As a resident of Boston, it is easy to get caught up in the age of the city. After all, it is one of the founding cities of this country. That being said, even the oldest structures in Boston date back only a few hundred years. In a city with history that can be traced for thousands of years, Boston seems considerably less impressive.
The city to which I am referring is Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. The streets of Prague, with their mishmash of red-tiled roofs and thin tan buildings, look like a fairytale, as it was built in the architectural style popularized by many Disney movies. The narrow streets are paved with cobblestones, and it is rumored that to go anywhere in Prague, you must walk uphill both ways. I attest this is true. At the top lies Prague Castle, the oldest castle complex still standing in the world. Throughout its twelve hundred year history, each resident of the castle has added something to it, be it the Gothic cathedral of St. Vitus in the 14th century, or the modern renovations that took place when the first president of a democratic Czechoslovakia was elected in 1989.
When one walks through the Prague Castle complex, one is immediately struck by the ancient beauty and massive size of the structures. Beyond the initial entrance gate and courtyard lies St. Vitus Cathedral, a church rivaled in grandeur perhaps only by Notre Dame. There is a crisp air of reverence, as though one has stepped into a time capsule holding many forgotten details of Prague’s past. While the clamoring of tourists seasonally dominates Prague Castle, it is easy to spot the locals among the crowd. They are standing several feet away from the rest of the group. They are pensive and quiet, perhaps staring more at the foreigners invading their city than the castle walls themselves. They might curse under their breath in a seemingly impossible language. They do not stop to ingest the stunning views of Prague while quickly scaling the hilly steps down toward the heart of the city, which to anyone else might be the most gorgeous part of the entire complex. They just simply walk off.
The citizens of Prague are a reserved people. They do not care much for spectacle, and they hate anything that is unnecessarily loud or gaudy. Simultaneously, they are not a stagnant people. Their lives are constantly being inundated with Western culture, whether it is debit cards, indoor multi-story malls, or Kentucky Fried Chicken. Despite this, the spirit of Prague is never lost. Locals continue to speak Czech within their own conversations. They rarely talk to tourists in the streets, even though they both may be visiting the same restaurant for dinner. Rather than tear down their way of life, Prague gradually incorporates in order to progress. Prague Castle effortlessly represents this sentiment, always changing and expanding, but consistently keeping a watchful eye over the city, never losing its regal character or charm.
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