Want to be sure she says YES! Propose in Prague

U Prince rooftop bar is located on the rooftop terrace of "U Prince" hotel in Old Town Square.

To begin your romantic night, spend a few hours on the terrace. Whether it is a cold winter evening or a warm summer night, the view from the terrace will make you fall in love all over again. I sure did. If it is winter, sit back and enjoy a mulled wine under the heat lamps and enjoy the view of the astronomical clock, Tyn, and the alighted Prague Castle in the background all while overlooking the famous square abuzz with tourists and locals alike. What's more romantic than being warm and able to sit outside on a freezing cold night, sipping wine, and relaxing... perhaps a little snow peacefully settling on the red rooftops and amidst the trees?

Music makes your heart light and sets your soul on fire, especially when the music is Mozart. Spend an evening at the Estates Theatre, and you're guaranteed to fall in love! If you think the theatre's presence from the exterior is spectacular, just wait until you see the interior! Stop and admire the intricate architecture and hand-painted murals. They are sure to make your heart leap. The Estates Theatre typically presents Mozart operas, but sometimes it will hold performances by other composers as well as ballet and classical concerts. The theatre has such a romantic charm, and the power of the music will surely touch your heart. May I suggest "The Marriage of Figaro" (Le nozze di Figaro), which was first performed at the Estates Theatre? It is a lighthearted, fun, romantic opera that will surely win your heart.

This stone Gothic bridge, with its baroque statues, is nothing short of spectacular. My advice: get up at the crack of dawn, before anyone else rises, and experience a sunrise from the bridge. It will take your breath away and become a memory you will cherish for a lifetime. The peacefulness will fill your soul with happiness. Something just happens when it's you, perhaps a loved one, and the songs of birds gliding overhead while being protectively watched by the bridge's saints. Could it be love?

There is just something about Prague that makes people say, "I do!" Maybe it's Prague's charm, intrigue, or majestic beauties that sets hearts aflutter and make people fall in love. I fell in love in Prague. Not once or twice, but many times, and I continue to each time I visit. The second I step foot on a cobblestone street or take in the aroma from a pastry shop, I fall in love. When I stand in Old Town Square and look around at the century-old buildings and feel in awe of their beauty, I fall in love. When I walk the grounds of the Prague Castle and watch as it overlooks the city in a protective manner, I fall in love. When I stroll through the palace gardens and hear the trees swaying in the breeze and listen carefully to the story they tell, I fall in love. When I stand, breathless, in St. Vitus Cathedral and admire the beauty of its architecture, I fall in love. I feel that every corner I turn, every alley I walk through, every building I admire, every hand-laid cobblestone I walk upon makes me fall in love all over again. Have you ever fallen in love?

Visiting Prague is an experience of a lifetime. One that will make your heart yearn for more. You'll never forget its beauty, and you'll definitely never forget the love you felt. Someone once said, "It is a bitter sweet thing, knowing two cultures. It is a curse to love two countries," and after traveling to Prague, I now know what they mean.

Arriving in Prague:
You will arrive at Ruzyne Airport (airport code: PRG). Their phone, should you need it, is 220-111-111, www.csl.cz, and the airport is located 12 miles (20km) northwest of the downtown area. It's small but easily negotiated. A still-expanding main terminal has eased traffic flow. The flight from New York to Prague takes about 8 hours.

Transportation options from the airport to Prague:

Shuttle Bus:
The Cedaz (phone 220-114-296), www.aas.cz/cedaz, is a minibus shuttle that links the airport with Námestí Republiky (Republic Square, just off the Old Town). It runs hourly, more often at peak periods between 5:30am and 9:30pm daily and makes an intermediate stop at the Dejvická metro station. The one-way fare is 90Kc, which is approximately $3.60. The minibus also serves many hotels starting around $14 and up, which is sometimes less than the taxi fare (BEWARE OF TAXIS!).

