charming czech
Succumb to the old world charm of Prague with its spires and ancient architectural beauties
Having lived in London for six years, I had ticked all the boxes that the ‘Great Indian Traveller’ is expected to. Rome (Vatican, Coliseum ), Swiss Alps, Paris (Eiffel Tower), the sleepy canals of Amsterdam, Berlin and Black Forest in Germany, Scotland (with its scotch whiskies!) are some of the must visits. Having conquered them all, I decided to venture eastwards. Who in London has not heard about the charm and beauty of the sleepy, relaxed and welcoming East European cities?
So, the flights and accommodation were booked and Prague (or Praha as it is know in the Czech) it was going to be. The Great Indian Traveller in London knows the importance of time efficiency well. He has perfected the art of dashing to the airport on a Friday afternoon (of course, it helps to have an understanding boss when you need to leave the office at 3pm) and return back on Sunday night.
It was late in the night when we touched down at Prague airport and took the taxi to our hotel, the Vintage Design Hotel Sax, bang in the middle of the ‘old town’. The hotel was small, but cosy and just about perfect for the budget traveller who likes luxury.
The next day, after a sumptuous breakfast, we set off to tour the city. Since our hotel was in the Old Town, we decided to start with it. Old Town was a medieval settlement separated from the rest of the world by a moat and a wall. In the 14th century, Charles IV (the then ruler of Prague), brought down the moat and the walls and expanded Prague into the New Town.
At the Old Town Square, one can absorb the architectural beauty that Prague has to offer. For the ‘architecturally challenged’ tourist that I am, I felt every single building looked a tourist attraction in its own right. The square also has an Astronomical Clock which was installed in 1410 and is the third oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest functioning one. The square also boasts of some spires and towers that earn Prague the tag of ‘City of Hundred Spires’.
At the border of the Old Town Square is St Nicholas Church, built in the 18th Century. The bell tower of the Church served as a secret observation post for the State Police during the communist reign. Apart from providing a panoramic view of the city, the tower oversees the embassies of a number of countries. For a city with narrow roads and buildings almost kissing each other, this provides a vantage point for the James Bonds of the era.
Climbing up and down the stairs and exploring the Church and the Old Town had sapped my energy. My growling belly indicated that the large amount of fat in my body was not going to help. So off I went to a pub for drinks and food. Prague is the Calcutta of Czech; you can get food and alcohol cheaper here. No wonder Prague is one of the top destinations for bachelor and hen parties.
After tanking up, we went to check out the Charles Bridge. It served as an important trade route and travel link right up to the 19th Century. The bridge is the ‘fashion street’ of Mumbai, with hawkers peddling their wares. Musicians and artists also line up to display their creativity, and earn a buck as well. At the other side of the bridge, boat operators entice you with a paddle boat on the river, which is immensely relaxing.
The New Town is a homogenous mix of ancient architecture and modern designs. The National Museum, National Theatre and the Dancing House are some of the attractions in the New Town.
As dusk fell, it was time to retire to the hotel and look for dinner places. Being a quintessential Indian, I was craving for Indian food. After asking the reception at my hotel, off I went to the interesting ‘Khajuraho’ Indian restaurant. The food over there was typical Indian fare and the perfect ending to a tiring day.
The next day had been kept for the ‘vintage car’ hires. It won’t be wrong to say that there are more vintage cars in Prague as there are collectively in the rest of the world..!!
The entrepreneurs in Prague offer tourists half day ride in vintage cars, for, what I term as a reasonable fare of less than $80 per person.
After the ride, it was time to have lunch and then make way to the airport for the flight back home. As we waited for the flight at the airport, we felt a little nostalgic, that one is bound to feel after visiting a city with an old-world charm. It has a calmness about it, with enough excitement to attract you.
Best time to visit: April-June and September-October. Summer months (June-September) can get a bit too hot. Winters are harsh.
Getting there: Flights are the easiest way to get to Prague.
From the airport: Taxi. Good public transport network (includes bus, trains and trams).
Food & drinks: Very cheap, compared to other European cities. Food and drinks should cost around ` 500-700 per person per meal.
Transport within the city: Walking is the best way to explore the city. Trams can be used for people who like to take it easy.
Hotels: Several hotels in the Old Town and New Town. Luxurious but middle-range hotels can be booked for around ` 5000/night for 2 people. People in Prague are very friendly. Most people understand English. It is safe to stay out late in the night. |
