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The Bridges of Prague
by Isabella Mori

Ladies and gentlemen, you see before you bridges, bridges, bridges. There’s not much more I can say, unfortunately. To be quite honest – it’s good to be honest – my tour guide exam, well … let me just apologize if you have been misled about my qualifications. I am not entirely sure where – let’s see – Berlin? No, I don’t think so. Auschwitz? No, can’t be. Oh, right, Prague. Yes. Czech Republic? Poland? One of those. Bear with me.

Roses, yes, these are roses you see. Did you know the Prince of Sweden, or one of their Royals anyway, was a rose fanatic? He bought a huge swatch of an island in Switzerland just to grow roses.

Germany, you say? Alright, Germany, then.

Four bridges we see here, one vehicle, can I borrow your – what is it again? Stethoscope? Monocle? Binoculars. Well, well. We may not be quite in the right time zone. I’m sorry for the mix-up, our driver Teddy with his fabulous Mercedes Benz coach will get us back to 2018 right after lunch, I’m sure.

Hm, that’s a Model T, I believe, there on that second bridge, so 1920s, 1930s at the most.

The lack of other vehicles is also due to the early hour. Yes, yes, starting a sightseeing tour at six in the morning is a little unusual, but why not? Adventures, eh? And what could be more adventurous than going on a sightseeing tour with a tour guide like me, who has never been to this place, in a different historical time, before you’ve even had a chance to have a croissant and a latte? I’m afraid there won’t be lattes here, I am quite certain this is not Italy, and definitely not Vienna, where in the 1920s you could have had a latte, only they call it melange.  A French word, when in France they call it café lait. Funny, that.

Café oh lait, Miss Laverne? Why “oh?” Those French are a little strange, wouldn’t you say?

Teddy here – Teddy? Where – oh. Hm. I can’t see him. The 1920’s must have – I’m sorry. Of course; it makes sense. He couldn’t really be here, could he? They wouldn’t be able to sustain a 2016 Mercedes Benz coach in the 1920s; different conduction system, right? Combustion, I mean. We’ll just have to make do without Teddy, obviously there’ll be an easy way back to your time, ladies and gentleman, an easy way, don’t worry.

Hm. Well, anyway. Bridges. Those bridges, one after the other, aren’t they beautiful? And the roses right here, don’t they smell exquisite?