Vyšehrad

  
Vyšehrad is 'n geskiedkundige fort in Praag. Dis waarskunlik al in die 10de eeu gebou, op 'n heuwel wat oor die Vltava Rivier uitkyk. Die Basilica of St Peter and St Paul en die Vyšehrad Begrafplaas, waar bekendes soos komponiste Bedřich Smetana en Antonín Dvořák te ruste gele is, is op die gronde gelee. Die oudste staande gebou in Praag, die Rotunda van St Martin wat uit die 11de eeu dateer, is ook daar te vinde.
Daar word beweer dat Vyšehrad die plek was waar die eerste nedersetting begin het wat later Praag sou word, maar dit is nog onbeverstig.
Ons het Vyšehrad op 'n Sondag besoek- dis vreedsaam en stil, met groot groen parke om die geboue. Die begrafplaas is goed versorg, en terwyl ons daar was, was daar mense wat besig was om die laaste rusplekke van geliefdes skoon te maak, en te verfraai.

Vyšehrad is a historical fort located in the city of Prague. It was probably built in the 10th century, on a hill over the Vltava River. Situated within the castle is the Basilica of St Peter and St Paul, as well as the Vyšehrad Cemetery, containing the remains of many famous people from Czech history, among them Antonín Dvořák en Bedřich Smetanach. It also contains Prague's oldest surviving building, the Rotunda of St Martin from the 11th century.
Local legend holds that Vyšehrad was the location of the first settlement which later became Prague, though thus far this claim remains unsubstantiated.
 We visited Vyšehrad on a Sunday. It is so peaceful and quiet, with green parks surrounding the buildings. The cemetery is well cared for, and while we were there, there were some people tending the graves of love ones.

Basilica of St Peter and St Paul

 Die beskilderde binnekant

The painted interior

'n Pragtige venster

A beautiful window

 Mosaik bokant 'n deur

Mosaik  above a door

Twee van die deure

Two of the doors

'n Hek wat na die begrafplaas lei

A gate leading to the cemetery

Van die grafte onder dak

Some graves under a roof

 

Twee grafte wat vir my mooi was

Two graves I loved

Komponis Dvorak se graf

Composer Dvorak's grave

'n Engel op die begrafplaasmuur

An Angel on the cemtery wall

 Rotunda van St Martin

Rotunda of St Martin 

En 'n laaste blik op Praag, vanaf  Vyšehrad

And a last glimpse of Prague from Vyšehrad

Ou Dorp-Praag/ Old Town-Prague

 Vandag sit ek heerlik in die sonnetjie, in my eie huis, met die katte en 'n pot tee hier by my. Dis so lekker om by die huis te wees, al het ek 'n stukkie van my hart in die Tjeggiese Republiek gelos. Uiteindelik kan ek die inskrywings wat ek al in Praag gedoen het, klaarmaak. So 'n inskrywing neem maar tyd, want die foto's moet gekrimp word om minder rekenaarspasie te neem, en om vinniger opgelaai te word, en ek voeg graag skakels by vir my lesers wat meer wil lees. Dan is daar nog taal en spelling... Maar kom ek hou op klets en vertel julle:

Ou Dorp, Praag

Die ou dorp is in die hartjie van Praag, en het sy ontstaan in die 9de eeu gehad. Rekords dui aan dat daar al vanaf die 1100's op Saterdae markte gehou is, en groot millitêre byeenkomste is ook daar gehou. In die begin is dit deur 'n halfsirkel moot en muur wat gegrens het aan die Vltava rivier van die buitewereld afgesonder, maar met die onstaan van die Nuwe Dorp in die 14de eeu, is dit opgebreek.

