You’re definitely right, Earl. The 20+ years since the switch from communism to capitalism in the Czech Republic were not sufficient to already build up a harmonic society and cities. But my impression is that they are on a good way.
But that “tattered around the edges” is what I find so appealing about older European cities; age, history, character.
I remember visiting Bath, U.K. in 1991, and realizing that the cobbled street I was walking on was older than my entire country (USA).
At the other extreme, I found the clean, tidy, concrete character of central Vienna last year sterile and unappealing to me. I kept ‘looking behind the curtains’ trying to find remnants of the old city.
I know what you mean. Vienna is certainly rich, perfectioning, in many places already too perfect (not in all, I wandered Westbahnstraße right to the Stephansdom, and I was astonished how much of post-war flair is still there). Prague certainly is different, as is Budapest – it probably has to do with per-capita income, with age structure and so on, and with the mindset of the inhabitants.
Like many wonderful older cities…beautiful “bones” but looking a little tattered around the edges.
You’re definitely right, Earl. The 20+ years since the switch from communism to capitalism in the Czech Republic were not sufficient to already build up a harmonic society and cities. But my impression is that they are on a good way.
But that “tattered around the edges” is what I find so appealing about older European cities; age, history, character.
I remember visiting Bath, U.K. in 1991, and realizing that the cobbled street I was walking on was older than my entire country (USA).
At the other extreme, I found the clean, tidy, concrete character of central Vienna last year sterile and unappealing to me. I kept ‘looking behind the curtains’ trying to find remnants of the old city.
I know what you mean. Vienna is certainly rich, perfectioning, in many places already too perfect (not in all, I wandered Westbahnstraße right to the Stephansdom, and I was astonished how much of post-war flair is still there). Prague certainly is different, as is Budapest – it probably has to do with per-capita income, with age structure and so on, and with the mindset of the inhabitants.