On a Summer Day

.....a Perfect Summer Afternoon

On this August First Afternoon, after coming back from Hořovice, I went in search of a spot to enjoy a breeze and a glass of wine.

It was almost the perfect quintessential Summer day. Mid-70's, blue sky, with wisps of high clouds and a delightful light breeze. Found some shade aside an ancient wall and under an umbrella along the river.

The river was alive with small paddle boats guided by lovers and friends along with the breezes, in close proximity with the large Tour boats as they tooted their loud horns with impatience.

Decided on a light late lunch of Gazpacho, with healthy pieces of shaved Parmesan, assorted breads, along with a chilled Rose from Chile. Hit the spot, as did the atmosphere, sunshine, river traffic all with the back drop of the Charles Bridge, and concert music from !Marksman Island!.

There was Just one thing missing which would have made this day perfect...

Hořovice Chateau

Hořovice is a small town about 20 km south of Beroun on the way to Plzen. It takes exactly one hour to get there by Train. It has a very large and impressive Baroque Chateau. The reason I went. Very ornate and impressive.

There was an old chateau here in Hořovice at the turn of the 13th century. Then later a gothic fortress and a castle. At the end of the 15th century, that fortress was rebuilt into a late gothic castle.

But, in 1639 the castle was burnt by the Swedish army and in 1648 it was rebuilt into a Chateau in its current baroque style by the Lords of Vrbno.

It has retained its classic appearance since the second half of the 19th century. A large park was created adjacent to the Chateau in the 18th century, which is dominated at the far end by an decorated “Sun” Gate. It is quite striking(but currently under refurbishment). A nice park, with huge old trees and many tree-lined paths but I noted signs everywhere saying do not walk on the grass! I thought that was what parks were for? Still very nice, and it did have many benches all around so people could sit and take in the beauty all around as well as todays fresh air. Another beautiful mid-70 degree day.

Town of Hořovice

Went to visit this small town early this morning. It is one hour south of Prague(by train).
It has quite a large Chateau which was the reason I went there this morning(See above), but it also has a really nice Town Hall(top), a small Cathedral in town center (middle)
and an interesting skyline(lower two shots) as taken from the edge of a small park near the Chateau.

Kaple Nejsvětější Trojice

Chapel of the Most Holy Trinity - Praha 5 - Smíchov, ulice U Nesypky 2

Původně raně barokní stavba ze 17. století byla kaplí dnes zaniklé usedlosti Nesypka. Její dnešní podoba pochází z roku 1732. Josefinskými reformami byla zrušena, ale k náboženským úkonům opět obnovena roku 1821.

This is all I could find(in Czech) on this very small Chapel here in Smichov, and about four block up hill from my flat. I went exploring a couple days ago and stumbled upon it, at an intersection, sitting in front of and almost attached to a residential piece of property. The black and white picture is how it used to look around the turn of the last century. The white house pictured is now a road; Nesypky Ulice.

August 1st !!!!

In the garden, Autumn is, indeed the crowning glory of the year, bringing us the fruition of months of thought and care and toil. And at no season, safe perhaps in Daffodil time, do we get such superb colour effects as from August to November. ~ Rose G. Kingsley; The Autumn Garden, 1905

Amazing. August first already! The Summer of 2010 is flying by at break-neck speed. I don't want to think of the word Autumn, but this quote is true. The gardens everywhere are in full bloom.