The Ever-ticking Metronome, and the Kafkaesque

Last week, on one of the last sunny days we will have, apparently, until the spring, I paid a visit to historic Letna Park. In the midst of cobblestone roads and tall fancy buildings lies a large green area filled with walking paths, grass and trees. I passed people walking their dogs, gratuitous public displays affection, and a Tai Chi class, if I'm not mistaken. In the center of the park is a series of stairs leading up to the hill overlooking the Vltava river. What has now become a hang-out for Czech skaters was once the home of the giant statue of Stalin one can read about in the Communist museum. During the Velvet Revolution, thousands of Czech citizens gathered in this park to protest the oppressive regime. In 1991, a large metronome was constructed as a sort of reminder of the changes that took place in Prague. In it's slow ticking one can hear the echos of a country crying for freedom. Or maybe it's just the gears shifting.

South of Letna Park, just beside the Charles bridge lies the Kafka Museum. As you may know Franz Kafka spent most of his days in Prague, and the museum takes you through his life in the city. Allow me to begin my description with the poignant quote from the author:

"Prague doesn't let go. This old crone has claws. One has to yield, or else."

The place was quite unusual, it's official name was The City of K. Franz Kafka and Prague. This is based on his unfinished book, "The Castle", in which the main character K. struggles to make himself accepted in a strange city. The feel of most of Kafka's work was reflecting in the architecture of the exhibit. The first room was dark and the captions on old photos of Prague were hard to read. As a matter of fact, they were submerged in water for some reason. Another room had a black netting in front of everything you were trying to read, make it more difficult than it ought to be. Some things were suspended by chains from the ceiling, and as you read them they would move slightly from the air current making me slightly query as if I was reading in a car, which I could never do. A room beyond that was surrounded by mirrors and played strange video clips and sound effects.

Yes, yes, I get it. Labyrinthine. Very clever.