Josefov

Josefov, the former Jewish ghetto, served as home to many Jews prior to WWII and occupation by the Nazis. While some still reside here, many were killed in concentration camps during the war. Many of the synagogues now serve has exhibition space and museums. We started at the Pinkus Synagogue that now serves as a Holocaust memorial  and has inscribed names of all those lost during the war on the walls. The names are read during the day. Exiting this, we wondered through the Jewish cemetery. Normally it would be forbidden to bury bodies on top of one another, but with the allotment of a small space, exceptions were made. Tombstones crowd each other for space, many toppled in place onto neighboring stones. Sobering, we made our way along the winding path, photographing along the way.

Upon exiting, we walked to the Spanish Synagogue which may be the most beautiful in the area. Ornately decorated, we admired the workmanship used in the construction. Manuscripts were also on display by famous Jewish authors. I’m sure the other synagogues are worthy of a visit but that will have to wait for another trip.

After lunch, we showed photos from our short time in Prague for a critique. Several had ventured out in the early morning hours to watch the city awakening which made for interesting photos. We also had photos from the standard sites, interpreted by our own artistic bent.

We returned to the Charles Bridge late afternoon for a boat ride on the river in a classic wooden boat. While you really just motor around the small area around the bridge, it makes for a different vantage point. We were set loose to explore the bridge on our own or, as we did, head to dinner at one of the restaurants lining the banks of the river, Kampa Park. Dining on an outside terrace, the heaters and blankets made the meal cozy. The food was outstanding and capped off a good day.

Tomorrow: The Castle