Tuesday, January 04, 2011

PRAGUE

That's where I was at Christmas. 

They say that Prague is a beautiful city and there is much to see. I'm sure this is true but the piercingly cold, wet, sleety, slippery, snowy, windy weather made it impossible for shivering chickens such as me and my sister to see anything much besides the foam on a cup of hot chocolate. I exaggerate: my sister is much braver and more of a sightseer than I am so I dragged along reluctantly to make sure I'd be there to pick her up if she slipped on the ice. That's how heroic I am. I know it's reprehensible but all I really wanted to do was to sit in a warm cafe or in the hotel room. 

Maybe some time, not in winter, I could go back and see all the interesting things I missed this time. Maybe in other seasons the people of Prague become more friendly and maybe they even smile or reply when you ask for directions. I've been to lots of cities and lots of countries and in some of those places I didn't speak the language but never, ever, have I encountered such ubiquitously unfriendly attitudes as in Prague - shopkeepers, tram conductors, ticket sellers, information people, passers-by, etc. etc. either did not respond or responded in a manner which can only be described as hostile. Very few people we came across spoke any language other than Czech - fair enough, but did they need to be so brusque and dismissive? Maybe some foreign tourists behave badly in Prague so the citizens have decided all foreigners are a nuisance. There were a few exceptions: the staff at our hotel and the taxi drivers booked to and from the airport. 

Anyway here are a few pictures I took in Prague. I wish you all whatever you most desire in your heart of hearts. Bonne Année, mes amis.








4 comments:

Rain Trueax said...

That looks so cold and it's been so cold here in Oregon too. Must be winter, huh?

Natalie d'Arbeloff said...

Rain, but I guess you must be used to very cold winters in Oregon? I'm somewhat envious of people who actually enjoy wintry things and wintry places. Somehow it's alien to my DNA!

A very happy 2011 to you and yours, come sun or come snow.

Dominic Rivron said...

Not a place I know much about. Sad to hear it came over unfriendly. I haven't travelled outside the UK for years and years - but I've enjoyed travelling around inside it.

Natalie d'Arbeloff said...

Dominic, I think I've lost my urge to travel far afield. Almost nothing feels as good as getting back home to my own place. Of course that wears off after a while....