Prague: A Wonderland that Feels Like a Cross Between Germany and Disneyland
Jules and I got from Venice to Prague via vaporetto boat, then bus, then plane. As soon as we checked into our hostel in Prague's New District, we set out again to get oriented.
It is both of our first times in Prague. Here's what this city feels like to me: a cross between Germany and Disneyland. Many places near the old town square look very corny and touristy. Overall though, Prague is a really pretty city, with beautiful old buildings that look cleaner and whiter than old buildings in other parts of Europe.
Two friends from back home, Annie and Isabelle, flew in from Seattle. Annie will fly home after spending five days with us in Prague. Isabelle will come with us to Istanbul, our next travel destination.
We visited the Museum of Communism. I find the communist ideology fascinating, so I really liked the museum. It gives an overview of the history of communism, with a focus on the Czech Republic. It takes you back in time, explaining the positive sentiment toward communism in the early days of the spread of communism.
It's incredible to me that whole nations were going through such a revolutionary change. I can't imagine what it would be like to be leading a well-off lifestyle, when suddenly your country departs from capitalism and you no longer own your own house. There was a video showing riots that happened against communist rule in 1989, just one year before I was born. I feel separated from most history I study by at least a few decades, but 1989 seems so recent! I can't imagine living in a time and place where police were allowed to beat peaceful protestors. I guess I take many things for granted.
We visited the Mucha Museum. I really like this art-nouveau artist's style. His art seems very unique and unlike any that was being produced before it. I love all the beautiful women in his pieces, used to express a season, a time of day, or to sell a product.
It seems like he was one of the pioneers of the objectification of women's bodies used to sell products. No matter what the purpose of his poster is, whether to advertise a movie or perfume, there is a woman in it. I doubt there was much of that going on in his day, but today we see it everywhere. The first example that comes to mind is the sexy, scantily clad women we see today in beer commercials. At least most of Mucha's women subjects are dressed.
We went to U Fleku for dinner, a Czech beer hall renowned for brewing their beer on site. I had a heavy meal of duck, coleslaw, and dumplings. Their beer was tasty, but they also gave us disgusting shots of some kind of cinnamon liquor.
We went to Roxy's Music Club that night. It was ladies' night, so we got in for free. It was kind of cool, with multiple DJs, floors, and rooms. There weren't many attractive men, and the music playing was jarring techno, so we didn't stay too late.
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You are reading "Prague: A Wonderland that Feels Like a Cross Between Germany and Disneyland", an entry posted on 29 July 2008 by Jackie Steves.
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