garden

“LEISURE”

Location Notations
Letná Parks (Letenské sady) // 6.2.2019

The Letna district of Prague is known for its scenic view of the entirety of Old Town, and is also home to one of the most-frequented beer gardens in the city. Letna Park, which extends along the south-facing hillside, was bustling with colorful people this warm afternoon, such as the turbaned woman captured above. While her friend sat across from her in simplistic black stripes, she screamed style and sass with the bright pink accents in her outfit, which immediately caught my eye. The two were enjoying a conversation in a patch of forest all their own, away from crowds.

This photo encapsulates my own mental picture of “summer” to a tee: warm sun, lush grass, and purposeful conversation. While the beautiful skyline of a bustling city lay just beyond the treeline, these girls found leisure in the folds of nature. As cliche as it sounds, we all know finding time to escape everyday busyness is no easy feat. To me, the Czech seem to be experts at setting aside time to just enjoy the sweet things in life, creating spaces and moments that revive their spirits. This extensive park, with each of its little glades, reveals the societal values behind the culture that established it. The Czech work “letna” translates to “summer,” and no doubt the Letna gardens are one of those rare physical manifestations of the word.

“PUT ON A SHOW”

Not From These Parts
Wallenstein Garden (Valdštejnská zahrada) // 5.29.19

Our first full day in Prague, my group of friends and I set out across town to explore different stops along the metro. We eventually happened upon the Wallenstein Palace grounds, which featured a stunning geometric garden straight out of a European history textbook. The early Baroque-style space was trimmed to perfection, featuring enchanting ponds, an ornate pavilion, and even a cave grotto dripping with stalactites. The Wallenstein Garden was used as a set location for a scene in the Academy Award-winning film Amadeus, and proved to be just as regal in real life as it appears in the movie.

The main attraction at Wallenstein, as it turns out, wasn’t just the landscape. The garden is home to several peacocks, and these feathery beauties attracted flocks of tourists each time they opened their plumage. One all-white peacock in particular remained the center of attention during our afternoon visit, with cameras clicking around it constantly. Above is featured the small group of viewers who first arrived at the scene, and a larger crowd accumulated as the bird continued to pose.

Visitors remained enamored with this peacock’s feather display, as the phones around me began to flood social media platforms with photos and videos of its beauty. Watching the peacock gracefully put on a show for its visitors reminded me of the “show” we as travelers can put on for our own world of followers online. We tend to share the most glamorous moments of our experiences in broad on social media, leaving the “less-exciting” moments undocumented. I am no exception to this mindset. But as I continue to post on this blog, I hope that my photos will give a truly holistic view of Prague and its culture, not just its most dazzling attractions. Cheers to a month of learning and living here in Czechia!