What makes Prague an unique city? For sure, its astonishing arquitecture and attractive spaces. But most important, what gives Prague its magical aura are the people and their stories. From Charles IV to Jan Palach, there is an enourmous list of famous characters that helped to make Prague what it is. We remember of them, because their names and actions are recorded for the posterity. Also the fantastic tales and characters, like the Golem, are part of Prague.
But how about all the annonymous people, that were living or travelling through the city, and also contributed to its incredible aura? For centuries, all these uncountable stories and narratives were lost forever. Stories of Prague wants to help to record all the stories, realistic or imagined, that take place here. They make the “golden city” what it is. And if you are living or travelling in Prague, your story is also a part of Prague History, a part of its own magic.
Traveller or resident, you are a part of a never ending novel…
In this city, each day can bring you an unnexpected event, or a surprising encounter, that will make your life story richer. To live or travel in Prague is like being a character of a never ending novel. You can be a hero, a protagonist, or just an incidental witness. Maybe you are walking through Wenceslas Square, and suddenlly you meet a mysterious person that will change your life. Or you stop for a moment in Charles Bridge, and you just enjoy all the interesting and funny characters passing by. When you go to a small tradicional pub, that in czech language we call hospoda, sometimes you can hear the most fantastic stories and narratives. This will make you understand much better where writers like Kafka or Hrabal got their inspiration to write their stories.
Prague can be a romantic drama or a black comedy, full of the ironic horror that the czech people love so much. In Stories of Prague, you can tell your own stories about the city. You can write about what you see, what you feel and experience. Or just leave your imagination free, and get inspired by the things around you. Fiction or nonfiction, all this narratives and experiences are what really make Prague such a special place.
Write your own pages in the magic of Prague
Stories of Prague provides you an unique space, where you can write and record your stories, and share them with other people. If you want, its possible to illustrate the text with your pictures or drawings. Here you can be yourself, and write down episodes of your own biography. You can know if somebody had experiences similar to yours. You can find answer for shared problems. Or you can be a writer, and you can give the opportunity for others to read your short stories. Maybe one day this stories will become a part of the uncountable legends of the city.
In publishing your stories and images, we try to present Prague hotels in all its variety. Mistery, adventure, or everyday life, all this will be here for people to appreciate, and to learn something about this wonderfull city. Because the best person to answer the question “what is Prague?” Prague is You.
My First Visit to Prague
I came to Prague less than a week ago. The first steps were made on “Florens” bus station. The district, where the station was located, looked sketchy. May be because it was early morning and there were not that many people around. The first thing I actually had to do, after a long bus drive from Berlin to Prague, is to wait in a huge line of the Police for Foreigners. In a cold Prague morning I was waiting from 6 am till 8 am in order to get in and get the ticket and than waited for another four hours in order to get a stamp in my passport.
As I realised in the second part of my first day in Prague, the district where I was lucky to rent an apartment with my husband is a beautiful neighbourhood with 2 floor houses, gardens and flowers all around.
The first day we started our trip from a square of Saint Vaclav. It was a place to meet for a date! So may people were walking and kissing around. We have passed through the “Tramvay” café which stays right in the centre of the square. Small shops with little charming souvenirs and glass works and big stylish outlets were following one another. Beautiful architecture, carefully preserved from ancient times wonders even the most experienced traveller. We have reached “Astronomical clocks” when it was right the hour to clock and there was a big crowd on that little square. When we were passing the Yan Hus square it started raining and we had to run to the nearest Prague hotel. It was so romantic! The rain didn’t last long. And in 5-10 minutes bright lights of the sun were covering the whole Old city. Little later we have reached Karlow bridge. Some part of it was under renovation, but still the construction with statues of different Saints and Ghosts was amazing. Along the river below our feet different boats with water- tours were sailing back and force.
The next day trip started from “Karlovskogo letohradka”. The garden in Renaissance style, summer garden with wild birds, fountains… At the area of Prague castle we were watching the “soldiers shift”. Everybody was laughing around, but the militaries had to keep serious, which made the whole picture even funnier. They didn’t let us in the Castle of St. Vita’s, which was built in gothic style and Powder castle just because we didn’t have the tickets, which were not available for sale right at the entrance. Not far from those castles there was an office of Czech President. Moving down the hill to the metro station we reached Valdstein’s garden. There were many tourists walking inside the garden and sitting around the swimming pool with golden fishes.
From my little experience in Prague it’s little hard for me to remember all the wonderful places of this historical city we have visited. But I can say beyond all doubts, that I got in love with this charming city.