Prague, the Czech Republic

Ah, that blue sky is so pleasing!

Located in the center of Europe, Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic.

That's the Charles Bridge, Prague's most famous landmark.

This bridge has supported people coming and going for as long as 600 years.

Look at all those towers in all shapes and sizes!

Prague was once the capital of the Holy Roman Empire and Prague Castle was the seat of the Holy Roman Emperors.

It's now the official office of the president of the Czech Republic.

Prague's Old Town is a World Heritage Site.

There're so many different styles of architecture here, it's almost a "museum of architecture."

I'm off to explore the town!

Ahh, a streetcar!

No, no, that kind is called a tram.

What style!

It is 8:30 in the morning.

The city is much quieter than I had expected.

Let me check the map...

I rode the cable car down the hill from the observatory, and now I'm here.

First I'd like to walk along this side of the Vltava River.

Ah, a tram gliding through "Old Town" is unexpectedly picturesque.

Ah, the tram's stopped!

People are getting off.

It seems they're on their way to work.

Good morning.

Look at all the cars following the tram.

Is that a clock tower up ahead?

Interestingly, even though there is a clock on that high tower where everyone can see it, there is another clock by the side of the road.

You'd think one would be enough.

Well, I won't dwell on it.

Eh, there's a road down this way...

Look up there...

it seems to be a woman with a stroller on the sidewalk up there.

This must be a residential area.

Ah there's a man doing something...

I wonder what he's doing.

He's writing something on a board.

Hello.

Excuse me.

May I ask what you're doing?

Wait, just a minute.

What?

I was just wondering what you're writing.

Daily special.
Soup and main dish.

This is a restaurant?

No. This is a butcher shop.

I see.

You sell meat as well as serving meals?

Look inside. We sell meat there.
And cook it in the back.

Please come in.

Thank you.

Oh, look at all the meat!

We have raw meat and sausages.
And processed meat.

This is "drowned man."

What?

- "Drowned man."
- Drowned man!

It's sausage.

What do you mean?

It's pickled sausage.

Ah, pickled sausage.

It's a specialty of Prague.

The name is a bit disconcerting.

They're drowning in water, right?

I guess you could say that.

This must be Czech black humor?

Oh, there's a customer here.

And he's eating sausages!

Hello. Looks delicious.

It's good.

That is an appetizing morning meat dish!

Are you a regular?

I come here a lot.

I come more often for
lunch and dinner.

You seem to like this place.

The food's delicious!

People in the neighborhood
come every day.

They eat breakfast and buy products.

Do you all know each other?

Of course, we all support each other.

You support each other?

This district is in the middle of the city,
but it's like a small village.

You can get anything
you need in this neighborhood.

So this shop is really an important place for everyone.

Now I have to finish
writing the menu.

Oh, I apologize for holding you up!

So, what's on today's menu?

Thanks for your time.

Have a nice day.

Ah, a butcher popular with the neighbors!

The shop should be bustling with regulars soon.

This city is so beautiful!

And the buildings lining the streets ooze atmosphere promoting the city's history.

Look at that building across the street, there's a red lion crest on it.

And next door...

That's a crawfish above the entrance.

And next to it...

That looks like a swan!

And over there, a deer.

All the animals. I wonder why?

They seem to be curious also.

Oh, someone just came out.

Excuse me.

Good morning.

I'd like to ask about the sign above the entrance.

Well let's see...

It's a sign board of the building.

They are house signs
and used to designate landmarks before the buildings had addresses.

They were used
until the early 18th century by people who couldn't read.

For people who couldn't read?

Yes, there were people
who couldn't read.

Over there is "Red Lion,"
and there are "Two Suns."

They indicated places with pictures.

The "little green deer" is here.

Hmm, I wonder if they delivered letters and postcards to these "addresses?"

Very interesting! Thank you so much.

You're welcome. See you.

How fabulous that the house signs that were used during the 18th century have not been destroyed.

So, that building would be called the "star house."

