There were also some pretty epic views of Prague Castle from the Academy of Art's windows. I felt like I fit in with all the hipsters with my fancy DSLR camera. Although maybe I was a little too mainstream with my 2012 camera, instead of an SLR camera from 1952...

The Convent was founded in the first decade of the 13th century and quickly became a very wealthy convent. During the Hussite Wars in the 15th century the convent was occupied by the Hussite army and destroyed. Two centuries later, during the Thirty Years War, it was once again occupied and plundered. It was then rebuilt in the 18th century and that is where the current buildings on the ground originate.

The chapel on the grounds.

Near the end of the 18th century, however, Emperor Joseph II instituted rationalist reforms and dissolved many monasteries and convents around his empire, including this one. It was then purchased by a noble family, who, in the latter part of the 19th century rented part of the property out to the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary, who established a private all girls school here. This school lasted until the beginning of World War II, when all residents where forced out. By 1950, the convent was requisitioned by the Czech government and the property was put to use as accommodation for the Czech army, who inflicted a lot of damage on the buildings. In 1991 the convent was passed to the hands of the town of Chotěšov, where it has since remained. Today is it completely empty, however many movie makers come here to make films, particularly in the chapel. The tour guide told us that many of them like the chapel particularly because of its dilapidated and abandoned condition. He told us he was watching a Scandinavian film and noticed that part of it had been filmed in the chapel. So its not just Czech films, but people from all over the world come to film there. Pretty neat.

This was a theater and cinema for the girls who lived here when it was a private all girls school. However, a fire in the building several years ago left this part of the building severely damaged. Below is the grand entrance that leads to this room. The fire also damaged the large mural on the ceiling, but after many years they were able to restore the entrance to its former glory. What's incredible is they divided this huge painting into over 600 pieces of canvas, and once they were repainted they essentially glued them onto the ceiling. I can't imagine working on something that huge! I get tired of working on one painting after a couple weeks. This took years!

Above is the outside of the chapel that a lot of movie-makers like to film in.

And since I never got a picture of the front of it because we came in from the back, here's a photo I snagged from Wikipedia:

Pretty neat! 

Also, an update on that 'Ř' sound in Czech. I think I'm getting closer! I say it and Magda and Anna don't go "No, that's not right", so I must be getting closer, right? I probably sound totally American, but hey, I'm not asking for native speaking abilities... I just want to be able to say the dang sound! 

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!

Last week in Austrian History we went to the Schatzkammer, or the National Treasury. Our teacher was quite the knowledgeable tour guide, and took us through the whole thing explaining as she went. I'm quite impressed with how much my teachers know at times. I guess that's why they're teaching me and not the other way around.

This is the crib of the Duke of Reichstadt, who happens to be Napoleon's son. He died at a young age, many believe due to poisoning by Napoleon's enemies. Not that Napoleon had much to do with his son anyway.

Apparently THIS is the Holy Grail.

Not this.

Relics from the Twelve Apostles, so they say.

So last weekend was full of little outings from Vienna. On Saturday a couple of us (including a pro athlete. Legit.) went to see the Roman Ruins in Petronell. Observe:

Vienna use to be a roman garrison town, during the years of the Roman Empire. These are some remains left over from that time. They recently discovered a rather large collosseum that rivals the famous one in Rome in size. Sadly, they have not excavated it as of yet, and have made no plans to do so. We did however find this smaller ampitheatre...

... and took many gladiator/ wizarding duel photos:

Thanks ancient Roman civilization for giving me something to do on a Saturday in Vienna. Your foresight is amazing.