So I managed to get out to the city a couple times this last week. I get two days off a week, so I've been trying to go explore as much as I can (today being an exception, as I had somethings I wanted to get done and frankly, my bed was just too comfortable...). One day, I went to see the gardens of Valdštejnský palác. Dating back to at least 1621, the palace was built by Albrecht von Waldstein (Valdštejnský = Waldstein), who was the commander of the Imperial Catholic armies during the Thirty Years' War. Now the Czech Senate is housed here.

Another view of Karls Bridge, this time from another perspective.

The next day Martina took Barbara to her Horse Park (which are some really cool stables she bought and restored about two years ago). I went along to watch Barbara while Martina was trying to get some work done, so I got to go see it as well. My camera ended up getting locked in her office for practically the whole time I was there, so I didn't really get any pictures of it, sadly. Next time I go I will have to make sure I gets some photos. After Horse Park, we ate lunch at the palace. Martina told me that during the Communist years, all the senior (I'm assuming she was referring to old when she said senior) writers were placed. Supposedly there's some really beautiful gardens as well. There's so much I have to check out!

This is the church of sv Jiljí (St. Giles), who was being chased by some hunters and wound up getting shot in the foot by an area, consequently becoming the patron saint of cripples, with his own pretty ornate church...

The last open-air market in Prague. It was originally run by the German community in Prague, and one could buy flowers and vegetables there. Now it has artwork, wood toys, food, flowers, and all sorts of stuff.

The Convent of St. Agnes. This is the oldest surviving Gother building in Prague and was founded in 1233. I ended up just walking around the building, because I couldn't figure out how to get in. I'll have to go back and see if I can figure it out.

My view while eating lunch in Kampa park: the National Theater.

Things are going well so far. Anna and Magda are away on a school trip this week, so things have been really calm with just Barbara. Over the weekend we went up to their cabin in Borová Lada, which is about 5 km from the German border. I got to brush up on my German a little bit, which was fun. Being so close to the border, if anyone there speaks a second language apart from Czech, its German. But I'm loving it here!