Prague

I visited Prague over a city-break weekend in April this year, having wanted to visit for many years, most probably (I have to admit) because it was the setting of the INXS music video Never Tear Us Apart, and much of the early action of Mission: Impossible (1996).

I stayed in a beautiful studio apartment in Malá Strana (the old town), which was modern and conveniently-located. Central Prague is quite easy to navigate on foot, and within an hour of landing I was scurrying through the back alleys checking out the bars, and looking for mischief. Prague has the reputation of being the buck's and hen's party capital of Europe, and I ran into many single-sex groups, but, sadly, on this occasion, none in my demographic.

The Charles Bridge is one of the most enduring icons of Prague. It is famed for its fortress-like towers, a slight S-bend design to slow attacking armies, and beautiful statue decorations, which are in need of a bloody good clean. To truly experience the bridge, one must visit at at night time when it is eerily empty, to compare with the hustle and bustle of tourists and market sellers that crowd the bridge during the day.

Charles Bridge, neighbouring Kampa Island, and Lichtenstein Palace feature signficantly in the early part of Mission: Impossible. No external location is cheated - all are as crucially close to each other as suggested in the film - making this a particularly rewarding set-jetting experience. It was quite wonderful being able to retrace the steps of the characters in this film.

Prague Castle is reputed to be the largest castle in the world, and well beyond the scope of a single day visit. The ticketing and tour guide options were various and too confusing... so I opted to self-guide myself around the castle. Less stressful, but I didn't have a clue what I was looking at. St Vitus Cathedral, with its elaborate gothic gargoyles, is especially beautiful. Most of my time in Prague I just wandered around the town, eating, drinking, occasionally shopping, and generally enjoying being outside in the 20 degree heat.

I managed to find four more Mission: Impossible locations:
- Wenceslas Square was the location of the glass-fronted Akvarium building that Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) sensationally destroys;
- the Hotel Europa was home to the arms dealer Max (Vanessa Redgrave in a divine cameo);
- a random street where Hunt meets Max's goons;
- the stairs in the National Museum, which doubled for the interior of the American Embassy building (the exteriors were shot at Lichtenstein Palace on Kampa Island, across town).

All of my Prague photographs are on Flickr, and can be viewed in a slideshow.