Prague Journal

Saturday, January 1, 2005.

While New Year’s Day is celebrated in much the same way in the Czech Republic as in the rest of the world, with parties, dancing, and kisses at the stroke of midnight to celebrate the arrival of the year, January 1 has greater significance to the Czech people than just marking the start of a new year. January first commemorates the creation of the present day Czech state because on January 1, 1993, the Czech Republic was created after the breakup of Czechoslovakia. This day is thus the first of four official state holidays commemorating Czech statehood (the others being: September 28, October 28, and November 17).
Shortly after midnight – with fireworks still blazing and ringing in our ears – we walked from New Town (Charlotte and Bruce’s flat), through Old Town and the Jewish Quarter, across the Manus bridge toward the Lesser Town (Mala Strana) to Hergetova Cihelna, a restaurant with one of the best views of the Charles bridge and the Vltata River. The building, a former brick factory, is now divided into a posh restaurant, a large summer terrace overlooking the river, a cocktail bar, café, and music lounge. The band we heard played mostly Elvis tunes. The place was packed, as was every other restaurant and hotel in town.
We finally headed toward the tram stop 3:30 a.m. and were home in little more than an hour (night trams are infrequent and very crowded). We went to bed at 4:45 a.m., which is the time that Rick frequently wakes up. The sun streamed into our bedroom window shortly before 9 a.m., but I didn’t get out of bed for some time. What a nice way to start the year!

Unfortunately, we let the lazy day get ahead of us and forgot about the New Year's Day evening fireworks display at the Old Town Square, following the musical performances on the stage. As I said, Czechs love fireworks!

posted by JWinn @ 1:50 PM