Last Day in Prague: Funicular, Guards, Lennon, and Locks

On our last day in Prague, we had plans to hit two things that came recommended from my dear former student Melissa Kallas - the observation tower in Petrin Park and changing of the guard at Prague Castle at noon.  After breakfast, we strolled over to the funicular and took it right to the top of the park (it's quite a hill!).

The stop at the bottom

The stop in the middle

The stop at the top

The picture of the funicular

From there, we climb (ok took an elevator) up the observation tower (which resembles the Eiffel Tower) and took some lovely pictures from the 360 degree view we had over the city...which is much larger than just the old portion.  Here are just a few of the many pictures we took from the top.

From the tower, we walked through the park, stopping to take a jumping picture from a monastery's scenic overlook.

Master Navigator Todd led us through the park to the castle.  While we got there in time to get a good vantage point of the outside of the gates, it turns out that most of the fancy moves take place in the courtyard on the inside of the gate.  C'est la vie.

Todd found an ancestor to pose with.

Have basket.  Will carry dog in it.

Guards heading into the courtyard for the noontime changing of the guard.

 

I gotta say, having seen the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider, this was...um...kinda Disneylandish.  The guards were not as serious (wandering eyes) and not as sharp and clean in their moves (walking, saluting, gunhandling, etc.).

We wandered back into town, stopping to try this thing I had seen everyone eating.  It's a cinnamon and sugar covered bread that's baked on a thingy that is this exact shape.  Yummy and fun to play with.

The observation tower we climbed is in the background - looks like the Eiffel Tower.

Next stop on our walk on our final day was the John Lennon Wall.  Apparently, he was a hero to pacifist youth in central Europe and this wall emerged as one place they played homage to him.  It's got some nice graffiti on it.

We found more locks of love on bridges and fences, and I just get sucked into taking pictures of them.  Does anyone know the origin of this tradition? (Thanks to Becca for a great article on some of the history of these locks of love - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2172901/The-lock-love-For-years-couples-world-left-padlocks-bridges-tokens-love-Now-Britons-unlocking-inner-passions-too.html).

A few more pictures from around the Old Town...

Next stop, home!  To see all of our Prague pictures, just click here.