This was my last full day in Prague. The morning was cloudy and brisk but not cold. I strolled through the streets of Old Prague, went to see Frank Gehry's Dancing House (interesting sight but tourist trap), returned to Maitrea for a warm spinach crepe, salad with Halloumi cheese and a glass of rose wine from the Czech Republic for a total of about 400 crowns, and then I had another apple-carrot-ginger juice (85 crowns) while I enjoyed people-watching. I hope it's clear the food in Prague was very cheap and very good (485 crowns is about 22 dollars). Also, the clouds vanished and the day turned out beautiful. And I don't normally care for the weather but the weather forecast for the trip had been so bad that every good day - which ended up being every day - seemed like a victory.
At times during the day I took the tram to go around. I love walking but it was becoming a bit much, even on my standards. Public transportation in Prague was very convenient. I got a one-day pass from a metro station and while the employee couldn't speak English, he was able to gesture that I had to stamp the ticket at the first use so I wouldn't get fined. There were stamping machines inside the tram. I was impressed by the modernity of the tram system. The tram stops displayed wait times until the next train, and most trams were very modern inside, telling you where you were on the line and what the next stop would be. At left (top) is an example of modern tram, and at right (bottom) an example of not so modern tram, which makes me think of the Soviet era. The pictures were taken with my back to the Rudolfinum, which has a transit hub nearby.
In the evening I walked half an hour through Prague to the National Theatre (Narodni divadlo). Patrons lounged on the patios of cafes - funnily enough, the chairs reminded me of the chairs at Parisian cafes. A lot of people smoked. I've gotten used to the U.S. now so it always amazes me to see so many people smoking when the health dangers are well-known. But I suppose that's part of the differences between the U.S. and Europe. I went to the National Theatre for Madama Butterfly, and was delighted by its spare, original, modern, visually stunning production. It actually captivated me far more than the production I saw at the Met several years ago. If you'd like to see Madama Butterfly while in Prague, check out the next performances here. It was a wonderful way to end my trip.
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