Municipal Bus:
Regular municipal bus service (Bus 119, but may want to confirm this at the airport) connects the airport and the Dejvická station for 12Kc (15Kc if purchased from the driver), which is about 60 cents. The ticket is transferrable to trams or the metro. From Dejvická, you can take the metro to the city center. To reach Wenceslas Square, get off at the "Mustek" station.

The trip to downtown is a straight shot down Evropská Boulevard and takes approximately 20 minutes. The road is not usually busy, but anticipate an additional 20 minutes during rush hour (7am-9am and 3pm-6pm). It can get hectic on the streets, especially when kids get out of school and are all on the trams.

The transportation company FIX has cars waiting at the airport, and these are your only choice if you want a taxi. Technically, though, these aren't taxis, and they charge a fixed rate based on zones. The fees range from 120Kc to 870Kc (approximately $4.80-$34.80) for travel into the city. Be sure to find out how much it will cost BEFORE you get in the car--preferably in writing from their airport representative--because overcharging is a problem. The ride should cost 500 Kc-700Kc ($20-$28).

You can call a taxi on your own; the rates might be a little cheaper than if you use a FIX car, but again, BEWARE of dishonest taxi drivers.

By Car:
Prague is well-served by major roads and highways from anywhere in the country. On arriving in the city, simply follow the signs to "Centrum" (city center). During the day, traffic can be heavy, especially on the approach to Wenceslas Square; thus, even most people who live there take public transportation to and from work, rather than drive their cars. Pay particular attention to the trams, which enjoy the right-of-way in EVERY situation when driving; oftentimes you'll be on the tram's tracks, so always keep an eye out for trams approaching from behind. People drive fast in Prague, so just go with the flow. If you get lost, miss a street, etc., it's better to just drive and turn around. They don't have much patience for the slow driver. Also, parts of the historic center of Prague, including Wenceslas Square, are closed to private vehicles.

Traveling by Train:
You may feel like visiting Slovakia, Dresden in Germany, or perhaps the city of Brno in the Czech Republic. I advise taking the train rather than driving. It is fast and comfortable and very scenic. We went to Vienna on a train that left super early in the morning (took a little over 3 hours to get there), and we had the whole day in Vienna and then took a late evening train home. It was plenty of time to explore Vienna, visit world-famous "Prater" (the very old amusement park) and ride Riesenrad, a symbol for Vienna. Reisenrad is a huge ferris wheel that was built in 1897. You get a great view of the city from it. Even if you don't ride it, it is worth it to visit the park (entrance is free), and at the very minimum, take a look at the Riesenrad Musuem, which is right at the entrance Riesenrad. They took about six of the ferris wheel's cars and made them into exhibits. In the car itself, they set up displays showing the park and Riesenrad over the years, from when it was first built to what it looked like during the war.

The main station, Hlavní Nádrazí (Main Station), is located on Wilsonova ul., Nové Mesto, phone 224-224-200. If you are in Wenceslas Square standing on the street that the musuem is on, facing the museum, walk left a few blocks and you'll come to the station. It is about 500 yards east of Wenceslas Square on Opletalova or Washingtonova street.

Always make certain you know which station your train is using. Trains arriving from the west usually stop at Smíchov station, on the west bank of the Vltava, before continuing to the main station.

For train times, consult timetables in a station or get in line at the information office upstairs at the main station (for domestic trains, open daily 3am-11:45pm) or downstairs near the exits under the CD Centrum sign (open daily 6am-7:30pm).

The main Cedok (Na Príkope 18, Staré Mesto, phone 224-197-111, www.cedok.cz) office also provides train information and issues tickets.

Wenceslas Square is a convenient five-minute walk (best not undertaken late at night, even though I have done it many times) from the main station, or you can take the subway (Line C) one stop in the Háje direction to Muzeum. A taxi ride from the main station to the center should cost about 100Kc ($4), but the station cabbies are known for overcharging!