My Prague: Actress Hana Drozdova fell in love with Nusle. Everywhere close, yet she feels like in the countryside
As a slightly explosive policewoman Bára, she inhabits the serial town of Polaby, but in civilian life, she is the likable actress Hana Drozdová at home in Prague, where she has already tried living in several quarters. However, she spent her student years in Brno, so she has the opportunity to compare. In the interview, she reveals what she enjoys most about her current address and where she likes it most in Prague.
Can you reveal to us which Prague district you chose to live in?
A few months ago, I moved with my boyfriend to Nusle and fell in love with this district. I have my favorite cafe just around the corner, a favorite Vietnamese restaurant across the street, and I go to Kafe v Zahradě for cakes. Everything is close, and yet on Sunday, when the bells ring for Mass, you feel like you are in the countryside. Silence, peace, and a view of Grébovka.
If you had to describe Nusle to someone unfamiliar, how would you characterize it?
This district is very ambivalent. Of course, everyone probably associates it with the Nusle Bridge and from what I know, at a certain time, before they put barriers on the bridge, it was not a very nice place to live. At the same time, though, I think that Nusle are still a kind of undiscovered part of Prague. There aren't as many gastronomic gems here and therefore, when something new appears somewhere, it has a high chance of catching on. But it must be said, not all Nusle is the same.
What do you enjoy most about Nusle and what annoys you the most?
I enjoy the small-town vibe the most. We live in an attic apartment, and from the bedroom, we look out onto Grébovka and Vinohrady. From the other side, we see Nusle Church and the park. When we're sipping coffee by the window on weekends, we feel like we're in a village, the hustle and bustle of the city doesn't quite reach us here, which I really like. I'm a bit disappointed that there aren't more gastronomic gems around, or maybe we just haven't discovered them yet. But at the same time, what doesn't exist, can exist :)
Is there anything that you couldn't imagine your current home without?
I love our attic, the perspective it brings. Looking up at the sky through the roof windows, basking on the floor, and catching the autumn sun. Melting away at the moon at night.
Are you planning to stay at your current address permanently, or are you considering a change in the future? