Prague

Teasing, 2008, 70x50 cm

I painted these pictures many years ago, but I still feel the same way about Prague. It is a city of wonder, a city of tales and legends, a city for adventures.

Before we moved to the UK, we used to go to Prague regularly, but the last time I was there must have been the time I painted these tales. I was afraid that Prague might have changed, that tourist industries might have spoilt it, but no. It was magnificent as ever.

You do not necessarily need to plan any particular sightseeing routes when you go to Prague. Just let your soul lose in the winding streets and keep looking above the shop windows level. Each building is a wonder in itself.

I would never get tired of crossing the Karluv most (Charles Bridge). If it was up to me, I would have walked up and down on it at every time of day, in every different light and weather. Its terrifying black statues never cease to amaze me, wondering how people at any point of history, could have possibly thought that they were inviting.

We met some strange, friendly animals (lapdog sized, long haired, swimming with the upper half of their body above the water, walking fearlessly among ducks, swans and frantically videoing tourists) on the banks of the Mala Strana (Small Town).

We were extremely lucky with the Zlata ulicka (Golden Lane). It was late and raining, so there was hardly anyone there. I wish I could spend a night in one of the tiny houses to meet all the ghosts who must be living there.

Our Lady, 2008, 30x40 cm

The Lennonova zed (Lennon Wall) was a bit disappointing, I had expected some more artistry.

The best surprise in Prague was the Shakespeare, a lovely bookshop in Mala Strana selling old and new books mostly in the English language. Due to aeroplane regulations, I only bought about one hundredth of the books that I wanted to.

We explored Josefov, the Jewish Town and I finally got the right sized Krtek (Little Mole) I was longing for.

We listened to the names of the massacred being read in the Pinkas Sinagogue.

I wish I could take a small part of the Stary zdovsky hrbitov (Old Jewish Cemetery) home, just as big as I could fit in my garden. I could spend hours wandering around those beautiful graves, wondering about the souls of all the twelve layers of people who are buried there.

Cat in the Sky of Prague, 2009, 40x50 cm

I could go to the U Dvou Kocek (To the Two Cats) every day to sit and listen to people’s incomprehensible conversations in the fascinating Czech language, sipping some fruit beer. (I do apologise, dear Praguers, but in my opinion beer tastes like sand.)

This was the first time I visited a real cat cafe, the Kavarna Kocicek. On the table, there were two booklets: a drink menu and an information booklet about all the personalities and habits of the cats walking and lying around everywhere in the cafe, magnanimously letting people stroke them.

I found the Museum Komunismu (Museum of Communism) quite simplicistic, but still somewhat informative for the children. I was wondering how our everyday life of now would be presented in a museum in a few decades’ time.

I wish we could just slip out of our life and onto the streets of old Prague any night we want to.