Prague

Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic and nicknamed ‘the city of hundred spires.’

Prague is a place I’ve always wanted to travel to and explore. Its landmarks of medieval architecture are just so stunning and intriguing. Not to mention the chimney cakes!

I visited during the summer, on a really warm weekend in August. I stayed for two nights at Hotel Liliova Prague in the Old Town. Situated perfectly near the main attractions and various restaurants. The hotel even gave guests a voucher for 10% off the bill at one of the nearby restaurants as a goodwill/thank you gesture.

I decided to explore the old town square first. Located near Charles Bridge, Old Town Square is a historic square in the old town quarter of the city dating back to the 12th century. It features various architectural buildings, including the Church of Our Lady before Tyn; a Catholic church and gothic masterpiece with its famous towering spires. Built in 1365 its multiple spires are 80m high and dominate the square. The Prague Astronomical Clock, also known as the Prague Town Hall Clock, is a magnificent medieval clock situated in the Old Town of Prague. Built in 1410, it is an amazing example of Gothic science and technology. Not only does it give you the time, but also demonstrates the position of the sun and moon, zodiac signs and rotating statues of the 12 apostles. How much more information do you need? It certainly is very interesting to watch the different movements and listen to the chimes.

A short distance from the Old Town Square is Charles Bridge. An historic bridge over the Vltava River. The bridge connects the old town and Lesser Town. It was built in 1357 under Emperor Charles IV and today it is considered one of the most beautiful bridges in Europe. It is only accessible to pedestrians and provides some fantastic photo opportunities.  

Across the Charles Bridge is the historic neighbourhood of Lesser Town. It’s quite a steep walk up the hill to the top of this part of the city. Frankly, I was hot and bothered and found it quite hard going to the top on such a warm day, but once you get to the top you are rewarded with the most spectacular, postcard-like views of the city. Prague Castle is a castle complex that serves as the official residence and workplace of the president of the Czech Republic. It was built in the 9th century. The castle is considered the largest coherent castle in the world and has an area of almost 70,000 meters. Legend has it that under the castle there is a natural cavern in which eternal fire burns.

I’d heard of these oh-so-divine deserts in Prague, and so went in search to try one for myself! Trdelnik, commonly known as Chimney cake, are an absolute must to try when visiting Prague. Delicious treats that can be found in most street bakeries, cafes and shops. A light, sweet pastry cone shape that is thin and hollow. To cook, it is wrapped around an iron pole and baked. Once cooked it is rolled in sugar and also cinnamon. It is then filled with ice cream and lots of yummy treats of your choice. And with an array of toppings, you are literally spoilt for choice, from fruits, nuts, sauces and sweets. I opted for caramel ice cream with white chocolate.

Along the river bank, you’ll see the unusual architectural structure of the Dancing House. It is quite a striking building and really stands out in the street amongst the row of buildings and traffic. The location of the building is on a site where an apartment building once stood before being bombed in 1945. Built in 1996, its central pillars represent dancing partners, giving the building a unique sense of movement.

Located near the Charles Bridge, the Lennon Wall was first painted with an image of John Lennon after his murder in 1980. It represented not only a memorial to John Lennon and how he represented peace, but it was also a monument to free speech. A tall, long wall, it is a vibrant symbol of history, art and resistance. Today the wall is covered with colourful graffiti, drawings and messages.

A magnificent statue built with 42 layers of stainless steel that glistens in the sunlight. Make sure to take your sunglasses when going to watch this attraction! Each of the layers rotates in different directions in order to change position. Designed by David Cerny in 2014, the 11m head stands outside the Quadrio shopping mall. The head stops twice an hour for 15 minutes, then resumes rotating. The whole sequence lasts a total of 40 minutes where the head moves on 15 different occasions. It is certainly a different kind of statue and interesting to watch.

Frank Kafka was a novelist and writer born in Prague in 1883. He also kept a diary detailing his observations of daily life.

One of his entries that I was really intrigued by was the little girl and the lost doll.

One day as he was walking through the park in Berlin he saw a little girl crying because she had lost her favourite doll. They looked but did not find the doll. Kafka told her that they would look again the next day. They searched again but did not find the doll. Kafka gave the little girl a written letter from the lost doll. In it, ‘the doll’ explained that she had left to go on a trip to see the world and that she would write and tell the little girl about her adventures. Kafka continued to write letters which he read to the little girl about the doll’s adventures. Eventually, Kafka bought the little girl a new doll. However, this made the little girl sad as it looked nothing like the doll she had lost and so didn’t believe it was her doll. Kafka handed the little girl another letter from the doll, which wrote ‘My travels have changed me.’ The little girl hugged the doll and happily took it home.

Sadly, a year later Kafka died aged 40. Many years later, the now-adult girl found a letter inside the doll signed by Kafka which read; ‘Everything you love will be lost, but in the end, love will return in another way. Embrace the change. It’s inevitable for growth. Together we can shift pain into wonder and love, but it is up to us to consciously and intentionally create that connection.’

Quite touching and certainly food for thought!