prague. aug 2005

Michael went to Bristol for a year to do his masters and just before he came back, we took a 18-day trip to Prague and Italy which kinda turned out to be our last trip anywhere together. Despite this, Prague and Italy remains 2 favourite Europe destinations and very much close to my heart, for sentimental reasons.

Prague

25 Aug 2005 - Arrived in London after a 13 hr Qantas flight and met up with Michael who was waiting for me at Heathrow Airport. We took the shuttle to Gatwick where we caught an EasyJet flight out to Prague. Hopped on to a public bus from the Airport direct to Dejvice which was a quiet but nice little district where our Welcome Hostel Dejvice was located. It was nearly night by the time we settled in.

Baguette Breakfast at Prague Castle the next morning, after which we roamed about the Castle compounds leisurely.

Artists selling their paintings along the Old Castle Steps

Headed on to Old Town Square, which was one of my favourite places in Prague, and we'd come back several times just to hang out over chips on the benches and watch the crowds go by.

Every fifteen minutes or so before the hour, people would gather around the Clock Tower and the minute the clock strikes the hour, the mechanism is set in motion and the prettiest things happen in and about the clock face and at the end of it all everyone claps in gleeful appreciation!

Another favourite is Charles' Bridge. Even though Charles' Bridge (also known as Kaluv Most) is pretty touristy, it gave me kind of a happy sad feeling crossing it over and over. It feels really festive with the string of painters and buskers flanking the aisles and filling the air with all sorts of delightful sounds and music but at the same time the presence of the towering statues keeping vigil over the bustling activities cast a sombre mood across the bridge. I can't quite describe the feeling this gave me but i liked it even though it wasn't a happy-happy feeling.






Pretty looking window display. Somehow everything in Europe just looks extra quaint and extra pretty.
One of my favourite almost magical moments in Prague. We sat around below the clock tower in the evening till it became dark just listening to him play his guitar with 5 strings and watching the crowd sing along and enjoying the moment.

Old Town Square at night after the horses have retired for the day.

Tyn Church at Old Town Square

Jewish Cemetery surrounds. Peeped through a small grilled opening on the walls surrounding the Jewish Cemetery which wasn't opened to public when we were there. A surreal feeling of sadness and infinite loss surrounded me as i scanned the scattered tombs in the cemetery.

Lantern Shop next to the Jewish Synagogue

Installation art at the shopping district in Prague. This one's called The Kiss inspired by the famous painting of the same title by Gustav Klimt.

One of the things i like about backpacking in Europe is the whole process of transportation. From checking train schedules to buying train tickets, finding the platform and checking the screens announcing the arrival of our trains brings me as much pleasure as riding on the train itself and looking out of the windows. I also love taking the metro and in Prague i especially enjoyed listening to the recorded female voice announcing each station in an almost trance-like manner.

next: Italy via Vienna