KJ's Travelog #1 - Museum of Medieval Torture - Prague 2005

Ships Log: Scared
Star date: 26/11/2005

Hi peeps,

Thought i would share some of my memories whilst visiting this fabulous European city that at the time was straddling the modern world and yet still kept medieval jewels close to its arctic heart.

In the best possible way it was stepping into a world riddled with ancient culture and mythology, and still proudly displayed the artifacts of its own civilization from the very beginning.

Living in London (from Australia) at the time it made sense to be the parasitic tourist and suck deeply from foreign experiences.

The Charles Bridge is a historic bridge crossing Vltava river. Construction started in 1357 under the direction of King Charles IV, and was completed around the beginning of the 15th century.

Wenceslas Square from my hotel balcony

i PROMISE santa i WAS good

I took this photo overlooking St Vitus Cathedral - it was romantic and perhaps slightly creepy that i took a picture of another lover's scrawl in the frigid snow - yet on closer inspection i cant help but chuckle at the geese tracks next to it

I felt the irresistible urge to bend the knee to the Karol Quarto Statue (Charles IV the roman emperor in Křižovnické Square). The sheer level of detail and artwork in Prague literally left me breathless on so many occasions, this statue was my favourite.

St Vitus Cathedral - astounding and the amount of real gold filigree in the structure was epic, to say the least.

As intrigued and morbidly fascinated as i was, the plan to visit the torture museum was equal parts excited sprinkled with flakes of dread. I truly wasn't prepared for the proclivity of any human being to inflict such pain upon another human being. I tried to be objective, but couldn't help real horror permeating my soul as i came across each instrument of torture, each one crueler than the one that preceded it.

Masks they would affix to the victims

Suspended Rack

Chair speaks for itself

No comment

This particular device was as sinister as it gets - a person enters the chamber and the instruments inside puncture ALL non-fatal areas but still keep the victim alive for days

For any tourists there are some AMAZING restaurants to dine in. People reading this post may question why i would follow the museum of pain to then focus on food in any way, but im just following the timeline of my own experience in regurgitating this tale (pun intended) as it happened. So many great places to try - but my two highlights were.........

Triton Restaurant - Wenceslas Square
Harkening back to cave dwelling - literally this is what it was. A restaurant carved out of the mountain. Stalactites hovering from the rocky canopy above the diners, it was mystical, tranquil and outer-worldly. The chef's skills only contributed to this ethereal meal!!!

The second was a tavern that you could only relate to a warrior placing halberd, shield and sword at the door to feast on the platters available. I swear reading one platter from the menu was a paragraph in itself. I felt like Richard of Lionheart, with a bib.

In conclusion, a wonderful place of charm and history equalled only by its welcoming citizens. Its not hard to identify why the natives are so happy with such rich culture at their very own doorstep.

I leave with an image of me in holiday mode - adopting the local ideals. Ps their pewter stein mugs are of the greatest quality and bath water utopian.