Other cities have their Louvres, their Coliseums, their Houses of Parliament, but Prague is the most consistently beautiful and interesting city we have visited, architecturally anyway. There are important sites and sights, but we mostly enjoy just walking the dense old neighborhoods, appreciating the great variety of historic architecture. Sometimes I do feel a bit foolish standing there staring at a building and maybe snapping a pic. But then someone walks up with one of those big assault-type DLSRs and snaps the same pic. We exchange knowing glances and move on to the next beauty, probably right next door.
Anyhow, we did two walks to the Dancing House recently, one via New Town and beyond to Smichov, across the river, and the other via Old Town and the riverfront. Below are some scenes along the way.
|
Just a few hundred meters from the Palac Archa, this new-fangled office building; we are confining our visits to historic Prague, just the four interior districts; out in the burbs there is no doubt much newer construction |
|
Another block away, on a side street, another art nouveau beauty |
|
Older train station |
|
"Czech Musicians" fountain and sculpture by Anna Chromy; in a park |
|
Another old tower and 700 year sweep |
|
We're going with more Rondo Cubism on this one |
|
Ditto |
|
Side by side art deco and art nouveau |
|
And more Rondo Cubism |
|
Judging from the dates, 1878 and 1903, this one would have started as neo-whatever with art nouveau added later; not uncommon |
|
Neo-wedding cake |
|
One of the more colorful blocks |
|
And anther great street |
|
The Dancing House, aka Fred and Ginger, a collaboration between Vlado Milunic and Frank Gehry; perhaps the most photographed building in Prague; typical Gehry...in its eye-catching and originality... |
|
So we have crossed the river and walked through a great farmers market (subsequent post on Prague food and drink) and landed now at our ultimate destination, the Fancy Fries shop in the Manifesto, apparently a resto-incubator in Smichov, up river from Mala Strana; love those fries; may do it again... |
|
Now in Old Town Square, appreciating the Old Town city hall tower and windows |
|
Still 32 minutes until it goes off, but a large crowd already has gathered to see the "astronomical" clock; this is true gawking; one doesn't see all that many tourists on weekdays; rather more on weekends |
|
City hall facade |
|
Neighboring beauty |
|
When in doubt, call it Rondo Cubism |
|
Contemporary weedy/seedy look |
|
Facade of the huge National Theater; would sit nicely aside the Palace Garnier... |
|
Beautiful stretch along the river |
|
Among them; note caryatids; there were 18 caryatids/ telamons on one block just before the Dancing House |
|
The weather has turned chilly, and the sidewalk cafe blankets are out |
|
Excellent weather for chai, espresso, and carrot cake; at a cafe called Grom...with a view of the Dancing House |
|
Walking back, the river and National Theater |
1 comment:
Oh, that carrot cake looked yummy!
Post a Comment