Prague2: Carmen, World Cup In Old Town Square, Jewish Quarter +

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Photos (top to bottom): photos 1-4: performance of Carmen, featuring ballet, opera and orchestra; photos 5-7: World Cup (Germany v. Spain) broadcast on big screen on the Old Town Square; photo8: Jewish cemetery, in the location of what was the Jewish ghetto; photo9: walking through throngs of tourists and cameras on the Charles Bridge, most headed to Prague Castle; photo10: interior of Church of St. Nicholas, built in 1735; photo 11-13: facades on and around Old Town Square; photo 14-15: visitors enrapt watching the hourly entertainment at the astronomical clock on Old Town Square; photo 16-17: views from the tower of the Old Town Hall.

I knew well the cast and characters of the opera Carmen in high school. Carmen was the manipulative temptress cheerleader; Don Jose was the serious and slightly geeky honor roll student who loved his mom; Micaela was the good girl, Don Jose's former girlfriend, probably Catholic; and Escamillo was the cocky football jock, sporting a Raiders' jersey.

Here's the story line (it will likely be familiar to all of us, each of us inhabiting one or more of these roles in high school): Don Jose is entranced by Carmen, who offers her number, Jose dumps Micaela, who feels rejected. Carmen, being Carmen, has a fling with Escamillo, without telling Don Jose. Don Jose finds out about Escamillo; Escamillo finds out about Don Jose; they duke it out. Don Jose reunites with Micaela . . . well, for a while . . . until his hormones get the better of him and is drawn back to Carmen, who rejects him. Some high art. More like junior year!

Old Town Square is a hub for tourist traffic in Prague. It would be an excellent venue in which to broadcast the World Cup on large screen. We could add a rock band to draw a crowd and ramp up the electricity in advance of the game. Good idea.

Prague has more vagrants and more drugs and alcohol than I've seen in years. (This is not something that exists in Senegal.) I know this first-hand because I shared a corner of the spectators' area with a group of them for the Germany-Spain match. I'm thinking, based upon their general demeanor and decorum, that they were not drinking coca-cola. They seemed to accept my presence, which I tried to make as non-threatening and non-judgemental as possible, though physical confrontation with others seemed likely. Thankfully, the evening ended peacefully. Everyone was feeling good, to different degrees, for one reason or another.

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The famous astronomical clock is located in Old Town Square, and is a major tourist attraction. I opted to photograph the tourists who, when the animations began on the hour, stood enrapt, camera firing. See photos 14&15.