There are more people walking around town now.

The sunshine lighting up the corridor is quite beautiful.

What a great family, they're all holding hands.

Ah, the bus up there, it's just driving through that building.

It can barely fit through the tunnel!

Oh, there are three tunnels!

The left one has rails, so it must be for the tram.

But it looks as though that hole was forcibly created.

Excuse me.

The tunnel in the building behind you...

Was it created after the building was built?

Yes.

I work nearby. And I have
often wondered about that.

The tunnel was created around 1923
when the tram line was opened.

The building was allowed to remain
because it's on the border of the city.

That's all I know.

That's good enough for me.

Thank you very much!

I think I understand.

The tunnel was built when the tram line opened.

And the residents figured out a way to retain the old buildings.

The tunnel on the right must be for pedestrians.

The beautiful construction of this tunnel indicates that it must have been built at the same time as the building.

And beyond the tunnel...

There's a tram waiting.

Interesting!

There is only one tram tunnel so the incoming tram and outgoing tram pass through the tunnel alternately.

Retaining the old building is very important to this city.

The street on the tram line leads me to a bridge.

To my right is the symbol of the city, Charles Bridge.

How beautiful the silhouette looks.

So, what's on the left?

Ah, across the river, there is a hill.

Huh? What's that on top of the hill?

A red, needle-like sharp looking thing, pointing up at the sky.

I wonder what it is?

I'd like to check that out later.

But first I'll cross the bridge.

And now I'm on one road in from the riverbank.

Huh...? That guy up there is carrying something.

I wonder what it is?

And look, he just left.

Check out this show window...

Hmm, what are these?

And now he's back!

This looks like glass.

So this must also be glass.

Oh.

- Hello.
- Is this a glass shop?

This is a repair workshop.

Why don't you come inside and see.
As the wind is strong.

Ah, yes, it is a bit strong. Thank you.

So what kind of repairs do you do here?

- We make and repair stained glass.
- Stained glass!

Yes, I've seen them in church windows and I've always wondered how they were made.

We use the simple technique
they used a thousand years ago.

So, it hasn't changed for a thousand years!

A sketch is traced on the glass
and then it's cut.

I see.

A lead frame is put around the glass
to make the picture.

High purity lead is very soft.

That's how you can fit the various shapes of glass together.

Please come here.

I'm working on a very old piece now.

It's a very nice piece.

This piece may have been
normal for the time.

Is that the piece in front of you?

It's so beautiful. You don't come
across these very often.

Is that a valuable antique?

This was found at Kladruby Monastery.

The most beautiful
I've ever worked with.

It's so delicate and beautiful.

It's an antique stained glass piece so I'm repairing it
with the guidance of experts.

I see.

It's very exciting!

You seem to really love your job!

Absolutely.

I was about to say that.

This kind of handiwork is
so beautiful.

It is!

These custom made crafts
are so fascinating because they've been used for years.

We are a part of history.

The pieces we work on
were created in the 14th century.

Our job is to pass the beauty created
by the people of that era to the next generation.

I'm responsible for amazing work that transcends generations.

It's so fascinating!

Absolutely.

Thank you for an amazing conversation!

Thank you.

Good-bye.

See you.

It seems that these gorgeous antique stained-glass pieces have been kept beautiful by generation after generation of craftsmen.

Prague is such a fascinating city!

I am the Emperor Rudolf II of the Holy Roman Empire, who ruled Prague in the 16th century.

I'd like to share the history of my city with you.

Located in the center of Europe, Prague developed as a major trade and transportation center.

Innovative technologies and new information were brought to the city and the first university in the Empire was established.

The best civil engineering techniques of the time were used to build the Charles Bridge in 1402.

Prague was a city that was at the forefront of its day.

The Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square was built in 1490 according to science of astronomy.

At a glance, you can see both the location of the sun and the moon at the same time.

It was created utilizing Ptolemaic theory, so the mechanism is quite complicated.

