Prague Is!

Prague is a walkers city. It is small and compact and if your feet are tired it has a great transit system. The streets in the older sections of Prague are all cobblestone. The sidewalks are made up of smaller stones of different colours whick they make into simple patterns. The cobblestones used in the streets are larger, around 8" x 8". These stones are tricky to walk on as there are significant gaps between each of the stones. These gaps and the dog pooh keeps you pretty busy scanning the ground in front of you. Its to bad, because the beauty of Prague is in many cases above street level. Every second house has some art or stone work decorating the facade. Not just murals, but 20' high statues clinging to the side of building. Churches higher than God intended, I think. This beauty has not been dwarfed by high rises. There are no high rises in Prague Central. (Praha 1) Nothing to remove the feeling that this is an old City.

It's roots go back to the ice age, as Mastadon bones have been discovered nearbye. Around the 10th Century it started to grow with things really kicking off in the 13th Century when the first vestiges of central government made Prague the seat of power. It continues to be the seat of power today but for a much reduced empire now known as the Czech Republic.

The life style here seems pretty laid back. We have not left the tourist zone much, so I cannot say if this chilled out feeling is just here or extends beyond to where the Czech people live. Dress is very casual with hints of Euro style. Very little remains of the Communist era except in the Museum of Communism. A tacky little museum for tourists or a least those of us who remember communism. Prague is a young persons city. It is a favourite destination of other European countries as a great place to hang and chill. The streets are clean and feel very safe. There are a few street people about but I think Penticton has more than what we have seen so far. We keep runnning into the same ones. We are now on a first name basis.!

Brett and Nonie