Relaxing Days in Prague

The next two days were less touristy as we spent the first morning with Pavlina (our host) and her two children (Dave had gone to work) before heading into the city for the afternoon.  Our short day in the city center was focused on seeing the Jewish Quarter and its five synagogues and the old cemetery.  Each synagogue was unique, however the first and last stood out from the others most significantly.  The first was a memorial to the Czechs who were taken to gas chambers by the Nazis.  Every wall was covered with hand-written names of the people who lost their lives, although only a few were originals, since the Communists had erased almost everything during their control.  It was a very moving memorial.

Prague - with the Castle in the background

Some of the others were set up as museums, displaying artifacts and explaining Jewish customs.  I learned more in those few hours than I had ever retained in the past 25 years.  Sara and I were surprised to read about the custom that if a woman's husband died, his brother was obligated to marry her, unless she took off a special shoe for him, at which point they were not forced to marry.  Who knew?!

Our last day in Prague was spent with Dave, who showed us around a bit more, taking us to a beer garden, on a walk along the city wall, to a few of his favorite bars, and a few other locations.