To be honest, I don't really understand it myself.

Fortunately, Prague wasn't hit by any massive air raids during World War II, so several architectural styles from different eras remain standing in the city.

That's why Prague is known as a "museum of architecture."

As Prague is located in the center of Europe, it was highly influenced by surrounding nations.

There were also times when it was also under the domination of other countries.

The residents faced great hardship during its period of socialism, under the Soviet Union.

In 1968, the Soviet Union led Warsaw Pact troops in an invasion of Czechoslovakia to crack down on reformist trends in Prague.

Prague is a city with a past that is rich in culture and history.

Please walk through this city and discover these vestiges of antiquity.

It's now 10:00 AM.

Now, I'm in an area where I can see a lot of tall buildings.

Well, I visited a butcher shop that serves meals, walked through the building with three tunnels, crossed the bridge and was invited into a stained-glass repair studio...

And now I'm here!

It seems that I'm in the center of Old Town.

The building with the brown roof up there doesn't fit in with the surrounding buildings.

The walls are painted a bland color and there are only a few windows.

I wonder where the entrance is.

There's a group of people here.

I think I'll ask those two men about the building.

Excuse me. Do you mind if I ask you something?

Please do.

What is this place?

This is Jewish synagogue.

A Synagogue.

This is a Jewish house of
worship. I pray here.

Built in the 13th century, it's the
oldest synagogue in the Czech Republic.

Wow, that's quite a history!

There have been Jews in Prague
since the 10th century.

Some kings tolerated the Jews.

Some kings expelled them.

Most of the Jews who lived in Prague were killed during the Nazi era.

And the survivors were
expelled by the communists.

That's the history.

And yet, people still
come here to pray.

You certainly have survived incredible hardships.

Yes.

- Would you like to go inside?
- Are you sure it's all right?

Sure.

Thank you.

That's a sturdy looking door.

Oh my!

It is a very quiet place.

The solemn atmosphere...

Definitely a place for prayer.

The synagogue has perfectly retained
the appearance of the Gothic era.

Just look at that spreading Gothic arch.

Each arch has five ribs not four, so there is no resemblance to a cross.

Ahh, it retained the original style.

A place where people facing hardships and pain can pray.

It must be an indispensable place for so many generations...

Let me show you
something interesting.

Something interesting?

The clock runs counter-clockwise.

What do you mean?

Come this way.

I feel like I'm going into a strange world.

Oh, is it outside?

I don't remember seeing a clock here....

That's a Baroque clock over there.

Above that is a normal clock.

The clock below is
written in Hebrew.

Those numerals are written in Hebrew.

Hebrew is coined as counter-clockwise.

Because it is read from right to left.

So the craftsman built it
to run counter-clockwise.

Ah, the craftsman had a sense of humor!

Counter-clockwise vs clockwise.

How daring of the clockmaker.

Yes, very unique!

Ah, let's see if I can tell the time.

It's now 10:55.

I guess in a counterclockwise clock the little hand should be on the right side.

It might not be the correct time.

You may be right.

- We should report it.
- It's now 10:55, right?

Ah, I'm sorry.

Did I say the wrong thing?

Good-bye.

Thank you for your time!

Jewish people have had to suffer through many occasions of persecution.

I wonder if the clockmaker was hoping to change something by reversing the way time moves.

Here I am in the famous Old Town Square.

The buildings of the different eras continue to line the streets.

It is truly a "Museum of Architecture."

The church bells that mark the time have been ringing for hundreds of years.

Just look at the relief sculpture on the walls of that church.

Just spectacular!

Oh, that wall looks strange.

Inside the white wall there, are arches.

I think I'll ask.

Excuse me, may I ask you something?

Sure.

Would you tell me about that arch in the wall over there?

This is a remnant of Gothic style arch.

This is a historic district.
It was built during the 13th century.

It was discovered
when the building was repaired.

Was it revealed when they scraped the wall?

Yes, that's part of
the original building.

That's interesting.

