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“A journey is better measured in friends, rather than miles.”-
We landed in Prague to see a couple of hundred puzzlers, befriended
since last year’s IPP at Australia. This, 28th World Congress about mechanical puzzles, is aptly called ‘International Puzzlers’ Party’ where participation is by the invitation only and there is nothing formal except serious parlance of puzzles. We were hooked to these mind boggling ‘ingenious inventions’, and equally lured by the fellowship of these intellectuals from some 30 countries.
since last year’s IPP at Australia. This, 28th World Congress about mechanical puzzles, is aptly called ‘International Puzzlers’ Party’ where participation is by the invitation only and there is nothing formal except serious parlance of puzzles. We were hooked to these mind boggling ‘ingenious inventions’, and equally lured by the fellowship of these intellectuals from some 30 countries.
Our thirty minute drive from the airport to the hotel was enough to caution us that next five days won’t be sufficient to explore this city of thrilling collage of past and future. The iconic trams-from vintage T-3 models to aerodynamic Skoda-Porsche of 2.3 million $ each- plying in tandem were as if conveying that this fast developing Capital of Czech Republic and one of the most exciting cities of Europe craves to maintain its medieval character intact. Few ‘rabbit-hut’ apartments on the way reminded us of 40 years of communist rule which Czechs had discarded some two decades back and started adapting to Capitalism.
The first thing we did was to purchase a five-days-pass, our freedom to access any bus, metro and boat. On the same evening we reached to Old Town Square, where the twin Gothic spires dominate the wide open space. The main attraction here is the intricate Astronomical Clock which attracts the floods of tourists every hour, when a skeleton appears and chimes the bell, followed by the parade of twelve apostles.
Next evening we had Founder’s Reception, a chance to see old friends and make new ones. But before that we did a day trip to a very unique world heritage site- some sixty kms away-Kutna Hora- a place of fourteenth century silver mine and mint. But it is more famous for that Sedlac Ossuary, where 40000 human skeletons were put to use to decorate the monastery with chandeliers, bells and garlands of different bones. Anatomy was learnt in a real hard way, once again!
Hradcany or the Castle District on the west bank, houses the largest ancient castle in the world, along with the unique Strahov Library, and St. Vitus cathedral, which looms large on the city. We started our group sightseeing tour there in mid noon. Climbing down some 900 steps, en route, we had panoramic views of hundreds of spires, as if emanating out of colorful domes and brick red roofs. We reached the Charles Bridge, the oldest of 15 bridges which connects two banks of Vlatava River. But what make it more than just a crossing are the 30 sculptures, countless painters, musicians, puppeteers, vendors and of course tourists like us.
The banquet was in one of the famous buildings of East Europe during Communist era-Slovanic House. With echoing sounds of ’pivo prosim’[beer please],and re
sonating band of Classic Czech music, we had chance to savoir-faire authentic Czech menu-the main dish being Goulash, along with ubiquitous potatoes and breads. The other evening, we had The Black Light Theatre, the Prague cultural specialty which involves an expressive artistry of dance, mime, puppetry and acrobatics of the performers creating remarkable spectacles.
sonating band of Classic Czech music, we had chance to savoir-faire authentic Czech menu-the main dish being Goulash, along with ubiquitous potatoes and breads. The other evening, we had The Black Light Theatre, the Prague cultural specialty which involves an expressive artistry of dance, mime, puppetry and acrobatics of the performers creating remarkable spectacles.
W
e tried to balance between ‘puzzling’ with ‘cubes’ and exploring the ‘maze’ of ‘jig-sawed’ cobble-stoned streets to unfold the mysteries of Cubism, unique post modern art movement of Prague. We attended talks and workshops related to puzzles and with the same friends we had walks and visits to puzzle shops. Puzzles were posed and solved, demonstrated and debated, swapped and sold - on the ‘exchange tables’ in conference halls, during the bus rides and even on the River Cruise! Five days stay was like a difficult ‘packing trick’.
e tried to balance between ‘puzzling’ with ‘cubes’ and exploring the ‘maze’ of ‘jig-sawed’ cobble-stoned streets to unfold the mysteries of Cubism, unique post modern art movement of Prague. We attended talks and workshops related to puzzles and with the same friends we had walks and visits to puzzle shops. Puzzles were posed and solved, demonstrated and debated, swapped and sold - on the ‘exchange tables’ in conference halls, during the bus rides and even on the River Cruise! Five days stay was like a difficult ‘packing trick’.
We had with us our close friends -Anil and Tanuja Relia, art connoisseurs, with whom we were to explore other Eastern European capitals like Bratislava, Budapest and Warsaw during next fortnight. Together, it was quite relishing to explore street-side cafes for Mohitos, Margaritas and local brews; to learn about those enigmatic Alfred Mucha, Joan Miro and Salvador Dali in the galleries beyond was also equally ravishing with them. And quite puzzling too!
