Hello everyone. We've hit the road again and this time we've ventured to Prague. This city boasts a liberal outlook, stunning architecture and is teeming with tourists. In fact it's more accurate to describe it as having tourist armies. The legendary astronomical clock, Charles Bridge, Franz Kafka's house, the narrowest streets, tiny guard booths... All these are intertwined with the experiences tourists seek. Here there's even a designated walking path for those who wish to drink and smoke outdoors. And the authentic local bars might not be what you expect. What can one do in Prague? I believe you can do everything you can imagine! For instance, you can comfortably enter the president's garden. In which other city is such a thing possible? Today I'll share all the beauties of this city with you.
On our first morning in Prague, we were ready to explore the city. Prague is actually divided into districts. But instead of names we're accustomed to, here they're simply Prague 1, Prague 2, Prague 3 and so on. I think we were staying in Prague 11. The weather is quite unpredictable. It rained the previous day and I didn't want to get caught in the rain again. There's something written everywhere here: pozor. On the road, at school, on signs... This must be a place to be cautious. Yellow-orange markers are present every kilometer. I couldn't figure out their meaning. I'm not sure what these markers or radars could be.
I think there's a type of camera here, not a radar. But if it were a radar, there should be a sign informing drivers that speed control is being conducted. I didn't quite understand what it was, but the safest way is to follow the flow of traffic. Of course, this isn't always possible because traffic can move at different speeds, so you just have to rely on the signs and it's important to always follow them carefully. If you don't see any signs, it's best to proceed to the intersection and stop there. As happened the previous day, there was no sign on the right and I slowed down and passed, only to learn later that we were on the main road. This place is really calm. The Czech Republic truly seems like a peaceful place. Maybe because it was Sunday, people were relaxed and tranquil. We listened to a radio station and they play old songs everywhere here. Just as in some countries radio stations play songs from the early 20th century, here they play old songs every 15 minutes. Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic have similar trends. It's quite strange. Perhaps it's their nostalgia for the past, who knows.
By the way the word "pozor" actually means attention, so that's why you see pozor written everywhere on the road. It indicates something to be cautious about.
They also provided some information about parking spots in the city. Blue parking spots are only for locals, but on weekends they're free. After the end of the blue zone, white parking spots begin. On weekends and holidays, these white parking areas are also free.
We entered an Asian restaurant, but we can actually consider it as the most adapted version to Europe. It actually reminds me of Chinese cuisine. Here, the same applies to Czech restaurants. There's a sign at the entrance of the restaurant. A restaurant offers only one or at most two types of beer. I saw a Kozel sign in front of a restaurant. This indicates that the restaurant serves the Kozel beer brand. There are different types of beer, but a restaurant offers only a few. If there's a local bar or restaurant, then they produce their own beer varieties, usually 3-4 types of beer.
Drinking alcohol on the streets isn't prohibited, but it can only be done in certain areas. For instance, drinking by the riverside is allowed, but using air conditioning units on historical buildings is forbidden. So, it's not possible to see air conditioners from the outside. They're either placed on the roof or hidden in some other way. This could be an issue for other cities because in some places, cooling devices are installed outside windows, but here such a thing is prohibited. Windows must be of the same style. In every building windows should be of the same type. They can use plastic windows, but the entire building must have the same type.
Besides this it's quite common to drink beer in restaurants even in the mornings here. In the Czech Republic dining in old traditional places makes a difference. In restaurants sometimes you sit at a single table, but it's unclear with whom you're sitting. You chat with everyone. On one hand you're drinking beer, creating a pleasant atmosphere. This is a traditional thing from old times. And business owners here aren't obligated to make customers pay by card. So, in some restaurants in Prague, card payments aren't accepted and only cash is accepted.
In the Czech Republic there's an interesting situation regarding shoes. For example, high-heeled shoes here were actually invented for the British Royal family. Here it's quite common to see women riding bicycles in high heels. In the evenings it's not surprising to see someone wearing an elegant dress, with a backpack, riding a bike. High heels aren't that common, but still, it's a tradition for people to sometimes dress stylishly and tour the city this way.
We approached one of the central areas of the city. Here, I saw the famous Dancing House and the opera house. In this place, old and new styles coexist. Children are dressed in elegant outfits, men wear suits. Everything looks stylish, regardless of wealth or social status. The opera house hosts modern concerts and performances. Next to it, there is a modern art gallery that you can visit anytime.
