For my Eid Al-Fitr break in 2007, I
embarked on a week long tour of Eastern Europe. The plan was to fly from
Dubai-Vienna-Prague and travel through the Czech Republic, southern Poland, and
Slovakia, before making my way back to Vienna to catch my flight back to Dubai.
The first stop on the trip was the majestic medieval centerpiece of Prague.
Kept off the beaten path for so long under communist rule, Prague is fast
becoming one of Europe's top destinations, and the city does not disappoint.
Unlike some of its neighboring capital cities, Prague was pretty much left
unscathed during World War II - therefore; the antique historic city center now
sits as a virtual living history museum.
Meandering through the
cobble-stone streets, one finds themselves transported through time all the way
back to Prague's two greatest architectural periods: the Gothic period under
Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV and the baroque period during Hapsburg rule.
While Prague has many notable tourist attractions, the essence of Prague is
captured in simply wandering through it's plethora of boulevards and medieval
streets and streets. Several of these attractions offer some fantastic views of
the city. Prague Castle offers some fantastic panoramic views of the city, and
vice-versa, the view of the castle itself from the banks of the Vltava River
are also striking - at all times of the day and night. Charles Bridge, not only
acts as a pedestrian transportation connection between the eastern and western
banks of the river, but also serves as a shopping promenade. The carnival-like
atmosphere along the bridge is one of Prague's greatest attractions and the
Mala Strana Bridge Tower offers some great sights of the city.
Prague
comes alive at night as well. There's a glut of restaurants, cafes, and beer
tents to fulfill every taste in international cuisine. And there's never a
shortage of entertainment in Prauge either with events ranging from theatre and
classical music to modern rock concerts advertised everywhere. My choice of
entertainment was the rather unique 'blacklight show'
(http://www.wow-show.com/en/). After several days in Prague, I explored the
Bohemian countryside villages before heading off to Poland. |
Above left-right:
Gargoyle at Mala Strana Bridge Tower,
the Astronomical Clock,
overlooking Charles Bridge and Prague Castle from Mala Strana
Below: View
from Mala Strana Bridge Tower (Charles Bridge) |
