As you can see, the sculptural figures represent the victims of the totalitarian regime. They do not die, but slowly disappear one limb at a time. On the steps, statistics are inscribed that read: "From 1948 until 1989, in Czechoslovakia alone, 205,486 people were imprisoned, 248 were executed, 4,500 died in prison, 327 were shot attempting to cross the border, and 170,938 left the country." The monument warranted a moment of silence on our behalf.
I decided Petrin Hill was too steep for mom to climb, so we rode the funicular to the top instead, which was definitely the right decision!
Here are some of the beautiful views of Prague on the way up.
We became aware that Petrin Hill is the most romantic place in Prague, which would explain why this is the first statue we encountered when we got to the top!
We continued walking to find Petrin Tower, which the Czechs say is a replica of the Eiffel Tower. It was built in 1891 for an exhibition, but is now open to the public. The tower is 200 feet tall and only one fifth the height of the real Eiffel Tower, which was built two years earlier (1889). However, since the tower is located on the hill, it sits at the same elevation as its Parisian brother. Though I enjoyed the views of Prague, I was in Paris, France about four years ago, and I must say, everyone should see and climb the real Eiffel Tower!
 |
| Petrin Tower |
Mom was cautious because it was 400 steps to the top, but with a few quick breaks, we did it!
This is a nice picture with Prague Castle in the background.
 |
This is a picture of Charles Bridge. If you look closely, you can even see the thousands of tourists on it!
This is possibly one of my favorite pictures because it epitomizes autumn.
Once we climbed down, we headed next door to a mirror maze.
We were definitely confused in the beginning. The mirrors distorted our perceptions and we couldn't tell the mirrors apart from the open doorways that led to the next corridor.
We were amused by the last room in the maze, which had mirrors to distort different parts of your body. We were giants, midgets, aliens, and more.
Instead of taking the funicular back down the hill, we decided to enjoy the walk since there was lovely weather. The paths down the hill were zigzagged, which made the journey longer, but much safer. We then adventured towards Lennova Zed, or Lennon's Wall.
Before Josef Stalin came to power, Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks started the Russian Revolution to convince Czar Nicholas II to abdicate the throne. Little did the people know they would rid themselves of a King in favor of a Communist dictator. With Communist ideas all around, John Lennon gave hope to the Czechs with his rock songs and their lyrics. When he died in 1980, this wall mysteriously appeared in Prague. Night after night, the police would paint over the graffiti, and day after day, it would reappear. The wall gave hope to locals who craved freedom and better days.
Today, many young people continue to portray Lennon's lyrics by putting new graffiti on the wall. I'd like to go back with spray paint in the spring and add to the wall myself!
 |
| Pragueitis |
Of course, there are many other ideas and pictures on the wall as well.
 |
| Boston Strong |
The Little Quarter of Prague is one of my favorite areas to visit due to its beautiful sights and creative artistic works. Petrin Hill is a great place to relax with friends and enjoy the nature while Lennon's Wall is very impressive, and changes on a daily basis.
No comments:
Post a Comment