I am doing this post in a splash of golden sunshine, in my own home. Around me the cats are soaking up some son, and I have a pot of tea at my elbow. It's so good to be back- though I left a piece of my heart behind in the Czech Republic.  I wrote this post in Prague, but I still had to add some finishing touches- shrinking the pictures, adding the links and checking spelling and grammar. But enough said about that, let me tell you about

Old Town Prague

From its early existence, around 9th century, Old Town was laid out of settlements which appeared from the spacious marketplace on the bank of Vltava. Records dating back to 1100AD indicate that every Saturday a market was held on the marketplace, and large military gatherings also took place there. It was separated from the outside by a semi-circular moat and wall, connected to the Vltava at both of its ends. After the city was expanded in the 14th century by Charles IV with the founding of the New Town, the moat and wall were dismantled soon after.

 Elke uur is daar 'n samedromming van mense op die plein wat hulle vergaap aan skouspel van die astronomiese horlosie wat die uur met groot fanfare aankondig. Eers lui 'n geraamte, of te wel, die dood 'n klokkie, en dan verskyn uitbeeldings van die twaalf Apostels een na die ander in die venstertjies bokant die horlosie. Die horlosie slaan, en iemand in middelseeuse klere blaas 'n beul bo-op die toring.

 Die indrukwekkende horlosie is in 1410 geïnstalleer. Dis die derde oudste astrononmiese horlosie in die wereld, en dis oudste een wat steeds werk. 

Die werking van die horlosie is te ingewikkeld vir my om te verduidelik (of te verstaan) maar as jy meer daaroor wil weet, gaan lees hier. Om die uurlikse vertoning te sien, gaan kyk hier.

Every hour, on the hour, masses gather on the town square, to watch the clock. The Prague Astronomical Clock is a medieval astronomical clock mounted on the South facing wall of the city hall, situated on the Old Town Square. The clock was first installed in 1410, making it the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest one still working. 

The clock mechanism itself is composed of three main components: the astronomical dial, representing the position of the sun and moon in the sky and displaying various astronomical details; "The Walk of the Apostles", a clockwork hourly show of figures of the Apostles and other moving sculptures—notably a figure of Death (represented by a skeleton) striking the time; and a calendar dial with medallions representing the months.

The mechanics of this clock is too complicated for me to try to explain- if you are interested to know how it works, have a look here, and here if you want to watch the hourly spectacle.

Op baie van die geboue pryk simbole van die families wat daar gewoon het.   Hier het drie families van vioolmakers gewoon:

On a lot of the old buildings symbols gave an indication of the families who lived there. In this building lived three families of violin-makers:

 

Jou adres was dan iets soos "At the golden ring",

Your adress then was something like "At the golden Ring",

 Of "At the golden snake"

Or "At the golden snake"

of "At the stone bird"

or "At the stone bird"

En hier sou ons gebly het!

This is where we would have lived!

 "By die befoeterde beer"

"At the grumpy bear"

Hierdie is 'n Gotiese venster wat oorgebly het van die oudste universiteit in sentraal Europa, Charles Universiteit, wat deur Karl IV begin is. Die Veertiende-eeuse gebou is in 1945 deur die Duitsers vernietig.



 Charles University was the first university in Central Europe, founded by Emperor Karl IV. Unfortunately, the original XIV century building was destroyed by the Germans in 1945, and only the gothic window has survived.  

"Die spook van Don Giovanni" buite die ingang van die Estate Teater.   Die Opera "Don Giovanni"  het in 1787 hier geopen, en is deur Mozart self gederigeer.

The statue of the ghost of Don Giovanni to the left of the Estate Theatre entrance. This theatre premiered the famous Opera, Don Giovanni, conducted by none other than W.A.Mozart himself in 1787.

 

"Powder Tower' was een van die ingange na die stad in die 15de eeu. Die naam dateer uit die 17de eeu toe die toring as stoorplek vir buskryt gebruik is.

Powder Tower was one of the several entrances to the city in 15th century. Origins of its name date back to the 17th century when the tower was used to store gun powder.

Dis dan my storie oor die Ou Dorp. Natuurlik kan ek nie alles vertel nie. Maak nie saak watter woorde ek kies, of watter foto's ek wys nie, niks kan die werklike karakter vasvang nie. As ek 'n horlosie hoor slaan, maak ek my oë toe, en word teruggevoer na vreemde stemme, musiek, perdepote op kilpstrate, en geure van koffie en kaneel. 

