Other parts of the complex include St. Vitus Cathedral, the largest and church in Prague. Services, coronations of Czech kings and queens, and burials all took place in St. Vitus.

Once out of the Castle proper (you really could spend all day in this one area), everyone heads down Golden Lane, a small street with nice little houses filled with boutiques and restaurants. Castle servants once lived here and Frantz Kafka, a major German language fiction writer, occupied house No. 22 from 1916-1917.

Continued walking through Mala Strana until there it was in front of us, the famous Charles Bridge. The Charles Bridge is a national monument and one of the most beautiful bridges in the world. Charles IV began construction in 1357 to replace an earlier bridge that was always being swept away by foods, but the 30 statues along its length didn't start appearing until 1683. The Charles Bridge spans the Vltava River, connecting Mala Strana with Starometska. This was once the only bridge in Prague.

The Charles Bridge is crowded day and night with artists, sellers and tourists soaking up the views on both sides of the River. No one doesn't love the Charles Bridge. Along its span is a famous plaque depicting Jan of Nepomuk being dumpled in the Vltava River by order of King Wenceslas...let's all hum..."good King Wenceslas, on the feast of Stephen...". Disagreements by historians as to exactly why he was murdered but he was canonized and if you touch this plaque, it brings luck. Don't know why someone who was thrown off a bridge would bring luck but that's the story. The plaque is constantly being rubbed and the oil on people's hands has kept Jan a bright golden color.

Most tourists also visit the old Jewish Quarters, only about a five-minute walk from Old Town Square and one of the most popular sights in Prague. The "must-see" sights that we found interesting:

- The 13th century Old-New Synagogue is the most ancient synagogue in Central Europe and miraculously survived intact from the Nazi occupation;

- Chevra Chadisha (Burial Brotherhood society of Prague) is located at the entrance of the Jewish Cemetery. The Burial Brotherhood would watch and take care of the dead body in the hours before it was going to be buried.

- The Jewish cemetery with its 12,000 tombstones dating from the 14th-19th century. The Jews were only given a small area to bury all their dead in Prague and with no other choice, the graves were piled on top of each other for a total of 12 layers deep.

The oldest marked grave is from 1439 and the best-known is of Rabbi Loew, credited with creating mythical "Golem" in 1573. This is the oldest existing Jewish cemetery in Europe and the only reason the Nazis didn't destroy it was because Hitler was planning to use it in an exhibit.

A fast last meal at a Pizza Hut (very tired of heavy Polish-Slovak-Czech cuisine), the group flew out of Prague, the High Tatra trip was over with thoughts and hindsight running around my mind.

- Krakow and Prague would be the highlights of any Central Europe trip. There is abundant information available on the web for all budgets and interests and I enourage you to visit these captivating cities.

- Zakopane is a definite consideration if you like to hike or just relax in a mountain area. Signage on the trails is excellent but in Polish. You must be able to read a topographic map and/or speak Polish.

- The Tatras trails included in this trip were beyond my personal comfort level. Not physical ability...all mental. It's a testament to "mind over matter" that I finished this portion intact. My fault for not investigating this portion in more depth. Even so, it was a great sense of accomplishment, the comaraderie between Poles, Slovaks and us in mountain chalets transcended the minimal discomfort, and the night ex-Marine and I walked out of the chalet only to discover brilliant stars stretching to infinity will live in memory forever.

Altogether a unique journey and immersion into Central Europe. Think about it...

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