Prague part I

Prague is an amazing city. I recommend it to anyone. It makes for a perfect long weekend trip. Håvard and I were there this past weekend, sans SLR camera. I forgot to charge my battery before we left so we were armed with only our point and shoot. This allowed us photographers the freedom to be just tourists. It was great.

Prague is all art and architecture. This is the place for anyone who enjoys the great structures. I was left with the impression that the Czech were, and to a point still are, fixed in tradtional, detailed beauty. I've never seen architecture like it. Even the modern buildings were peculiar. Cramped yet spacious. Wide-open long hallways, grand entrances, high ceilings. One feels the Russian influence softened by old Bohemian beauty. The city is drenched with intricate detail and without my camera I was able to just look and enjoy.

There is an enormous emphasis on art. I've never seen such talented street merchants. Galleries are everywhere, and full of people. There are photo shops, paint stores, and book stores gallore. While in Prague, one just becomes injected with a general heightened sence for the arts.

The city reeks of pork. Pork and fryers. The people aren't too friendly. I didn't get the feeling they were doing it on purpose, more so that thats just the way they are. The staff at our hotel were although quite friendly. Friendly without smiling. They are also efficient and curtious. The housekeeping lady said "Sorry" about 15 times after coming in our room to clean while we were still there there at 11am. (We slept well.) And on our way to back to the airport our hotel's chauffeur didn't bat an eye while driving 160 km/hr in an 80km zone.

All in all it was a lovely trip. Here's some pictures.





Mmm. One of Prauges highlights.
Look away all my vegan friends. Layered meats on a bed of pickled cabbage and dumblings. It was actually very good and I almost ate the whole thing. Note Håvards modest portion behind my tower of meat.


View from our balcony. National Museum at the top of the street.



The Dancing House. Look it up on google for much better pictures. An architectural colaboration between a Czech and a Canadian architect.



Fun statues and modest police door. This picture doesn't show it well, but this door was so tiny. One would have to duck considerable to come in. (They also eat a lot of duck in Prague).



Lots of these in Prague.



Lots of people in Prague.



By night.


Hot and sweaty us.



Who doesn't love these rooftops?



An evening stroll.


I liked this fellow.


Possibly my favorite picture from the trip - a group of muslim youth perched upon a christian monument.



4 kommentarer:

Anonym sa...

OK, jeg skal skriv en komment.

OHMYGOD those streets are amazing! And leave it to you to take great shots with a point-and-shoot.

Jeg har skrev en komment. (Is that right?)

Al sa...

That second to last one looks like a Jim Henson puppet. Something freaky from the Muppet Show or something. Is it all stone? It looks like a cross between feathers and fur.

Jacqueline DuBois sa...

Evan: Takk.

Almost perfect. :) Jeg skal skrive en kommentar. Jeg har skrevet en kommentar.

But I like yours better.

Jacqueline DuBois sa...

Al: It's all stone, but the poky spikes coming out of it's head and other places are pins placed there so pigeons and birds don't land on it and poop. It was above the door of the German embassy.