Krasna Praha (Prague)

Member Name: claretel

Product:	Prague
Date:	16/09/03 (75 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: beautiful, inexpensive

Disadvantages: you will want to go back

The Czech Republic from the air is a beautiful sight. A patchwork of fields greets you shortly before landing at Ruzyne airport. The city itself takes almost everything I love about Paris and then does it better (d¾sol¾e lovely French people!). Straddling the River Vltava, one of Prague?s most famous landmarks is the Charles Bridge, apparently stuck together with eggs donated by surrounding villages, except for the hard-boiled ones sent by one village.

The city is divided into the Old Town, Mala Strana (the small side), New Town and the Jewish Quarter. The Old Town square contains the famous astronomical clock. Horse and trap rides line up, offering rides around the city. The restaurants here are not expensive by UK prices but they are tourist rates so by Czech standards the beer is almost twice as expensive as it is outside Prague. The restaurants and bars are crowded but the view is lovely. The shops around the town square sell puppets and glassware ? two of the products the Czech Republic is famous for. Everywhere you go classical musicians in Baroque costume advertise evening concerts. They create a wonderful atmosphere.

At the top of a very steep hill is Prague Castle. Nearby is the Petrin Tower (like the Eiffel Tower, if you don?t like heights it is best avoided, particularly on a windy day) and the surrounding park. There is a funicular railway, Prague zoo (made famous in the UK when the floods sadly hit last year). Prague boasts the oldest university. There is also a very 80's feel among the younger, trendier places.

Trams take you around the city and to the outskirts. There is also a metro system but make sure you get a valid ticket ? the guards are scary! Watch out for bogus policemen and guards asking for passports or money - you need to check the latest Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice on this and any other scams.

There is a huge restaurant which had just opened when I was in Prague. It is around the back f
rom Wenceslas Square and you can get lost just trying to find the toilet. The food is great there.

For real value, you need to go outside Prague. The beer and food is incredibly cheap. You can stay in a pension for very little too. The only thing is that the further you get from Prague, the less English is spoken so you will need to at least be able to get around in Czech to feel comfortable out of town. That said, I have always found the Czech people to be really friendly and hospitable and every guy I have ever spoken to has commented on how stunning Czech girls are!

Summary: