Saturday, September 29, 2012

PRAGUE: OPEN 24 HOURS


          Early  in the  morning, the minute  you get off  the plane  you find yourself  in a miraculous  dream called  Prague
   “ Ahoy’  is the  first  word you hear when  arriving  in the  Czech  Republic.  Whenever  you hear “Ahoy”  be sure that they are welcoming you and offering a closer acquaintance  with their wonderful  country.  Thousands  of people  visit  Czech  to just  stroll  along  the ancient the inimitable  architecture.
    The city,  with a population of 1,21  million,  is astounding  with the fusion  of Czech,  German and Jewish  cultures.  The variety  of architectural  styles, the ancient  monuments  and the   well-preserved  Old town  make  Prague  one of the most  beautiful  cities in Europe.
 An  ancient legend  goes that the legendary Princess Libuse,  who had visionary  powers,  exclaimed in her  dream:  “I see an  enormous  city and its fame will reach the stars and  its name will be  Prague!  Thus ,  in the  seventh  century  the Princess predicted the future glory  of the city. 
  Why  is Prague  so enthralling  and what is the secret of its attraction?  Maybe it’s the romantic  evenings  when the city  turns  into an illuminated  scene, or maybe it’s the enchantment  of the hundreds of cozy  pubs inducing  beer-lovers.  Maybe it is the indescribable  thrill  to be in the homeland of Franz  Kafka or the  exhilarating  moment of walking with  someone  close to  your  heart along the Carl’s  Bridge. Maybe…  By  the way,  about Carl’s  Bridge or the Karlov Most as  the  citizens  call it…
  This  structure  is  one  of  the most  famous  historic  monuments  of  Prague.  It was  built  according to the  designs  of Petr  Parlor  .  The  exact  date and time  the  cornerstone  was  laid  was July 9,  1357  at 15:31.  If  you  regard  this  date closely,  you will  see  that  it consists  of odd  numbers  in an  increasing  and  decreasing  order: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 5, 3, 1.  The  date  was specifically  chosen  by  mathematicians and astrologers  as the most  favorable  time for construction.
   Each  of the 30 statues  located along  Carl’s Bridge has  a peculiar  history,  but the most incredible is the story of  Jan  Nepomuck or St. John Nepomucene. In his fully  developed legend he was the confessor of the Queen  of  Bohemia.   Her husband,  Wenceslas  4  King  of Bohemia  and emperor  of  Germany  was  very jealous   and suspicious  of the Empress,  who  used to spend  hours  in the Church  praying.  The king  called St. John Nepomucene  and  ordered  him to reveal  what his  wife had  told him in confession,  but the confessor  refused  to  divulge the secrets of the confessional,  for which he  was tied up and thrown  into the Vltava  River  from  Carl’s  Bridge.  When  peasants found  his drowned  body in the river,  golden stars were  shining above his head.  Since then,  sculptors  have been  depicting  St. John Nepomucene with five  stars circling  his head.
  People still believe  that if they touch the bas-relief  beneath the sculpture with a dream in their mind, it will certainly come true.
 Strolling along the streets in Prague is  sheer delight.  It  helps explore this wonderful  city more thoroughly  and  intently.  One of the most  magnificent structures in the Old Town is the Casle,  presently the Presidential  Residence. The Prague Castle is the largest  medieval castle  complex in Europe and the ancient seat of Czech kings  throughout the ages. A little charming  passageway leads into the famous Golden  Lane,  yet another interesting part of the Prague Castle  complex. The tiny colorful  houses that were once inhabited by the castle servants, perhaps  goldsmiths and castle marksmen, take you back to a childhood fairy tale. Dating from the 15th  century,  this small street is lined by 11 historic houses,  which exhibit medieval armory and textiles,  as well as selling tourist  souvenirs.  From 1916 to 1917  house  No.22  was inhabited by the writer Franz Kafka.
  Throughout centuries , one of Prague’s most notable and popular  attractions was the
Prague Astronomical Clock or the Prague  Orloj  mounted on the southern wall of the Old Town  City Hall in the old Town  Square in 1338 and  featuring the procession of the Twelve Apostles.
    The nearby Jewish Quarter with its historic buildings and monuments is an  important part of the  history of  Prague.
  On the opposite bank of the Vltava  River rises the world-class Dancing House (Tancini Dum),  a  masterpiece of contemporary architecture and a most daring experiment.  Built between 1992-1996, by  Yugoslav-born Vlado Milunic and the renowned American architect Frank  Gehry, the Dancing House forms a strikingly modern contrast  to  Prague’s historic attractions.  At first the citizens  of  Prague were too reluctant to accept the “gigantic  Monster” covered in glass and iron in their beloved fairy-tale city.  But in a short time span they reconciled  themselves to its existence and even  named it the “Ginger & Fred Building”, after the legendary dance  duo. In  fact,  amidst the daring, curvy outlines of the building there is a fine love melody as if the famous dancers are giving their best performance in front of the audience.  Dancing House is home to one of the city’s leading restaurants, La Perle de Prague Restaurant that offers magnificent views over Prague.  Prague is the political and cultural  center of the Czech Republic. More than 2000 cultural events take  place every month in this wonderful city. Aside from aesthetic pleasure,  Prague offers a large variety of entertainments.
   Cafes have always been  a favorite  venue  for   artists and intelligentsia  alike who can freely discuss  various political  and cultural  issues inspired  by the peaceful  coziness. Café “Medusa” ,  for  instance,  hosts a  diversity of exhibition sales by  modern  artists.  This is a popular  meeting point, as well as  a place for  round  table discussions and, of  course,  drinking.  You are sure to find something  amazing here. Majority of pubs and  cafes are open  until 1 o’clock  in the morning and even 04:00  or  05:00  a.m.  on weekends. Night  clubs are normally  working  until 05:00 a. m.,  but if you  are not contented you can attend  the so-called “ after-parties”, the  clubs that are open 24 hours. After sunset, Prague  divulges its  night  life. If you are a real  party animal,  then  this is just the place  for  you to go.  The  city has  numerous  top-scale  night clubs and you  are sure to  like at  least one of them. Night life in  Prague  opens endless  opportunities  to  meet  interesting  people and spend the night  in a friendly  environment.
  During the entire trip I could not  help  but recall  the saying that  “Prague  is like a woman:  tender and  persistent,  impulsive  and deep, like  a well  where you can  recognize  your  real  face.” Who  knows,  maybe  Yaroslav  Seyfert’s  words reveal  the  whole truth about  Prague
  “Prague  is  like a woman: tender and  hard,  capricious and deep as a well  in which you can recognize your real  face.” 

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