Rome is also called the eternal city, as it has withstood any winds of change for 28 centuries already and is supposed to exist until the end of civilization. Sometimes, the city can feel heavy in history and weight, like the monumental statues decorating it. It can be busy too – especially during tourist season. But there are always places and moments to let it all in and feel the romance and melancholy of Rome.
The pictures were taken in Prague, May of 2018.
The “Golden City,” of course, is Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic or Czechia. It is one of the oldest cities in Central Europe and was the most crucial metropolis in the region for many centuries. Prague was a multicultural city with Czech, German, and Jewish populations. It was also a tremendously rich place, being a cultural, political, and economic hub in Europe. Because of that fact, it was probably called golden, maybe because of the many golden tower roofs visible from afar or the myths surrounding alchemists working in the city. There are plenty of other legends about Prague; one well-known is the story of the Golem, a monster who was said to live in the Jewish quarter. For sure, though, it can be said that Prague accumulated an astounding assembly of architecture over many centuries, reaching from medieval Gothic buildings to baroque and art nouveau structures. No wonder the city is a living museum of European history today.
Český Krumlov in Southern Bohemia, Czechia, is one of this little places in Europe that looks like it was taken directly from a fantasy film or role playing game and unfolded upon the landscape. Situated alongside the Vltava river below an impressive castle complex it seems especially unreal in it’s beauty on sunny days with clear skies. If Krumlov would be situated somewhere else in the world it surely would be a top attraction, in central Europe though it is not even well known, although there are plenty tourists from Asia and other parts of the world. The place has many great little shops with local craft work and delicious restaurants with regional food. If you are in the region don’t miss Krumlov!
Currently, sixteen lakes are visible at the surface in Plitvice, but the number changes due to natural conditions. The unique feature of these lakes is the natural dams, called travertines, built by a combination of bacteria, algae, and moss. They are susceptible to outside conditions and grow up to one centimeter yearly. The lakes are known for their distinctive colors, from azure to green, grey, or sometimes blue, depending on the light and the organisms living inside. But most famous, of course, are the countless waterfalls, which bind the different lakes together and, at this moment, create a unique natural landscape.
If you think about paradise, the national park of Plitvice in central Croatia comes pretty close to it. A marvelous place of nature it encompasses 296,85 square kilometers of pure wild. The forests seem to be endless, and the gentle hills make for some beautiful curves in the panorama. Here and there, you find a castle, a water mill, or a trail leading to a lake with some stunning waterfalls.
Michael Hoffman Photography 