What’s good about her and what’s not?
Prague. Beloved and hated metropolis of our motherland. Prague is a modern, vibrant city, but it also has a romantic historical atmosphere. You will find everything you need in it, but you also face a number of problems. So what is Prague really like?
The author of this article is Pražák as Brno. Thoroughbred and paper. You could say that Prague loves, but certainly not blindly. Many things in Prague annoy him and he is not afraid to say it out loud. But let’s start with the positive.
Positives:
Prague is beautiful
It’s a take. No one can deny her that. Tourists come to Prague from all over the world and with an open mouth admire Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, the National Theater and other Prague sights. And we are not surprised at all, it is definitely one of the most beautiful cities in the world and the Czechs are sometimes little aware of it.
National Museum
Finally, after a long time, we can say that something really worked out in Prague. Yes, the reconstruction of the historic building of the National Museum turned out to be the number one. Finally, we don’t have to be ashamed of a majestic building in the center of Prague, and its appearance is reminiscent of similarly important buildings in Western Europe. And in conclusion, it is good that the holes in the building facade were preserved after the missiles from August 1968.
Nightlife
In short, the people of Prague have a higher one than the other inhabitants of the Czech Republic. Even though we know that other cities can live as well, Prague simply has the most. Concerts, music clubs, theaters and bars, the selection is wide in the metropolis and everyone will find something to their liking. Do you like a Brazilian dance hall, a French champagnerie or an Irish pub? No problem, you can go.
Good working conditions
In Prague, perhaps only the one who does not want to be out of work. There is plenty of work across industries and salaries are the highest in the country (which compensates for ultra-expensive housing, for example). Many companies are based in Prague, multinational companies have branches here, and some districts seem to be uninhabited and come here only for work.
Parks and trendy places
Although Prague is not a completely green city at first glance, it has a number of beautiful parks and resting places.
You can go for greenery to Stromovka, Letná, Hostivař Forest Park, Kunratický and Krč Forest, Prokop Valley, Divoká Šárka, Petřín or just Parukářka or Riegrovy sady.
There you will find a pleasant place to rest everywhere, and it must be said that the city has really worked in many of these places in recent years, perhaps most of the aforementioned Stromovka. And then there are places like Náplavka, Containall, Manifesto Market or Kasárna Karlín, so somewhat hipster spots where you can have a great coffee, listen to alternative music or steam in the evening.
And now the less cheerful side of Prague…
Negative:
Transport
On the one hand, Prague has one of the best underground transport networks – the metro is clear, safe and fast. But that’s the end of it. Everything about transport in Prague takes sacramentally. Construction of the Prague ring road, construction of the metro line D or even a quality connection to the airport. These should be the priorities of the members of the Czech capital council, instead the city representatives deal with the sale of kebabs in the center or concrete flower pots. We hear about key transport constructions only two or three months before the elections.
Parking
It is almost impossible to park in Prague, except on the outskirts. There are illogical parking zones in the middle of the city and not in the other. It would still be understandable that a large part of Praguers can still understand that they do not know the cross-country parking system. But the worst thing about it all is that the management of Prague has made parking a clean business.
It has long been the case that the blue zones are supposed to guarantee parking for residents, for whom anyone can often park for a fee. The streets are so full of cars, the locals have nowhere to park and the money box clinks at the town hall.
Hlavák, Václavák and the homeless
That’s just a hump. Foreigners who come to Prague by train at the Main Railway Station probably have to split up a lot and are probably wondering if they will get on the train back to their homeland. Homeless people on benches, drug addicts just a few meters from the station building or weird chases at nightclubs. All this does not make a good business card of the Czech capital. And they don’t even talk about Václavák, most Praguers only go there if they really have one. Well, the pride of the mother of Prague.
Anonymity and ruthlessness
It may not be so completely negative for someone, but anonymity is great in Prague. It suits anyone, it doesn’t suit anyone. The ruthlessness of the surroundings is worse when you have health problems, for example. No one needs to help a person lying on the sidewalk for such long minutes, even if it is a busy street. There are even several known cases where a person with a medical condition was robbed in broad daylight. Great, what?
Traffic lights
This is a bit of a mess, but it can make life difficult for Prague drivers. Former Mayor Krnáčová regularly and happily used the term Smart City, but Prague can only dream of it for the time being.
In the 21st century, city representatives in Central Europe are not even able to have traffic lights programmed so that the driver driving according to regulations does not stand in every other light.
Of course, we acknowledge that it is not possible everywhere, but those who regularly drive on Evropská or Plzeňská Street, for example, will certainly agree with us…
What is your experience with Prague? Do you agree with our observations or do you see it differently? Share your opinion in the discussion!