When I visited Prague in spring 1994 a new Prague Spring had shown its first blossoms. The so-called Velvet Revolution had replaced Communism by end of 1989, and a dissident playwright had taken over as president: The last Soviet troops had left in 1991 and on 1 January 1993, the Czech Republic and Slovakia had been simultaneously and peacefully established as independent states. In the city of Franz Kafka, life was finally losing its Kafkaesque challenges. Pilsner Urquell, Budweiser Budvar, Staropramen, Krušovice and Gambrinus – the Czech proverb “Where beer is brewed life is good“ – it finally became true. Unfortunately, since I was on my first weekend getaway with my newly acquired girl-friend, beer was this time not a top priority.

In great spring weather, we admired Prague’s skyline while picnicking fruits on a meadow full of wildflowers, ate delicious goulash for lunch, and strolled down from Prague Castle through cobblestoned streets to Charles Bridge. While the sun was setting in a deeply red fireball behind the many spines and domes, a saxophonist was performing „What a Wonderful World“.