Prague - The Old Town Square

We walked into the Old Town Square and were overwhelmed, by the beautiful buildings, and by the sheer number of people.   But mostly by the amazing amount of activities happening in one square, all at once.  

I took this photograph straight away in order to record my first impressions of the square.   The Old Town Hall is in the background.

 There were so many tour groups there, speaking such a variety of languages.

There was a Japanese wedding tour, getting their photographs taking outside the Old Town Hall.  The bottoms of the dresses were quite dirty so we can only surmise that they came to Prague, in order to get married, and then spent the rest of their holiday having their photographs taken in different places.  Most of the brides had sneakers on, or boots.  

 The group on Sedgeways waiting for customers.   There were also a large number of people selling tours, on foot or in buses.   Often their very large umbrellas stated 'free tours' but I am sure there was a catch in it.

 The hog roast seller, with his wood stacked in neat piles.   The hog roasts smelled delicious.

The restaurant, with its outside tables, was doing a good trade.    The twin Gothic steeples of Tyn Church towers above the buildings in front of it.

The brass ensemble, not attracting much attention when this photograph was taken.   Too much going on.

 The Town Hall clock tower.   A great attraction, which draws a huge crowd.   And the pickpockets too.

 This is due to the astronomical clock springing to life every hour with assorted apostles and a bell-ringing skeleton.   'Is that all?' Walter asked, and he was right.   It was hardly worth taking the risk of getting something stolen by the pickpockets.   The lady in this car had to wait very patiently for the crowd to disperse, before driving out of the square.

The Jan Hus Monument, erected in 1915, on the 500th anniversary of the religious reformer's execution.  Jan Hus was a priest, who tried to reform the Catholic Church in Prague.

 And today a stage was set up in the square, and children from state schools in Prague, gave performances in music and dance.