Apparantly Prague means Threshold and comes from the fact that it was a visionary project to be built. Or something...History was a bit sketchy back then. Am starting to enjoy it more here now, and the crowds not getting to me in the same way as they were.
Its great to stroll through the cobbled streets, sometimes realising that you are walking in an area you haven't walked in before and you come across a courtyard or a fountain. The busiest place as to be the Charles Bridge (Karlovy Most) which is full of jewellery sellers, portrait painters and people. Yesterday I did see a group of musicians playing some jazzy type stuff. One opened a bottle of wine and they just passed it round, each taking a swig, before it was recorked. Then when they started playing, the double bass player had a cigarette in his mouth, as did the banjo player. They all looked throughly bored and it was actually quite comical.
I have visited the art galleries up at the castle, which hold some nice paintings. Titian, Veronnese, Tintoretto, as well as Dutch, German and Czech works. One fantastic one, Judith with a Sword, by Furini, where she gazes right out of the picture at you and there is such emotion in the eyes and the fact that its almost impossible to draw yourself away from it. It really is incredible.
The Antonin Dvorak museum is housed in the university area, which is incredibly quiet and reminded me a little of Bologna in terms of the buildings and the streets. The museum holds his viola, as well as copies of parts of his works, including the Largo from Symphony Number 9. I'm sure you're humming it already! The building itself was built as a summerhouse, and the upper room has a fresco covering it which is almost worth seeing alone.
The Franz Kafka museum is also fascinating. They have books and letters that he wrote which reveal a lot about the way he saw the world and saw himself. It seems he was very troubled and confused. The exhibits also have odd things here an there like mirrors and curved hangings which seem to distort reality a little. I'm not sure what his books were about, but I imagine that these were meant to be related. I will definately have to try reading some of his works.
Still can't get over how cheap it is here, especially beer. Have been chatting to a few americans who are studying over in Europe (England, Paris, Budapest) and now know the difference between a Freshman and a Sophomore and what they all mean. Its been bugging me for years. The hostel is also great, a little outside the centre and so it is quiet but with a great atmosphere. They have a little garden out the back and I have made friends with the kittens who live out there. They keep wanting to sit on my lap!!
I'll sign off now as it is likely that I am on the threshold of another night of beer.