Prague through the eyes of the homeless, the ears of the blind, or a combination of the Pragulic and Invisible Exhibition projects
At least for a while, I was given the opportunity to empathize with these two different ways of life. Together with a colleague and a group of the blind, I went to walking tour through hidden corners of Žižkov and Královské Vinohrady. The route started in front of the Church of the Sacred Heart of the Lord on Jiřího z Poděbrad Square. At the time when I normally drink my morning coffee and start browsing my e-mail box, I tensely stepped on the square with the idea that this walk around Prague would be worth it.
The route started in front of the Church of the Sacred Heart of the Lord on Jiřího z Poděbrad Square
Our guide was not a stylishly dressed and four-language young other waving umbrella, but just an “ordinary” homeless man. John. Well, not quite. John, who is a great lover books, recites poetry by heart and new places where Czech artists and writers lived and worked. Honza, who has lived on the streets since the floods in 2002 and whom no one would have guessed at the former creative director of a leading marketing agency.
Honza is a great lover of books
John, whose face showed no sign of sadness, just a wide smile. So, this Honza ordered and slowly next to our group their way of life from antiquarian to antiquarian. At the place where they buy the books they find, sort and live it.
Slowly next to our group on his life journey from antiquarian to antiquarian.
I’ve missed Honza and most of the places where we stopped a few times. I lived in Vinohrady for several years and together with Žižkov I have trampled through and through. Yet it was different this time. Not only Honz’s story, but also the group of “tour participants” themselves. Suddenly you are you notice all those little problemsthat visually impaired people do not automatically solve, but can be dangerous for the blind. For example, a leaky sidewalk, poorly parked cars, slippery stairs or a traffic light, where the red pedestrian red jumps before you even step out …
Vinohrady and Žižkov are trampled through and through. Yet it was different this time. Not only Honz’s story, but also the group of “tour participants” themselves.
Suddenly you notice all those small problems – For example, a leaky sidewalk, poorly parked cars, slippery stairs or a traffic light, where the red pedestrian red jumps before you even step out …
During our antiquarian pilgrimage through the Žižkov wilderness, one place attracted me more than the others. It was down in Žižkov, where we stopped at the apartment of a writer and a character from Žižkov Jiří Pavel. Jiří, son of a well-known novelist, journalist and sports editor Oty PavlaAlthough he is not as famous as his father, writing is a similar meaning of life for him, which otherwise gives him a hard time.
Down in Žižkov, we stopped at the apartment of the writer and Žižkov character Jiří Pavel
Like his father, Jiří Pavel suffers from a severe mental illness and also the incurable confidence that already afflicts him sometimes she finished. When Jiří learned from Honza that we were standing in front of his apartment and we would like to meet him, he ran out of the barracks very indignant and in the mood under the dog, but in a moment he let the situation explain and verified the difficult writer of the current writer. the memory of his father.
With a few cigarettes, Jiří confided in the difficult fate of the contemporary writer, the nearest plans and the memory of his father.
This Monday morning was different and it was nice! About the association Pragulic.cz I heard for the first time on Monday, but now I know not for the last time.
So if you already have enough of all the usual and tourist well-known places, take a look at the Pragulic.cz website, choose the route or life story of one of the guides and experience Prague a little differently!
photo: Alžběta Čermáková