I have never seen a prettier city by night. When the tired tourists toddle back home, the babies are asleep, the last of the city retires into their hotels and homes, the city shines out in all its glory. We were walking back after a wonderful meal, and the city felt silent and warm. Not weatherwise warm, that was cold enough to freeze our eyelashes. But welcoming warm. The few tourists left were as mesmerized by the city as us. We all hung around, feeling mutual bonhomie and peace.
Madhur and me, were on top of the Charles bridge. In the day its noisy, with throngs and throngs of tourist, hawkers and road side musicians. But night weaved a different spell. All around the city the lights peppered the sides of the city. But these lights were not scattered. They were lined beautifully, but it yet gave the feeling of pleasant planning, not ruthless lines like in a highway. We looked around wonderstruck and then realised that the housing and hotel constructions have been beautifully planned. No haphazard construction, no sudden reisdential or commercial complexes in the middle of the hertiage sites. The Prague castle, the many cathedrals, monastries, domes and towers stood out in their own blissful glory, with no blinking light distractions from homes and cafes. As a result the entire visual city of Prague could be gulped in, with a landscopic eye view, with no obstructions from either side of the bridge.
Having said that, Prague is the city of maximum cafes and restaurants I have ever seen. Every nook and cranny, alley and broadwalk has copious amounts of them. (this is planning by the Prague govt i say, the hertiage sites had many cafes in and around them, but none - absolutely none played disco lights with the hertiage sites).
Coming back to the cafes, you name it and a restaurant exists. Look left, look right and look sideways, restaurants, cafes, crystal shops (prague is known for its crystal, and rightly so !) and more bars.
We had some of our best meals here and visited some of the best bars too. Names will follow in next blog!
In the daylight, Prague gave me a feeling of desperation. Of locals scrambling and clawing their way up. At night, the city lost this sluggishness, and shined out with music, theatres, operas, and buzzing bars. Not to mention the castle which took on a life of its own.
The prague Castle is HUGE. Its supremely massive, one of the largest Castle complexes in Europe. It towers over the city and stands in kingly stature booming over the city. Its majestic and classy. Most constructions range from the 11th Centuary onwards, relatively new when you compare them to Rome etc, but extremely well maintained.
All in all Prague was a worth visit. It holds a special place in my eyes!
Madhur and me, were on top of the Charles bridge. In the day its noisy, with throngs and throngs of tourist, hawkers and road side musicians. But night weaved a different spell. All around the city the lights peppered the sides of the city. But these lights were not scattered. They were lined beautifully, but it yet gave the feeling of pleasant planning, not ruthless lines like in a highway. We looked around wonderstruck and then realised that the housing and hotel constructions have been beautifully planned. No haphazard construction, no sudden reisdential or commercial complexes in the middle of the hertiage sites. The Prague castle, the many cathedrals, monastries, domes and towers stood out in their own blissful glory, with no blinking light distractions from homes and cafes. As a result the entire visual city of Prague could be gulped in, with a landscopic eye view, with no obstructions from either side of the bridge.
Having said that, Prague is the city of maximum cafes and restaurants I have ever seen. Every nook and cranny, alley and broadwalk has copious amounts of them. (this is planning by the Prague govt i say, the hertiage sites had many cafes in and around them, but none - absolutely none played disco lights with the hertiage sites).
Coming back to the cafes, you name it and a restaurant exists. Look left, look right and look sideways, restaurants, cafes, crystal shops (prague is known for its crystal, and rightly so !) and more bars.
We had some of our best meals here and visited some of the best bars too. Names will follow in next blog!
In the daylight, Prague gave me a feeling of desperation. Of locals scrambling and clawing their way up. At night, the city lost this sluggishness, and shined out with music, theatres, operas, and buzzing bars. Not to mention the castle which took on a life of its own.
The prague Castle is HUGE. Its supremely massive, one of the largest Castle complexes in Europe. It towers over the city and stands in kingly stature booming over the city. Its majestic and classy. Most constructions range from the 11th Centuary onwards, relatively new when you compare them to Rome etc, but extremely well maintained.
All in all Prague was a worth visit. It holds a special place in my eyes!
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