TRAVEL TIPS FOR PRAGUE, CZECH
Many non-Europeans travel straight to the big cities of London, Amsterdam, Paris, Rome and all too often, the lovely Eastern European Cities such as Budapest in Hungary, Prague in Czech and Ljubljana in Slovenia are forgotten which is a pity. Prague really is the jewel here and I've always found Czech people wherever I meet them, to be open minded, friendly, humble and kind. This is a city that I need to visit in a different season as it is definitely worth returning to.
My week here over Christmas many years ago is still memorable. It was -8 degrees,
with lots of snow and absolutely freezing but not even that could diminish my wonder for this gorgeous place. It has a mystical charm with all its steeples,
marionettes and crystals in the windows plus cobble stoned old streets. In
real Bohemian flair the restaurants and cafes are downright charming
and their fairy-tale atmosphere inviting. In fact, the whole city is so enchanting, I will give only short notes about
what you can do. The best way to experience Prague is to not have any plans other than to just walk around, breathe in the Bohemian atmosphere and enjoy the
unique and authentic beauty this European city has to offer.
The Staremestka town square is truly European with lovely cafes, the oldest astronomical clock and city life a-buzzing. Everything is within walking distance. I suggest walking up and down the river on both sides, stopping in at the cafes with views and Bohemian layouts. The stews and pancakes are great. Don't miss out on walking the narrow tower stair at the beginning of the Karlov Most bridge to photograph the views though there might be a queue. Amble across the pedestrian bridge and explore both sides of the city. It has a similar layout to Budapest except Prague is a quainter version.
Summer
After crossing the bridge make your way up up the hill through beautifully winding medieval streets and old architecture to the Castle. Take a different route down to view the gardens and parks on the way down, because there is really a pleasure almost every few steps of the way. I stayed at a hotel with a huge Spa (it was cold) and one evening visited The Roxy, a club still in full swing all these years later, which says something of its reputation. https://www.roxy.cz/ Also bought the DJ Joel Einhorn's Zen Progressive CD which I still listen to and he still plays there. https://www.discogs.com/artist/1787085-Joel-Einhorn. You should also absolutely see a Don Giovanni operette at the Marionette theatre, it's magical! Prague has a lot of history and culture and you're in the setting of where so much of it lives. Nothing is flashy, and they seem to have flowed from Communism into Capitalism seamlessly, without losing much of their authenticity.
One of my favourite authors is Milan Kundera, a Czech/French author so if you haven't read anything of his, do yourself a favour. As with certain places that capture my imagine, I write poems as they are more expressive that stories or facts. It's old now, but it reminds me to this day of the wonderful experience
I had in enjoying this captivating city.
Its elegant bridges and steeples
Instills renewed belief in magic
Enchanting Gothic and Baroque designs
Romanticism stands regal
Poised in magnificent splendour.
Nibbling Christmas market roasted chestnuts
In the middle of snowflakes silvering through the clean air
Staremestka town square entices with demand
Thereafter to venture through its surrounding winding trails
Along Prague's cobble stoned medieval streets
Bohemian crystal shimmers luring the captivated eye
To admire marionette creatures behind glass, whose eyes
Persuade advancement to Karlov Most, where beckoning
River rapids whisper across the bridge to the towering hill
To send horse and carriage from the Castle for pick up.
That's it for this weeks globe trot! Next week we'll be at looking at gorgeous Thailand. Tune in!
The struggle of man against power is the struggle of memory against forgetting.
Milan Kundera
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