The river here something like not the world a la notte, often overflows and its water level rises from time to time. This may continue in the future. The river rises a little more each year, but people have learned to deal with it. Currently, the sidewalks in the affected areas have been elevated, but the region still occasionally experiences flooding.
Next we went to Wenceslas Square, one of Prague’s main squares. There are three main squares in Prague, positioned in a triangular layout. Wenceslas square is one of the main ones in the Old Town. Each square has a purpose. For example, demonstrations, rallies and marches are held here. However, the Old Town Square is purely for tourists.No events take place there. It is the oldest square and it only has landmarks to visit.
On our left we saw the Jalta Hotel. This hotel was built during the communist era and once served as a type of accommodation facility. In the past it functioned more like a communist apartment complex. Today the area around it is surrounded by shopping centers.
The bicycle culture here is not very common. In the Czech Republic bicycles are not widely used. Public transportation is preferred instead. Trams and the metro are the most popular means of transportation. In Prague the number of people traveling by bike is quite low compared to other cities. Elderly people, mothers and children mostly use public transport, making bicycles a rare sight.
A museum here was closed for restoration for eight years. They didn’t care about the cost. They simply said, We need to restore it and it will take eight years. They carried out the restoration without any rush. This building is truly significant. One of the most important structures in the country. It features nearly every architectural style: Gothic, Romanesque, Renaissance and Baroque. The restoration took a long time and now it has reopened. The first month of its reopening had free entry, leading to kilometers-long queues.
A light rain started, but we were prepared, walking with our umbrellas.
Finally we approached the main tourist square. There were so many people that it was difficult to move through the crowd. According to an article I read, Europe is currently flooded with tourists. The reason is cheap flight tickets and many European countries have started imposing restrictions to reduce the number of tourists. Now I understand why.
The clock here has a history of approximately 600 years. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it doesn’t just show the time. It also displays planetary movements and zodiac signs.
The towers here are different, but this is not a mistake. It’s intentional. No one really knows why, but according to legend, during World War II, the Americans targeted this city for bombing. However, they mistakenly bombed this area instead. Instead of rebuilding it they turned it into a park, leaving it as a war memorial.
Interestingly this square is known as a gathering place for the people of Prague. It was once home to ordinary citizens, but later government officials, kings and high-ranking figures also settled here. The square is seen as a symbolic place that unites the common people and the elite.
After that we headed toward Paris Street. This street is lined with nothing but luxury stores. However, we continued towards Charles Bridge, a significant symbol of unity between Prague’s rich and poor.
Later we visited one of the most special places in Prague. A landmark of the city: the Apple Museum. The entrance fee is 11 euros. Those who can afford it usually have a serious budget.
Yes, we arrived at the bridge where Linkin Park’s legendary music video was filmed. Souvenirs, caricatures and all sorts of artwork were everywhere.
The food was delicious. Something served with different creams and fruits. It was really tasty. There were various dishes, but they were a bit heavy. Maybe if I had waited a bit before eating, it would have felt lighter. But the view made it all worthwhile. We had a small drink and continued our journey.
Five years ago this cathedral was massive. So large that I wanted to step back to see it entirely. But since it was surrounded by a courtyard, that wasn’t possible. I believe such a cathedral deserves a vast square. The Gothic style here looks absolutely magnificent. This place means everything to us.
We entered the famous Golden Lane, where Franz Kafka once lived. There are tiny houses and in the past, guards used to reside here. And people can recall their past workplaces in this area.
We descended once again to Charles Bridge. People say living here is amazing. I agree. It’s a must. For those wanting to live in Prague, this is the perfect place. Charles Bridge is the most beautiful spot in the city.
There is an old theater here, designed by famous Czech architects. This area also features quite provocative sculptures. Artworks that surprise visitors.
We walked through a narrow alley, the narrowest street in the Czech Republic. It was quite interesting, requiring careful navigation.
We arrived beneath Charles Bridge, in a place known as Czech Venice. Boat tours are available here, making it a tourist attraction. People drink alcohol freely and feel relaxed and liberated. It is a social drinking area where young people and tourists gather in the evenings to have fun. Many people spend time here and the atmosphere is quite calm.
The police come by to check on things, but they don’t disturb anyone. It’s a very peaceful place.
From here we continued exploring Prague…