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Last posts

The Charles Bridge in Prague

Mónica Boixeda Only-Be, Practical Guide - Prague, Praguer

One of the most important cities in Europe, is the capital of the Czech Republic, located on the banks of the Vltava River, where the second oldest bridge in the country stands. After the flood that caused the destruction of the Roman bridge, the Judith Bridge, in 1357 the current bridge construction was initiated by order of King Carlos IV, name given to the bridge in his honor. Work was completed in the early fifteenth century, becoming the largest trading connection between Eastern and Western Europe, and the only way to cross the river and connect Prague Castle, the Old Town and the surrounding area until the late nineteenth century . Initially the bridge was named Puente de Praga (Pražský most) or Stone Bridge (Kamenný most), but since 1870 it was called Charles Bridge (Karl?v most). With its 516 meters long and ten meters wide, the bridge connects the Old Town, or Stare Mesto with the town, which in Czech is Mala Strana, holding up with sixteen arches. Under the moonlight, the Charles Bridge transports us to medieval times. Long ago there were four lanes used by carriages, today it is a pedestrian bridge and a large influx of tourists stop to look at the works of artists and merchants that are on the bridge. Charles Bridge has three towers that protect it, two in the Lesser Town and a tower at the end of the Old City. This last tower is considered as one of the most amazing Gothic style ones in the world. Each side of the bridge is decorated with thirty baroque statues dating from the... read more

Careful you don’t get ripped off in Barcelona!

The Only Team Barcelonian, Only-Be, Practical Guide to Barcelona

In the beautiful city of Barcelona you´ll find a large amount of bars, terraces and restaurants where you can enjoy a nice coffee. Despite that this city can be expensive, the price depends on the district or place that you´re in. The most touristy area and the one with the most influence is definitely the Ramblas. Located in the city centre, they are the famous pedestrian street where thousands of people walk up and down all day, from Plaça Catalunya to the port, immersing themselves in the Gothic quarter, going up the monument of the discoverer of America, Christopher Columbus. To either side of the Ramblas, you´ll find anything and everything, and many places to have a coffee. However, this is quite expensive due to its location. A good example of this is Starbucks, an American coffee-shop chain that charges 5€ for a coffee. However, it´s a great coffee with a view of the Ramblas. Starting again from the main square in the city, Plaça Catalunya, we go up the hill towards Passeig de Gràcia, another unique but expensive street located in the Eixample district. Here we can find the best shops, two buildings by Gaudí (La Pedrera and Casa Batlló), the Antoni Tàpies Foundation and the best restaurants and cafés with pleasant terraces. These two streets are all aimed towards tourism, so don´t expect low prices. In the centre you can enjoy a nice coffee at a reasonable price at Iposa. It´s a bar-restaurant in Raval, a few yards away from the back entrance of the Boquería Market, on 14 Carrer de les Floristes de la Rambla. It... read more

The Controversial Art of David Černý in Prague

Mónica Boixeda Only-Be, Practical Guide - Prague, Praguer

If you are thinking about planning a trip to Prague there are a few obligatory on every visitor’s agenda, such as: The Franz Kafka Museum Charles Bridge The Castle St Vitus Cathedral or the Old Jewish Cemetery to name a few. All these landmarks are part of not only Prague’s tradition but also a symbol of the background of the entire country and there are plenty of other monuments and places throughout the city that are part of the cultural heritage. However today we would like to focus on someone who marches to his own drum and who also left his mark in various places in Czech capital. Czech artist David ?erný is widely known for his unconventional, often controversial sculptures. To present a rather extreme contrast to the traditional, conservative art that is widely known of Prague, we highlight some of ?erný ‘s works throughout the city: St. Wenceslas riding a dead horse that is upside down If you go to the old shopping arcades at Lucerna Palace look up and you will see a rather strange sculpture of the patron Saint of the Czech state. He sits on a horse and this horse not only seems to be dead, but it is hanging upside down. The TV Tower in Žižkov Don’t be alarmed when approaching the building you see babies that seem to be crawling up the tower. The tower already holds a top spot in the ranking of the ugliest buildings in the world and ?erný added his touch by placing crawling alien-like babies with big heads on it. Do I see two guys... read more