To Mala Strana And Beyond, 2

We crossed the bridge finally and entered Mala Strana, loosely adhering to Rickie Stevie's Mala Strana Walk, but mostly just walking and gawking. We didn't get to the Wallenstein Palace Garden and some other things...but might next time.

Approaching the gate to Mala Strana

Looking toward St. Nicholas church, said to be
the best Baroque church north of the Alps; we
visited in 2010; possible origin of my expression
"If it ain't Baroque, don't fix it"

There are cash machines all over the city--a side-hustle
for every small retailer and trinket shoppe, with reputedly
exorbitant exchange rates--but few as well-adorned as
this one

We managed to find a restaurant we ate at twice in 2010, Beseda,
in the former city hall; but they weren't serving cream of garlic
soup that day--best I've ever had--so we demurred; maybe next week

Pretty, yes, but how well does it work at night?

Mala Strana burned in 1689 and was rebuilt largely by Italians
(the spaghetti crop had failed); hence the arcades in this part of
town

And Italian names on the palazzos

Prague Plague Monument...1348...The Big One;
2020-2022 plague monuments doubtlessly will
involve working from home, masks, and Zoom; and
BigPharma scientists developing vaccines at warp
speed

West facade of St. Nicholas

More beautiful buildings; here, however, you make
a hairpin right turn and walk further uphill to the
belvedere just outside Hardcandy Castle

And great views of the city

Nicely placed Starbucks

The "Dancing Building" in the distance across the river

More sic transit, Gloria (hemp, cannabis, CBD store)

Much of our stroll in Mala Strana was on Nerudova street, known
for the many house signs that adorn its buildings; back in the day,
people didn't use house numbers...just "meet me at the house
of the swan, at dawn, on the fifth day" or somesuch...Empress Maria
Theresa's finance ministers saw an opportunity for a new tax and
so required all houses to be numbered instead; and the expression
"taxation without representation" was thus born

Now the government requires house owners to keep
and maintain the signs; which can be very handy if
you can't think of a name for your new absinthe parlor
or chimney cake cafe

Over the "Three Fiddles" bar; seriously

And no end to the beautiful buildings