Prague’s a kick.

Hordes of people on walking tours midday. Feels a little like Disneyland.

Sunday Prague hosted the International Hockey Championship. The Russian fans were here in full regalia and voice to defend their crown but Canada kicked their butts 6 to 1 (and would you believe my nerd husband managed to tune into our home television so we could watch the game in English. Awesome!)

The many street musicians energize the crowds.

The fabled Charles Bridge at sunrise is magical.

It’s quiet at 5 am and 44 degrees (thanks Travis for telling us to do this). We saw two brides dragging their trains and posing. Brrrrrr.

Had never seen 32 swans in one place, much less 18 of them flying in unison over the bridge at 5:30am. One seemed to enjoy “surfing”.

In the Jewish Quarter a synagogue’s walls lists the names of 77,297 known Czech Jews who were killed in the Holocaust along with their birth and probable death dates. There are no words to describe our feelings as we look and listen to a cantor reading the names.

Upstairs are a few heartrending drawings done by Czech children in the nearby Terezin Concentration Camp. Of the 10,500 children taken there only 245 survived.

It’s estimated that there are 100,000 buried in the adjacent Jewish cemetery in 7 or 8 layers with headstones going back to the 14th century.

Prague is a city of protest and self expression. The John Lennon wall started in 1980. The original graffiti long since painted over. Betty’s favorite: “Don’t hate what you don’t understand”. And she loved writing a teensy note to John on the wall.

Of course there’s a John Lennon Pub nearby, complete with a Yellow Submarine.

Prague’s all about looking up at the 100s of marvelous buildings that are mostly Art Nouveau. Exteriors are often adorned, one with a Black Madonna.

A controversial but notable building is Frank Ghery’s “Dancing House” often called “Fred and Ginger”.

Tomorrow a train ride (fingers crossed we make our 8 minute connection in Linz) and 4 nights in Salzburg where rain and cold is predicted for our Sound of Music extravaganza.