While it's not really a representation of a city, it's hard for me not to step off of a train and into a train station and think, "So, this is what this place looks like." Prague is no exception. For what it's worth, I'm glad Prague doesn't look like its station, which resembles what people in the 80s imagined the future to look like. The look of the station made me wonder if I'd happen upon a thrice-endowed Martian woman, and an automated taxi driven by Johnny Cab.
None of that happened. All women looked Earthling, and our taxi was driven by a rough- looking bald guy with a handlebar mustache. To avoid any complications regarding taxi drivers incapable of comprehending destinations, we were careful to ennunciate clearly and repetitively the address of our hostel. Thankfully, we arrived safely and promptly to our place, Royal Road Residence.
Situated on one of the many streets loaded with souvenir shops and other tourist bait, such as a TGIFriday's (seriously?), our place was spacious and comfortable. It even had a balcony.
There was a minor fudge-up by the management, because when we opened the door to our place, it appeared to have not been cleaned after the last tenants left. From the looks of it, about sixteen men did nothing but drink and have pillow fights the night before. We told reception, who immediately apologized and said it would be ready in about an hour and a half. We took that time to get a quick bite to eat and check out a few of the (many, many, very many) souvenir shops.
We returned to the room a little later to find it spick and span - no sign of the adult slumber party that happened the preceding night.
Settled and unpacked, we picked up a few groceries, a few bottles of beer, and then, since we were in the Czech Republic, ordered some Thai food. Wait, what? Yes, having been in Germany, we felt we needed a break from meat and potatoes - as delicious as they are - and went the Thai food route. We brought it back and ate on the floor of our room, watching the final gubernatorial debate on Almanac.
Our bellies full, we headed out into the evening. We first checked out the Charles Bridge, a pedestrian bridge finished in the sixteenth century. From the bridge, which is adorned with statues of saints, popes, and other people of that ilk, we saw the Prague Castle in the distance. Brightly-lit on a large hill, the enormous castle was impressive, even from our far-away vantage point.
The streets of Prague are like a maze. A detailed map will show you streets and intersections, but it will probably leave out the part where the street takes several 90- degree turns. Maps and compasses be damned, you will get lost in Prague.
The next day, we visited the grounds of the castle, which offers a great view of the city itself. That evening, we ventured out of the older, picturesque, tourist part of Prague and into the more modern city. Ah, so this is Prague, too. Dark, urban, and not a souvenir shop in sight. We were trying to locate a legendary - among beer fans - pub/restaurant called the Pivovarsky Dum. With several pages of Czech beers available - including a few on tap of their own - and the best Czech food we had, it was well worth the forty-minute trek from the city center.
Something I never thought I'd recommend, ever, is a marionnette show. Our last night in Prague, we saw the opera Don Giovianni, which debuted in Prague in 1787, performed entirely by marionnettes. In front of a packed house, the two-hour show was at times funny, at times dramatic, and impressive throughout. The show was much more than just a gimmick - an opera with puppets. If you have a few nights in Prague, consider an evening at Prague's National Marionette Theater.
As touristy as Prague is, it's very beautiful. Mostly spared during the WWII, it's a great representation of what much of Central Europe used to look like.
Our last morning, we were sad to say goodbye to our friends John and Amanda, who headed back to the real world. Our adventure continued to Plzen.
No comments:
Post a Comment