Prague - romantic & magical!
Prague evokes romance you would think the city is tailor-made for lovers and loving. You stroll the narrow streets that lead you in and out of the Old Town Square that is awash in the glow of old street lamps. In your promenade, you allow yourself to get lost in half-forgotten nooks of the Old Town, showered by the falling leaves as you wander through the orchards in bloom on Petrin Hill, whisked by Prague’s balmy breeze while on a boat ride on the Vltava River or enchanted by the vista while slowly walking on Charles Bridge.
The capital of Czech Republic brews not only its famous pilsen but also romantic overtures with its fairytale cityscape that is so lovely and enticing. Prague, a living museum, now boasts a totally unique and extensive historical city center, which has been a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992.
The city is said to be the “heart of Europe,” according to Trafalgar tour director Malcolm Macrae, who guided our group to an unforgettable discovery of Eastern European cities that also included Budapest, Bratislava, Tabor and Vienna. “Prague is sometimes called the Mother of Cities. It is also referred to as the City of a Hundred Spires because when you look out the city from the Prague Castle, you will see countless towers and the spires of the churches and other buildings rise above it. The city is always celebrated for its architectural and spiritual richness and its mystical attraction. At almost every step on Prague’s storied streets, you will discover the glorious history of this former imperial and royal city,” Malcolm said.
Prague’s architecture celebrates Gothic and Romanesque splendor you would think the city is a living organism with the awe-inspiring edifices that seem to be as old as time. For example, the oldest Romanesque church in Prague is the 11th- century Rotunda of St. Martin at Vysehrad with circumferential walls nearly a meter thick. The most famous, of course, is the Basilica of St. George at Prague Castle where you can find the tomb of Czech patron St. Ludmila.
The very knowledgeable Malcolm ( Trafalgar tour directors are known for their wit, wisdom and humor) informed us that the Gothic architecture in Prague — including the mesmerizing St. Vitus Cathedral and the Old Royal Palace — had its greatest period of expansion in the 14th century, during the reign of the Holy Roman Emperor and Bohemian King Charles IV.
At the Old Town Square, which was a market place during the Middle Ages, your gaze is challenged by the beauty before you. It’s a defining experience because the Old Town Square is the true heart of Prague where you get mesmerized ogling the St. Nicholas Church and the Church of Our Lady Before Tyn and the many houses and palaces of different architectural styles. And at the top of every hour, throngs of visitors troop to the Old Town Hall to marvel at its Astronomical Clock where a momentary procession of the wooden statues of the 12 Apostles is programed to file past.
Prague is sparkling in the sunlight and rejoicing in the limelight. But at sundown, the city takes a different life. A leisurely stroll on the Charles Bridge, an almost one-kilometer medieval stone bridge lined with Baroque statues of saints, is an invigorating experience. As the sun sets, musicians and artists enchant passersby with their lilting voices or dexterous hands that paint a canvas of your experience on Charles Bridge. The imposing statues of saints provide both architectural and spiritual perspectives of Prague. You solemnly whisper your pleas to them and at the same time marvel at their aesthetic appeal.
Two or three streets to your left on Karmelitska street, after your dalliance with the Charles Bridge, you find the Church of Our Lady of Victorious, where many Filipino pilgrims pray to the famous Infant Jesus of Prague for protection and indulgence.
Next time I visit, I will trace the footsteps of Franz Kafka and Prague’s famous rabbis, and walk the narrow lanes of the former Jewish ghetto. I was told there is a special tour called “Prague in the footsteps of Kafka.”
When you get hungry in Prague, order the popular Czech dish called svickova na
smetane, which is tenderloin bathing in flavorful cream and vegetable sauce. You can also order a slab of tender-juicy Prague roast pig, which is almost similar to the Pinoy lechon. Many restaurants serve good food at the topmost terraces for a more appetizing view of the old city. Go, too, for a bottle of Czech beer, the country is known for its perfect pilsner.
Prague is magical — anywhere you train your sights, you are beguiled, fascinated and enthralled. It is a beautiful place to dream and escape reality. It is a lovely place to fall in love.
(For inquiries on Trafalgar tours, call Pan Pacific Travel Corp., the GSA of Trafalgar in the Philippines, at 536-1265 or 536-1267 or e- mail trafalgarmanila@panpacifictravel.com. For flight details, call
Cathay Pacific at 757- 0888 or log on to www.cathaypacific.com.)