That Weekend in Prague
I spent the weekend in Prague visiting another friend doing an Erasmus. I really like this capital. Before that, I visited the town for a day during a road trip in the summer of 2024. This weekend's visit was more intentional, especially since I had a friend who has been for the past 3 months who showed me around instead of randomly wandering.
The town has something special. It is a mix of the West and East. When we were driving towards the centre from the airport, there was a little layer of snow, and the streets, houses, and lamps reminded me of Estonia. It is a mix of the colour palette, choices of architecture and infrastructure, especially in the suburbs.
On the other hand, walking over Charles Bridge, I felt as if I was in Paris with the movement of the crowd, the 3 musicians playing jazz and the view of old town with cathedrals, the immense theatre and the castle towering over everything.
Inside the historic centre, the mix of almost-medieval narrow streets, contrasted with Soviet-era houses, which in turn is contrasted by bourgeois houses from the 19th century. That's the best architectural analysis I am able to give as a mechanical engineering student.
When standing on the Charles Bridge on Saturday afternoon and listening to the trumpet-guitar-tuba trio. I was reminded of my fascination with the 1900s, and more specifically, the creative world of the 1900s.
The thought of having a bar somewhere, somewhen, where all the greats simply went to discuss their work around a glass of wine in a dim bistro that has a layer of cigarette smoke filling the ceiling. Even if these places of exchange still exist today, there is something in that era that is different, which I envy.
It is not about Prague specifically, but Prague brought the feeling out for me. It could be the idea of artists and scientists finding each other in these spaces and having a spontaneous mix of different disciplines.
There is something about romanticising the era right before oneself. It is called "Golden Age Thinking", and it tends to be slightly delusional. Especially considering the quality of life in general, which has skyrocketed since then. But maybe that's what I envy. Not the reality, but the intensity of creating when everything feels temporary.
This Week's Suggestions:
🎶 "Mr Majestic" by Calibre & High Contrast:
If I were indeed born during that time, I would never have experienced this melodic liquid drum and bass track with a lovely trumpet loop. So I'll take it!
🎬 "Midnight in Paris" by Woody Allen:
This movie could be one of the reasons behind my envy of 1900s Paris. Pretty sure that I already have suggested it over the past four and a half years, but I still stand by it.
That will be all for today!