There are various styles of building.
Gothic-style, modern style.

It's like a museum...

Every time the buildings
in Old Town suffer fire damage, they are reconstructed
in the style of that era.

The evolution of the styles
are a reminder of the city's history.

I see.

Thank you for your time!

See you.

So as time passes, the city adopts and incorporates the culture of each era.

There is so much history packed into each and every building.

It's 1:10 now.

There sure are a lot of clocks in this city.

They may be useful, but I wonder why so many?

That's a sturdy looking fence around the park next to the tower.

Look at all the people with dogs inside.

Is this a place where people come to hang with their dogs?

I think I'll say hi!

Hello.

Hello.

Do you come here often?

We all walk our dog here.

Do a lot of people come here?

With their dogs.

Is it all right if I come in without a dog?

Sure.

I'm glad to hear that.

Come in.

Thank you.

The dog on the right is a Japanese dog.

It's a Shiba Inu.

Shibas are fascinating dogs.

And can be stubborn.
She does what she wants.

It's a sense of self pride
that is not a trait shared by humans.

She is such a cute dog!

Thank you.

By the way, I was just wondering why are there so many clocks on the streets of Prague.

There's one right behind you.

That's an interesting question.

I think people are
too obsessed with time.

But it's difficult to comprehend
what time is by watching a clock.

What?

If you live your life only
by the clock, you can waste time.

I feel differently.
I don't reject clocks.

Tourists enjoy our beautiful clocks.
I am proud they are a part of Prague.

I'm not denigrating the clocks.

They're great decorations.

Sorry to ask such a strange question...

Thank you so much!

Enjoy your day.

I didn't get an answer to my question as to why there are so many clocks here, but I was treated to a philosophical discussion.

Hello! I'm Maya Vackar.

I'm eleven years old.

And I'm here to introduce you to three desserts that are Prague favorites.

In third place is...

Trdelnik!

It's made of flour, with sugar and walnuts added.

You loop the dough around baking utensils.

Then rotate it and bake well.

It's very simple, but if you eat it right after it's been baked, it is so good!

There are so many different variations to enjoy.

You can put fruit paste inside or soft cream on top.

I recommend the version baked with chocolate.

So good!

There are a lot of shops in the city...

...that display this sign.

My second-place choice is...

Ovocne Knedliky!

Dumplings are filled with fruit such as strawberries and apricots.

And it's served hot.

To make the dough, mix flour, eggs, milk and cottage cheese.

Strawberries and apricots are popular fillings.

The first president of Czechoslovakia and the Austro-Hungarian Empire royals loved this.

Boil the dumplings about 10 minutes until they are nice and chewy.

And then right before serving, top with melted butter.

Enjoy it while hot!

It would be a great main dish!

And so, in first place is...

Makovy zavin!

This poppy seed roll is an iconic Czech dessert.

Czech poppy seeds have a bluish tinge.

They have been grown here for over 1000 years.

Cook the ground up poppy seeds and then spread the mixture on pie dough.

Adding plums brings out the flavor of the poppy seeds.

Roll it up and then bake it in the oven.

The Czech people really love poppy seeds and this pastry has been enjoyed here for over 1000 years.

Although this poppy seed roll is normally made at home, it can now also be bought in pastry shops.

When you visit Prague be sure you take time to enjoy our traditional desserts.

Bye!

It's 2:30 in the afternoon.

I'm now at a large square.

Let me see...

I saw that counter-clockwise clock near the synagogue, saw the building with the old arches in the wall,

then I chatted with the dog people, and now I'm here.

There's a huge building up ahead.

It's really big!

I wonder what it is.

It's facing a huge square so it must be an important building.

What's that on the sidewalk?

What is it?

It looks like a cross.

Hello, excuse me.

May I ask you something?

- Sure.
- What is this?

This is where Jan Palach
committed self-immolation.

Why did he set himself on fire?

He did it in protest of the invasion
by the Soviet Union in 1968.

What happened to him?

