Visitors Brighten up The City

It’s a long weekend and it was lovely to catch up with friends visiting from Berlin. R and I last met about 7 years ago, which is when she left the international school where we both worked in Nagoya, and this was my first time meeting her partner, M.

We started off by having brunch at the beautiful Cafe Savoy before spending a few hours walking around Prague. It’s great to have visitors. They pointed out things I’ve never noticed or forgot about, and I was reminded again that I live in a beautiful city.

Astronomical clock in Prague (when not being repaired)

View of Prague from a rooftop

Vltava, Charles Bridge and St. Wenceslas

Our brief tour included (in order):

• admiring the Dancing House and Vysehrad from afar
• appreciating the Vltava river
• enjoying the view of the castle complex from below
• admire the National Theatre
• watching the mesmerising  moving sculpture of Kafka’s head by Cerny
• walking around Wenceslas Square
• Visiting the passage with the Lucerna Music Hall to see the upside down horse
• stopping to see the statue of St. Wenceslas on his horse, and the plaque to the Jan Palach and Jan Zajíc who self-immolated in 1969 in protest against the end of the Prague Spring
• walk to see Municipal House
• walk to Old Town Square with the crowds for iconic Prague views (Tyn church, the Astronomical Clock (under repair), Jan Hus Memorial), St. Nicholas church and the Easter tree and decorations
• Stop at the White Horse in the square for a drink as the rain started coming down (I do not recommend it – prices are more than 2x standard Prague prices!)

We briefly went to my apartment afterward to drop off luggage. My friends planned to have Czech food for dinner. Being (mostly) vegetarian, that did not appeal, so I gave them an umbrella and they head off to explore Prague at night.

I’ve had several visitors while living in Prague, more than in any other place that I’ve lived. The same is true for friends who live here. Walking around Prague with visitors always reminds me that although there are lots of tourists in the city, it’s easy to find quiet, easy streets to escape down, and this city is beauty-FULL!

I didn’t take any pictures on the walk, but enjoy the pictures of Prague from other times. Note to self to share a post of Prague photos. Coming soon…