Try as I might, I will never be able to capture the essence of the golden city. But when a clock strikes the hour, I close my eyes, and I can hear the forreign voices, the music, the clippety clop of horsesfeet  on cobbled  streets, and the aroma's of coffee and cinemon. 

 

'n Dag voordat ek moet afskeid neem / A day before I must leave

So stap die tyd. Dit voel soos gister wat ek hier aangekom het, en nou moet ek weer my pienk tas pak.

Die laaste amper twee weke was vir my so 'n bietjie van 'n beproewing, want ek het 'n spierspasma in my nek gekry, en een onder my blad, so ek kon vir 'n ruk nie my nek draai of my regterarm oplig nie.  Ek het alles in my arsenaal pille probeer, en niks wou help nie. Dit was koud en nat en ek het nie kans gesien om in rye by 'n vreemde hospitaal te gaan sit en wag vir 'n dokter nie. Einde ten laaste het my Brombeer by 'n apteek iets gaan vra, en toe pille gekry wat gehelp het. Ook goed, want ek was teen daardie tyd op moedverloor se vlakte! Die ergste is oor, en ek kan weer my nek beweeg(net nie af nie) en my arm gebruik (net nie vir lank nie). Maar ja, nou weet julle waarom ek so ontrou was met my Bloggery! Gelukkig kon ek na hartelus lees- met Brombeer se e- reader, en 'n wêreld se boeke net 'n druk van 'n knoppie ver. Ek dink ek het so sewe boeke gelees...

Intussen het Praag  omtrent weggespoel. Dit het meer as 'n week lank onophoudelik gereën, en teen die naweek is 'n noodtoestand aangekondig. In sekere dele is geboue ontruim, en van die stasies was onder water.
 

Time flies. It feels like yesterday when I came, and now I have to pack my pink suitcase again.

The last two weeks were a bit of a trial for me- I had a neck spasm, and one beneath my right shoulder blade. I couldn't move my neck, or lift my right arm, and was in excruciating pain. I tried everything I brought with me but nothing helped. Finally Mr Grumpy Bear went to a pharmacy, and came back with pills that worked. The pain isn't completely gone, but I can move my head (just not down) and lift my arm (just not for too long). 
Now you know why I neglected my Blog. Fortunately I had Mr Grumpy's e-reader, and a world of books at my finger tips. I could read to my hearts content.
While I was moaning and groaning and reading, it rained. And rained. And rained. The mighty Vltava overflowed, some buildings had to be evacuated, and metro stations were flooded. A state of emergency was announced. 

 Kyk na die brug hier regs op die foto, en hoe naby die water aan die bokant is.

If you look at the bridge on the right, you can see how high the river rised.

Hierdie lampaal staan langs 'n stappaadjie langs die rivier.

This is a street lamp beside a little path along the river.

Maar genoeg van vloede en pyne. Hier is sommer 'n paar foto's. Ek sal my beloofde stories oor die Ou Dorp, Kutna Hora ens. klaar skryf sodra ek terug by die huis is, en lank genoeg agter my rekenaar kan sit om dit ordentlik te doen.

Enough about pains and floods. Here are a few random pictures. I will do the posts about Old Town, Kutna Hora etc. as soon as I am settled home, and when I can sit and write for a while.

 In die middel van die Ou Dorp

The Middle of Old Town

 Sommer 'n straatjie

 Just an alley

 'n Geskilderde gebou

A painted bulding

 'n Beeld in 'n kerktuin

A statue in a church garden

Sommer 'n mooi ou gebou

Just a lovely old building

So dis dan my laaste storietjie uit Praag. Ek voel so effens hartseer om te gaan, maar sien uit om weer by my huis en kinders en diertjies te wees (en naby my dokter). Dink aan my more- nag as jy wakker word om 'n draai te loop of water te drink of as jy sommer net wakker is. Dis 'n lang vlug terug.

So this is it, my last post from Prague. I feel a bit sad to leave, but I look forward to be home again with my children and pets. Think of me if you wake up in the middle of tommorrow night. It's a long flight home.