Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Praha or, as we know it, Prague


First off, I think we should start calling cities by the names everyone who lives in them or close to them call them. So rather than Prague, we should say Praha.

Second, I think travel books should list the name of the places you will see and read on street signs in the language of the country/city. So for example, in Praha, you will see Karlov (or something similar to that) Most, not Charles Bridge. It is fine to put Charles Bridge after Karlov Most, but not make Charles Bridge prominent in the book.

Karlova Most is a pedestrian bridge. Many jazz musicians and other artists occupy the sides of the bridge. Thus, in addition to the statues of religious figures/saints on the bridge, a pedestrian sees and hears some of the street artists of Praha. American music has been transported to Praha and enjoyed by Americans and I hope, by the natives of the city. That is, I hope the performances in public places are not for our benefit, but because the musicians like and enjoy performing Dixieland.

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