Final Word from Monday, August 6, 2012
You can see the delight on the faces of the tourists as they stroll
down the pedestrian zone of 28. října on a lovely weekend
morning. They're mesmerized by the sights and sounds on the
cobblestone avenue. To the left and right are alluring outdoor
cafés and restaurants; over there is a quaint shoeshine stand; a
few steps toward the square is a Unicef exhibition of artwork by
children; not far along is a flock of parrots and their handlers;
inconspicuously placed a bit further on is a hungry artist taking
it all down in oil. It's a picture-perfect scene. Until the
promenaders are scattered by a garbage truck barreling down
the avenue at 30-40 km/h, side doors clapping to and fro as the
grimy, smelly driver swerves wildly to avoid hitting a disoriented
tourist busy snapping magical photos. CzechTourism and Prague
city hall can spend tens of millions on tourism promotion, but
it's still the fine details that matter the most.[Czech Republic Pražské služby]
Glossary of difficult words
to stroll - to walk in a leisurely way;
to mesmerize - to capture and hold the attention of someone to the exclusion of all else;
alluring - enticing, tempting, attractive;
quaint - attractively unusual or old-fashioned;
promenader - someone who takes a leisurely walk;
to barrel - to drive or move fast, often without regard for the surroundings or conditions;
to and fro - back and forth;
grimy - covered or characterized by grime or dirt.