Looking down. The sidewalks of Prague.

[Mira]

It’s another interlude that I can show you while I don’t have much time to prepare much else.
From the moment I arrived in Prague I noticed the exquisite cobble stone sidewalks. Miles and miles of them. Consistently beautiful, not just in spots, but just about everywhere. The cobble stone streets, of larger stone and not so much design, are also there. But I have not seen sidewalks to delight in the same way anywhere else.

So take a look and I hope you like them.

[Leghorn21]

1. Oh man, with sidewalks like these, why would you ever look UP, Mira?!

Just wonderful, thanks so much for posting!!

[RandomAccess]

2. They're exquisite

What is the blue stone??? You must find out!

[ChazInAz]

17. Looks like slate.

This is what struck me while traveling in Europe. The insertion of Art even into the most mundane of things, like sidewalks, or odd sculptures in random, yet appropriate places.

[RandomAccess]

18. Slate is blue?

Looks to me like sodalite, but I can't imagine using sodalite as cobblestones.

[ChazInAz]

20. Yep.

You'll find various shades of grey, blue and, of course black. Schloss Marksberg in Germany has a lot of local slate in its stonework, mostly grey.

[mnhtnbb]

3. Wonderful!

No wonder your feet hurt at night. Walking on cobblestones is tricky.

[hunter]

22. I can't find the studies just now, but senior citizens who walk regularly on rough surfaces...

... have better balance, strength, and general health than those who don't. It seem paradoxical at first, but they also suffer fewer falls.

Walking on rough surfaces is a "use it or lose it" skill.

Certain types of mobility aids (wheelchairs, walkers, etc.) don't work well on rough surfaces, but there are alternatives that do. Unfortunately these tend to be expensive and beyond the reach of many people who need them.

[Old Crank]

25. You see this in Rome

where the younger girls have troubles walking in heels on the cobbles but the near 30 and older women just march over them liek they are glass in stilettos...

People with limited mobility will have trouble with some of the larger cobbles with big gaps. I am surprised at how many people who have physical challenges get by with the rough terrain.

[BigmanPigman]

4. Art and beauty is everywhere!

When I went to art school in Rome I became so jaded. Everything was art. The doorknobs, the street signs, etc were all unique and special. It was almost too much to absorb. It is such a shame that craftsmen and artisans are no longer valued and employed by current societies as they were only a hundred years ago.

[Kurt V.]

5. absolutely gorgeous

looks like good weather too.

[NewJeffCT]

6. beautiful sidewalks

did you meet Michael Cohen while you were there? I heard he's in the city frequently.

[Mira]

10. Laughing

if I thought they had an artistic / visual bent I would laud them coming here.
There must be other reasons.

But seriously:
I've interacted with a few folks in my long life. There were a few Republicans in it over time. I have very definitely noticed that the Republicans were not interested in beauty, art, or design.
Or ever asked questions about it indicating they noticed it.

[fierywoman]

7. Thank you !

[JDC]

8. Fantastic. The way sidewalks should be.

Thank you for sharing.

[calimary]

9. Amazing! Really beautiful work.

I love mosaics. This is true art. Literally at your feet.

[Ghost of Tom Joad]

11. Thanks for the photos

I'll be there in a few weeks. Very excited about seeing Prague for the first time. Also planning a day trip to Kunta Hora to see the infamous bone chapel.

[Old Crank]

23. Prague is worth

the time to spend there. We were just there between Xmas and New Years. I remember those sidewalks. Very walk able city but avoid the hop on hop off buses. Waste of money. Enjoy your time there.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

12. Artwork underfoot.

What a treat it would be to observe the craftsmen at work laying these tiles.

Thanks for posting these great photos!

...... ........

[Old Crank]

24. They take up and re-install cobbles here in Munich.

They have many sidewalks that are a large foot squares that when they need to do work under them they just pick them up do the work and re-install. About 2-3 weeks after you have no idea they were there.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

26. That is so efficient and resourceful!

Much better than our system of ripping up and re-pouring concrete.

I recall the beauty of the streets and buildings on my visit in the 90s to Überlingen and Meersburg, with many cobblestone streets and vineyards and flowers everywhere. Transportation and the food were excellent, too.

Thanks for sharing!........

[mountain grammy]

13. Wow, amazing. Thank you.

[BobTheSubgenius]

14. Those are incredible!

There was either a lot of money available for municipal projects, or a huge glut of labour. Considering modern tilesetters have a rate of about $6 a square foot, just for labour, imagine the cost of those sidewalks today!!

I guess the rate would be discounted somewhat for a job that size, but it would still be a huge bill.

[alfredo]

15. Wonder how long they have been there? They are lovely.

[Mira]

19. I looked because I was curious as well,

and found this
http://www.sta-design.com/prague-sidewalks/

I also saw the carefully saved stones at construction sites where the sidewalks were involved.

[Callalily]

16. Just think of the craftsmanship!

It must have taken forever to install, but definitely worth the effort.

[Ohiogal]

21. I agree with everyone who says

we don't value art, beauty, and craftsmanship in America any more. Such a pity. Your photos are wonderful, Mira.

And yes, conservatives look down on the arts, which is why we need to totally support them whenever we can!

[procon]

27. Beyond the artisanship required to create beautiful stonework

there must be a high level of math skills involved to workout such geometric prevision. In our drab, mundane, workaday life, I don't imagine there are too many cities either in Europe or the US willing to spend their limited tax money on constructing such handsome sidewalks.

[pansypoo53219]

28. lovely. in denmark i saw them vacuuming the cobbles in arhus, DK.

also reseting them. where taxes are investments.

[Canoe52]

29. Way kewl!