Things I now know about Prague

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Things I now know about Prague include:

1. Prague lies almost perfectly in the centre of Europe and it's history is long and rich.

2. It is very beautiful. It is very beautiful because, as an old European city, it is still intact. It survived major damage during WW2 because Hitler wished to retire to this city. It's Jewish quarter is still largely intact because he also wanted to create a museum of an extinct race there. With only about 5000 Jewish people now living in Prague and the tourist hoards descending on Josefov every day, he kind of succeeded.

3. The beer here is cheaper than water.

4. There are extensive verdant spaces in the city which provide respite from the milling crowds.

5. There are far too many tourists in Prague. (I am not a tourist; I am a traveller).

6. You can get from one place to another by many paths. The whole town is connected through streets and countless passages - when you see a passage, you should explore it. It will usually lead you somewhere fine and can also provide a shorter way home. This is also a good metaphor for life.

7. The cobblestoned streets are everywhere.

8. Everyone meanders in Praha. They do this because it is virtually impossible to walk fast on the cobblestones (see point 7).

9. When eating in this city, it is a good idea to avoid dumplings. No, seriously. Just don't go there.

10. Malostranska is now my favourite word even though I don't know whether it means anything. (Try saying it; words like that make life worth living).

11. Sometimes in their interactions with travellers, the Czechs can be gruff.

12. Sometimes, when one is lost in one's travels, very kind Czech people stop to help you on the street.

13. In Prague, as in life, two opposing realities can co-exist (please refer to points 10 and 11).

14. Whatever else happens to me from now on, I have seen Prague and my heart is happier because of it.

There are other things I now know about Prague but 14 is enough for now.

Here are the last of the photos. The internet is slow so there won't be many.

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Photos

An old crumbling palace
Me listening to a sound installation. I don't think the attendant selling tickets was used to receiving customers. The streets outside the palace near the Charles bridge are teeming with tourists and she nearly jumped out of her skin when we entered. We were the only people in the place, just us and the little old lady who followed us everywhere.

A lino cut
There were various exhibits in the musty, degraded rooms