In the city of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic

 "I cannot write in verse, for I am no poet. I cannot arrange the parts of speech with such art as to produce effects of light and shade, for I am no painter. Even by signs and gestures I cannot express my thoughts and feelings, for I am no dancer. But I can do so by means of sounds, for I am a musician."

-- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
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(in the Czech Republic) With a historical, mystical undertone that is hard to come by these days, a trip to Prague almost feels a bit like a dream. Sprinkled with beautiful old buildings at every corner, quaint town squares, and with a charming bridge shadowing the river (populated with romantic paddle boaters), it is hard to deny that this is one of the prettiest cities in Europe. It is also small enough that it is quite walkable, extremely affordable, and has a burgeoning arts and cultural scene that is as unpretentious as the city itself.

+ Lying at the heart of Europe, Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic is also one of its finest cities and the country's main economic and cultural center. The city has a rich architectural heritage that reflects both the uncertain currents of history in Bohemia and an urban life extending back more than 1,000 years. Not surprisingly, visitors from around the globe have come in droves, but even the crowds cannot detract from the spectacle of a 14th-century stone bridge, a hilltop castle, and a lazy river (the Vltava), which inspired one of the most hauntingly beautiful pieces of 19th-century classical music, Smetana’s Moldau symphony.
+ The attractions and landmarks of Prague are many. Among the finest is the Charles Bridge, which stands astride the Vltava River. The winding course of the Vltava, with its succession of bridges and changing vistas, contrasts with the backdrop of the great castle of Hradčany (Prague Castle), which dominates the left-bank region of the city. The narrow streets and little taverns and restaurants of the older quarters contrast with the broad sweep of Wenceslas Square and modern parks and housing developments. Seen from the surrounding hills, the many church towers make up a unique perspective, giving Prague its description as the “city of a hundred spires.”

+ Prague is famous for its cultural life. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart lived here, and his Prague Symphony and Don Giovanni were first performed in the city. In addition, the lyric music of the great Czech composers Bedřich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák, and Leoš Janáček is commemorated each year in a spring music festival. The U kalicha (“At the Chalice”) beer parlor, which is still popular with local residents and tourists alike, provided the setting for the humorously anti-authoritarian activities of Schweik, immortalized by the novelist Jaroslav Hašek in The Good Soldier Schweik. The writings of Franz Kafka, dwelling in a different way on the dilemmas and predicaments of modern life, also seem indissolubly linked with life in this city.

+ A view of Prague from its famous Astronomical Clock Tower: