BOHEMIAN PRAGUE-PRAHA

Beautiful Ice Cream

I wonder why we insist upon calling Praha as Prague!  Praha is how the Czech people pronounce the name of their capital city. Yes, Praha was our next stop after we left Germany. I learnt that Czech Republic was once called Bohemia. Oh! So this is the place which gave us the Bohemian Rhapsody, Bohemian crystal, Bohemian life style...! Bohemianism is generally associated with people who live unconventionally, are artistic, unorthodox, and sometimes also anti establishment!I was thrilled to be in erstwhile Bohemia!!  
The border between Germany and Czech republic was interesting, as there were buildings which would have some years back stopped people and checked so many documents.This was one of the major  iron curtain countries. The language is Czech, which is hard on the ears, and very difficult to understand.The easiest words I found were Ahoj, pronounced Ahoy, which is used for both Hi and bye informally

The quality of the roads deteriorated. The forests were more dense. The first rest area also seemed to show its distinctness. It became a little more austere than those of Germany.The major difference from other European countries is that they use their own currency,the Koruna. Almost every other man is named Vaslav! From a Prime Minister, to an entertainer with huge billboards and our own guide.

View from Hilltop

Prague has beautiful buildings. Our hotel was excellent and had a small mall attached to it. Everything appeared cheaper. The ice cream shop displayed the ice cream very artistically. The tubs were decorated with swirls and twirls and waves! It was quite fascinating and inviting.

Bridges by the dozen!

We went for a tour of Prague by night followed by a river cruise and dinner on the boat. By the time we reached the castle on the top of the hill, we had seen beautiful buildings, hundreds of towers,churches and the lovely river Vltava with its numerous bridges. There are about 31 bridges across the river,the oldest is the Charles Bridge. Charles is" Karlov" in Czech.This bridge stands there since the 14th century and connects the Old Town with the New Town.There are about 30 statues on the bridge, which were added in the 17th century.

The tower at Charles Bridge is beautiful.There is a Church,a Museum of Torture and lots of painters sit there as the place is full of tourists.One of us, Marilyn simply fell on the steps of the church!! Was it that amazing? Oh yes it was!!

Prague castle from the river and the city from the castle are sights not to be missed.The city is well spread out and has so many towers of different designs, that the silhouette is grand.

The Metronome

On top of the hill is the Prague castle and St. Vitus Cathedral,as well as the St. George's Basilica.During Russian occupation of Czechoslovakia, a huge statue of Stalin was placed on top of a hill, which was overlooking the whole city. That mammoth has been removed and a very modern metronome  is placed there.It reminded me of "Ozymandias"!! I guess most of you know, what I am talking of. Yet, let me repeat, that this was a poem by Shelley about a mighty  King and his statue. The poem is quite a short one but its philosophy is brilliant. It spoke of the complete decline of leaders and empires that they build, however mighty they may have been at their own time.TIME - it does take it's toll!!

The old city had an area where the Jews lived. Their houses are grand and the designs on the facade are eloquent. The house of the fisherman had adornment of fish on the building, the goldsmith had some design to profess his craft,and so on and so forth,as Vaclav, our guide would say. 

The Old New Synagogue built around 1270, is the oldest working synagogue in Europe and one of Prague's earliest Gothic buildings. The name is quite interesting, as once it was new and then newer ones came up, so it became the "Old new Synagogue". There is a clock tower with Hebrew figures where the  hands of the clock run backwards because Hebrew reads from right to left. 

St. Nicholas Church is also in the old town. Mozart played the organ in this Church.

The Astronomical clock

From the Jewish Quarters we moved towards the Market Square in the old town. The square is very big. There are a lot of good eating joints in the square. The most important object to see in this square is the Astronomical Clock. This clock was made in 1410. It has three dials. One dial shows the phases of the sun and moon, one is a calender dial with medallions, and one is a regular clock. Two small blue doors next to the dial open every hour and twelve apostles move around in circles.It is quite a fascinating sight, more so as it is so ancient . 

Another interesting thing about the clock is that around it are four statues, which represent four disliked vices .One of them is death, which is a skeleton who strikes time every hour. There is vanity, shown holding a mirror, a Jew holding a money bag representing greed,and an infidel Turk.

The modern side of Prague was also near by with an aptly named road 'Paris Street' where one finds big designer stores.

Not to be missed were the stores selling Bohemian crystal.The display was beautiful.

Czech beer is world famous.The original Pils Beer 'Pilsner Urquell' belongs here. So does Budvar or Budweiser.Besides the Bohemian lifestyle, Prague has also given us the famous dance "polka".
Skoda car belongs to Czech Republic and one saw a lot of them on the roads.

Franz Kafka, Bata, Sigmund Freud, Madeleine Albright, Martina Navratilova were born Czech.Tomas Bata gave us the famous Bata shoes, which once upon a time were standard shoes for all Indians.
Grand, majestic,city of bridges and towers, it was indeed delightful to have visited you and seen you in your glory. No amount of over powering neighbours could spoil your beauty! So old and yet so beautiful!!
Na Shledanou(nah-sled-dah-no),Good bye, fantastic, beautiful, gorgeous Praha. I will always remember you and your grandeur.