He died three days after
he set himself on fire.

This monument is
in memory of Palach who sacrificed himself for freedom.

He sacrificed himself for freedom...

Sadly, these days
he has been forgotten.

It is important to communicate
Palach's story of sacrifice to our younger generation.

I'm on my way to the national
museum with my son.

The museum was shelled by tanks.

But Jan Palach protested
without weapons.

Thank you very much.

I think I have conveyed the truth.

The people of Prague carved a monument into the ground that represented the hardships they faced.

I can feel their desire to never forget this incident.

Huh? What's that?

The building on the left, I can see a doll.

I wonder what it is.

Hello. Excuse me.

What is this place?

What do you think it is?

Eh, a toy shop?

- Are you serious?
- Or nursery?

No, it's not.
Would you like to come in?

- We're in the middle of rehearsal.
- Rehearsal?

I still don't get it.

Oh, it's in the basement.

Don't be scared.

It's more like a hobby.

Is this a theater?

I wonder...

Where from, director?

- Did you rehearse each part?
- Yes, but let's do it again.

Okay. Let's do it for each.

- No, we should run through.
- That's okay.

Let's go after three.

How interesting this is!

He must be the director of this puppet theater.

Go with Goliath.

Counting from...

One, two, three.

Oh, they all stood up.

The men in the center are carrying swords.

I wonder what this story is about?

Sorry to interrupt, but I'd like to ask about this puppet theater.

This is a classic puppet theater.

The theater was built in 1928.

And we have been performing
puppet shows from that time.

We're using techniques
from the Baroque era, preserving them for posterity.

Some of us have been working
in this way for decades.

We are rehearsing "Faust" now.

I'm trying to recall
elements of the performance.

Ah, the tradition of the puppet show...

I am curious, are today's children interested in watching puppet shows?

Our theater has been
going for 100 years.

Our job is to preserve the traditions.

The hope is that it'll continue
for 100 more, preserving puppet theater.

What do you mean, preserving the Puppet theater?

Looking back at history, puppet shows can be
compared to today's TV

as it played a large role in the culture.

We don't want to lose
our cultural heritage.

Our hope is that puppet shows will be
recognized as part of popular media.

Interesting.

It seems that there are some things that are best presented though the puppet theater.

Good-bye.

- See you again.
- Thank you!

Ah, so this puppet theater has been performing shows for almost 100 years, presenting history as it happens.

And the stories the tell conveys things that cannot be presented in any other way.

It's 3:30 now.

And I'm back at the river.

The buildings of Old Town look so beautiful in the glow of the sunset.

This cityscape still exists because Prague did not suffer the devastation caused by destructive air raids during WWII.

Before the sun sets, I'd like to go and check out the red, needle-like projection on the top of the hill that I saw this morning.

Ah, there it is!

What is this?

It's moving very slowly from left to right.

I guess I should ask someone.

Excuse me.

What's that red needle-like thing up there?

You're so lucky.
I'm an official Prague city guide.

That's a metronome that was created
after the revolution in 1989.

Before then, a monument of Stalin that
had been erected in 1956 was there.

It was quite large.

After his death,
they tried to smash it up but it was so well constructed
that only his beard dropped off.

The metronome was chosen to
symbolize the passage of time.

No matter what kind of government
is in charge, time keeps flowing.

In 1990, our first independent radio station
began broadcasting from here.

So this is a very important place for us.

It seems that the meaning of this metronome is even when the situation is difficult, time flows and good times will come again.

With the passage of time, some things disappear
and some things are repeated.

Sometimes we want things to disappear.

But if things are "disappeared," we don't learn from them,
and history repeats itself.

Yes, that is definitely true.

Thank you for your time.

So, that metronome represents the passage of time.

And look at all the people who come here to pass time while they sit and enjoy the sunset.

And as the clocks in Prague keep ticking, history is being made.

The residents are treasuring their accumulated memories as well as facing the future with anticipation.

May Prague live on forever!