The Warm Spring of Prague

Although you may have never been Prague, you surely recognize the name. This is an extremely romantic Medieval city which was the first city that has been listed among the UNESCO World Heritage sites. Franz Kafka, the 20th century’s genius in literature, was born in Prague.

Prague Castle is a castle complex in Prague, Czech Republic, dating from the 9th century. It is the official residence of the President of the Czech Republic. The castle was a seat of power for kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman emperors, and presidents of Czechoslovakia. According to the Guinness Book of Records, Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world. Prague Castle consists of a Gothic St Vitus Cathedral, Romanesque Basilica of St. George, a monastery and several palaces, gardens and defense towers.

The Charles Bridge has experienced 650 years of history since its construction, and many people coming here will take photos on the bridge or write their names on a lock and then hang it on the bridge. This is a bridge of love, for numerous literary works, and TV series and films take this bridge as something classic. There are 30 Baroque saints’ statues on the bridge, which tell different stories and exhibit the spirit and image of Czechs, although what we see here today are almost all replicas. Taking a walk on the bridge, you may feel like walking through time to the past glories or mysteries.

Walking along the bridge to the east, you will arrive at an old square where tourists from different nations gather to wait for the coming of 11:00 o’clock, for there is a performance of the 12 disciple puppets of Jesus Christ on the bell. It was interesting, and sad to some extent.

In addition, this bell had other uses, such as observing the stars. I am no technician and don’t know how it worked to observe. But you may have a try. The most amazing fact is that this bell was made by two bell craftsmen only with hammers, pincers and files.

I entered one restaurant as night fell. Czechs love bear, roast duck, and the bustling sounds and laughs of their restaurants. Walking out of the restaurant, the night was mesmerizing. For me, it was like entering a dream and feeling the loneliness of the city.