Prague---one word.....beautiful!
Trip Start
Oct 18, 2006
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13
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Trip End
Oct 19, 2007
Prague, Czech Republic
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
I arrived in Prague on a Wednesday afternoon, having decided to fly with easyjet midweek from Geneva. I only really had one full day in this remarkable city on the Thursday....so after settling into my hostel...which was in a small shopping courtyard and was full of noisy Australians drinking the cheapest beer l think one will ever find...l started out walking around Prague.
I did not stop walking l think until Friday morning when l caught the plane back to Geneva! Prague is known to be cheap...but l didnt realize l could quite happily spend two days just walking around not paying for anything but food quite happily
01- Havelska Trziste
. However, the beauty of Prague is in the eye of the beholder...if you love to wander around gazing up at amazing architecture, walking down cobbled stone alleyways, through local produce markets and around castles and cathedrals than you too will adore this place as l did! I spent the first late afternoon wandering past shops and found my way to Charles Bridge for sunset. I walked up and down this bridge at least 5 times in the 1 and a half days l was there. I loved watching and talking with the artists lined up along the bridge, watching people as they browsed the photographers stands lined up across the bridge and then inspired try and take their own masterpiece shot and ofcourse watch the tourists rub a statue for good luck...though l didnt know the story behind this particular statue. If you are a supersticious person than Europe appears to be the wrong place to travel in...as every city l have been to so far has some sort of statue that you have to rub in order to bring you good luck or avoid bad luck.
The two nights that l was in Prague l spent at the State Opera House watching two fabulous but completely different operas. The first night l watched Carmen, of which l knew all the famous songs and as it was in French l understood a little! I had always wanted to see this opera...and it certainly lived up to my expectations...especially since l only paid $460 Czech...around $24 Australian dollars for the ticket! I left the Opera house dreaming of Spain (in which the Opera is set) and found myself singing the songs as l walked back to my hostel. The next night l returned but this time l saw Aida, of which this time was in Italian and grand Opera Buffa style (grand opera) and of which l knew none of the songs.
02- Wenceslas Square in Nove Mesto...
Although this Opera was a little over-dramatic for my liking...l was mesmerised by the sets, costumes and dancers. Aida is set in Egypt...so l felt transported back to this land of which l loved....and l loved watching every minute. It also helped that l read the sypnosis of the opera before going so l had some idea of who loved whom, who hated whom and who was going to die (the general idea of every Opera!). By the end of the two days l felt l was on Opera overload...but l suggest to anybody going to Prague to go see and opera...the opera house alone is a good reason to go...beautiful...and l dont believe you ever will find cheaper tickets for sitting!I spent my day on Thursday walking around the old town and the castle, and going to St Nicolas church and viewing the Passion Cycle of paintings it beheld. I then visited a recommeded Thai restaurant (l had been craving Thai for about a month) and spent the afternoon bargarning with the local markertees for a print l had been admiring of Charles Bridge and buying the must buy in Prague....a woolen beani, bohemian glass jewellry and a baboushica doll.
As l said l cant do Prague justice with words....and l dont believe my photos will either.. l hope you can one day also visit and see for yourself this beautiful city and form your own opinions!
