Despite my previous post, Prague remains
a fascinating city. The small alleys that have interesting buildings and small
shops lure me to getting lost in a labyrinth of winding streets and architectural
designs. It feeds my sense of exploration. Wandering into an antique shop,
knowing full well that I will not be buying anything, is a great way to spend
fifteen minutes. A good antique or curiosity shop is like a brief lesson in
cultural history. These small streets create a sense of space that is exotic;
small churches, well off the tourist path, are every bit worthy of explorations
as their more famous counterparts.
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| The somewhat bizarre statue that hangs in front of Kino Lucerna |
Prague evokes another era. It is difficult
to stop taking pictures (see more photos here). Yet, every picture is
disappointing because it never captures the essence of the city. Prague has a
mystique to it that is hard to describe and pinpoint. Leigh Fermor was similarly
enchanted by the city as well. On his final night in Prague, the young traveler
sat on a roof and watched the lights of the city go out one by one as the night
wore on. The city and its lights were beautiful; they still are. He ends the
chapter about Prague by writing, somewhat melancholic, that it was the last
time he saw the city (at least when he was writing the chapter). Faced with the
prospect that I might not return to Prague is a depressing thought. No matter the
trouble with overwhelming numbers of tourists, the charms of the city still capture
the hearts of many travelers. Or else, why would they come?
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