Saturday, January 30, 2010

February 3.




45 miles (72km) East of Prague toward Kutna Hora.
All the internal decorations come from human bones.
Designer Frantisek Rint created bone crosses,
bone chalices and even columns of bone, possibly from
the victims of plagues and wars.


During the Black Death in the mid 14th century,
and after the Hussite Wars in the early 15th century,
thousands of people were buried and the
cemetery had to be
enlarged.


(Katie is down with the dead)


Around 1400 a Gothic church was built in the
center of the cemetery. Room was made for new burials.
According to a legend, After 1511 the task of
collecting and stacking skeletons was given to a
half-blind monk of the order.


In 1870,Frantisek Rint, a woodcarver, was hired
by the Schwarzenberg family to put the piles
of bones into order.






A chandelier of bones, which contains at least one of
every bone in the human body, hangs from the ceiling.
Surrounding the chandelier is a wreath of skulls.


The ossuary is estimated to contain the skeletons
of between 40,000 and 70,000 people.




Day trip to Kutna Hora, Czech Republic.



Kutna Hora was the wealthiest and the most significant town of Medieval Bohemia. Silver deposits were discovered in its vicinity in the 13th century, bringing great recognition to the Kingdom of Bohemia.








My Roommate: Katie Longawa
Hometown: Los Angeles
School: USC
Favorite Color: Burgundy


The Italian Court,
once the Mint of the Czech State and the Royal Residence.










Chrám svaté Barbory
St Barbara Church Kutná Hora


The sculptor created to mark the Czech presidency of the European Union Council in Brussels Artist: David Černý Location: Dox Museum Centre for Contemporary Art. 256 square meter blue framework piece, installed in DOX’s courtyard. Provocatively addresses the stereotype themes relating to each EU country

EXAMPLES: Belgium: A box of chocolates. Bulgaria: A series of Turkish toilets, connected with neon tubes.(Bulgaria actually asked that their “country” be removed. It was covered with a black cloth while in Brussels, but is free to be seen here in Prague) Italy: The country is covered with football players, holding footballs and moving in a suggestive fashion. Romania: Dracula’s theme park, flashing lights included. Sweden: An IKEA box.




Down the road is a Church.
Across the street is a park.


Intensive Czech Classroom.
9:30-2:30.
Monday-Friday
first two weeks.


School.


30 Minute commute. Quite a trek.


On the tram, going to school.






















The most appreciative homeless man I have ever encountered.
Homeless and bilingual.
Big fan of his dogs.

















This statue is located on the Charles Bridge. Crucifix and Calvary, is one of the oldest statues, gradually being updated throughout centuries. The original wooden crucifix was installed in 1361, the most recent addition (2000) was a bronze tablet with an explanation of the piece.

The Hebrew text on the crucifix was added in 1696, after a Prague Jew, Eliass Backoffen, had been convicted of disrespecting the Holy Cross by not removing his hat while passing by. The text reads in English, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts, and serves as a punishment.


Beware: Guard of the Charles Bridge on duty.


5 stories.
1 club.
Each floor has a theme
(80's/house/disco/lounge...)
Take a virtual tour if you please.


Had to return the next morning to find my lost goods.
Replacement cell phone = 700 CZK.
MY NEW PHONE NUMBER:


Look both way's before crossing the street.
Car's do not slow down. Trams will hit you.


A variety of sizes, shapes, and animals.


Get fresh cuts on your way home from work.
Meat shop in the Metro.


Grand hotel Europa located in Wenceslas Square.
One of the filming locations in the 1996 version of
Mission Impossible.


Super fine bird man.
Always standing in the same place in Wenceslaus square.


Babushka doll, is a set of dolls of
decreasing sizes placed one inside the other.
Like an onion.
Babushka = russian word for grandmother.




New home, new room.
Pink ihome speakers=fried pink ihome speakers.
Do not bring speakers from home.
They will not work in Europe.
A converter is not strong enough to prevent
burning and potentially blowing a fuse.

Remember: An adapter plug doesn't convert the voltage, it just converts the hardware.


Welcome to my home. Shoes off at the door.
Czech custom.


The elevator that I am proud to say, never use.


Entrance.


Mine is the one without the name.


IMPORTANT.
For all of you letter writers, I finally have an address:

Americka 20
Praha 2, 120 00
Czech Republic

For all of you non letter writers, I have an e-mail as well:

allison.smoler@colorado.edu

(I flew across the world and still ended up
living in America, Unit 7, Floor 3)


Czech men. Funny dudes.


Stumbled upon a festival in Old Town Square.


Eurokarneval Performers.


The facial hair extravaganza.
I hope to acquire a collection of photos of the
extremely eclectic facial hair located in
the heart of Prague.


My Roommate: Kristen Gaydos
Hometown: Philadelphia Pennsylvania
School: Muhlenberg
Favorite Color: Green


To see more pictures from EuroKarneval check this out: .




The art of Czech marionette and puppet
making goes back to the 18th century.
They are traditionally handcarved from
wood or made from plaster representing
all kinds of characters.


Puppets are found in souvenir shops.



The muzzle is not unusual.
Dog's have to wear muzzles when
traveling on public transportation.
(unless carried)


This dog understands more Czech than I do.


Cliche postcard view of Prague.

H & M
Praha 1, Václavské nám. 19




The Vltava is the longest river in the Czech Republic.
Má vlast (My Country/My Fatherland) is a set
of six symphonic poems composed between
1874 and 1879 by the Czech composer Bedrich Smetana.
These poems are a musical depiction
of the river's course through Bohemia.

4 comments:

  1. do you check your hotmail? cause i sent you something on it. you should CZECH your hotmail. LOL!!!!!?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Fantastic, Thank you so much for sharing, Now I have a view. I love you and miss you so much. Keep the updates coming. !!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. You have some really good shots here. This makes me miss Prague/CZ a lot. Have you had a smazeny syr yet?

    ReplyDelete
  4. What Great photo's Allison, thanks for posting them. Looks like you're having an amazing experience. Keep warm and safe
    Love you Deni

    ReplyDelete