The "Peace Church"

Frauenkirke, one of the last places bombed in Germany by the allies, lay in ruins for several decades after WWII. It was a reminder of the horrors of war. Recently, the people of Germany in conjunction with donors throughout the world reconstructed the church. The architectural plan was replicated using old wedding photographs. Salvageable blocks from the original church were interspersed with new construction. The interior is as peaceful as it can be with hundreds of tourists visiting. The new church is a caution to never let such devastation happen again.

The Communists are Alive and Well

Here is the Communist Party political center in Praha. It is an active political party here, usually getting (I think) about 10% of the vote. Many people remember,, with the fondness of hindsight,the "good old days" of being guaranteed a job and taken care of from cradle to grave. And not just oldsters. Some young people, too, think it is a fine system.

Beggars

Beggars make quite a good living, I was told by a professor who has done a study of begging in Praha. I'm not sure of the meaning of the posture, however. Is it an attitude of prayer, an avoidance of looking your donors in the eye, or did they just fall asleep?

The Bridge Band

A very delightful band was playing on the Charles Bridge. It was quite disconcerting to hear "Sweet Georgia Brown" and "Happy Days Are Here Again"

sung in Czech. Aren't there some nice Czech songs?

Beautiful Praha

Our day in Praha was as lovely as could be. Each city has distinctive manhole covers with a picture of something illustrative about that city. Praha also has a lovely astronomical clock, one that the communists did not destroy. Olomouc has one also, but the Communists redid the whole religious theme into a workers' them, which is not nearly so beautiful as it once was.

Speaking of Carriages

Speaking of carriages as we were, check out this golden Baroque carriage that carried the Archbishop of Olomouc. Rumor has it that even the great Maria Theresa was jealous. This carriage is immortalized in the painting, wherein a procession is entering into Olomouc.

Big Carved Rocks on the Corners of Buildings

For years I have wondered what these "cornerstones" were for. Finally, Dr. Peprnik explained. They are to prevent carriage wheels from knocking into the corners and doorways

of the buildings. Of course, the carriages are now gone, but the cornerstones remain.

Always Look Up and Always Look Down

Many of the buildings have wonderful architecture and paintings, but we have top remember to always look up and down because some of the most beautiful paintings are on the ceilings, and the floor may be mosaic or inlaid wood. In addition, note the date on the wall. The little circle is how people used to write the number 4; it is 1/2 of an 8.

A Tour Around Olomouc

Dr. Peprnik (that IS the correct spelling -- this is Czech) gives the annual tour around Olomouc.  He absolutely loves the city, although he was not born here. 

At the airport in Omaha

Everyone arrived at the airport ready to go.  Our only difficulty was in Amsterdam, where we had go from one part of the airport to another, through security, and obtain boarding passes, all in under one hour.  It was crazy!  Also, as a result of this situation, not a single one of our pieces of checked luggage arrived in Prague.  Fortunately the airlines delivered it to Neredin dormitories the next day.