Random Thoughts on Prague

Prague is an absolutely gorgeous looking city. I am wowed by the lovely buildings here, especially the ones that are in Art Nouveau style. The city is definitely worth seeing. That being said, it is also over run by tourists. Perhaps it wouldn't be so in the outlying areas. However, we are where the historical sites are, so we are with all the tourists. It seems a little more crowded with tourists than Budapest did. It is close to Germany, so we hear lots of German. There are many Americans also. I'm guessing timing has something to do with it. In another month, through spring, there are bound to be fewer tourists.

The streets here are like mazes, and since the language is unfamiliar to us, it is harder to remember the street names. We always carry a map and remember that our apartment is only a block away from the Vltava River.

The city streets here are paved with cobblestone-like material. It looks pretty, appears fairly new, and must last a long time, but is harder on the feet. It is a little harder to roll a suitcase down the road. It would be easier to turn ankles, too, not to mention walking in high heels. Consider the pavement when selecting shoes for a trip here. I saw one lady in a wheel chair struggling a bit on the pavement. That brings to mind another observation, true for Budapest and Paris as well, there are many more stairs here than at home in Seattle. There are fewer elevators at the tourist spots and fewer accommodations for the disabled. I would have been out of luck on Metro in Paris if I couldn't do stairs. However, the bus would have been an alternative there. Some elevators in older buildings are a bit scary to ride on. They are small and tend to jerk to a stop.

Most people are friendly and I felt comfortable asking for help or directions. I have always felt safe walking wherever I have been. Not just safe from muggers, but from car drivers. The drivers actually seem to slow down and stop when they see us in a cross walk. It hasn't been difficult ordering at restaurants. Most of the waiters have spoken English or we have pointed to what we want from English menus.

European toilets almost all have two flush buttons, depending on what you need to flush down. They seem efficient. The toilet seats are rounded and not as wide as American ones, which is a little difference in comfort if you sit on one for long. And speaking of toilets, there are more pay toilets here than at home. I don't mind as long as there is potty parity with the men.

European washers have efficiency features, tend to take longer on their wash cycles, and spin clothes almost dry. It is easy to hang up clothes to dry instead of using a clothes dryer.

The cities we've visited have been clean and spruced up for the most part. I keep wondering where the money has come from for restorations in Budapest and Prague over the past 20 years. There are hardly any signs of communist design. There doesn't seem to be much of a recession here. Prague's tourist trade certainly has appeared lively, but I wonder if Budapest's has been down a bit.