By the River, On the Bridge

By Emilia, Tricia and Puja

Tourists visit the Czech Republic’s beautiful capital from all over the world in July. Wise tourists spend much of their time near the Vltava River and the Charles Bridge. The bridge offers a spectacular view of Prague’s waterways, and the river offers a number of ways to relax and cool down.


At Kampe Park next to the Vltava River some students practice
pantomime. Kate Uotozkova, 20, dances in the middle. Andrew Holba, 21
(in the green shirt), and Jerry Jole, 24, juggle while Vaclav Pundalo,
24, plays guitar in the background. They practice in Prague and
perform on the Charles Bridge, constructed in 1357, during the day,
but they also perform in France, where they feel street art is taken
more seriously.


Michael Bernatik, a 28-year-old Czech from the city of Kromeriz, came
to Prague on holiday with his girlfriend, Lucia Kourelova,
27, and her dog, Arvika. Here they walk on the banks of the Vltava
river, the longest in the Czech Republic and the subject of many
musical compositions, where Arvika seems to be looking for some fish.


Archibald is an artist who specializes in line and charcoal
drawings. Here he draws three girls who pose for him on the bridge. It takes about three minutes to finish a portrait.


Maya, 27, and her mom Lydia, 55, perform folk and
classical music almost every day on the Charles Bridge, beside many
other artists who perform adjacent to the 30 statues on the bridge. Many stop to listen, but not all listeners pay.


Two sailors, Lassi, 36, and Mayo, 29, help tourists onto a
tour boat. The tour leaves every 10 minutes from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.,
and it costs 290 Krona. The name of the tour company is Prazske
Benatky. Many other companies operate on the river, among them one
which offers a jazz performance. Popular stops on the tour are Prague
castle, the Strahov Monastry, St. Nicholas Church and the Petrin
Tower.