashmere, for the modest price we paid I have my doubts, and a cat toy. It has since been named the Prague Frog. Several of her toys have names, don't judge us.
Our flight required us to rise at an absurdly early hour the next morning so, after a brief discussion, we changed into pajamas and splurged on room service. We moved the silver domed dishes and desert plates to the table on the balcony of our room and enjoyed our final evening gazing out over the beautiful skyline of the old town of the enchanting city of Prague.
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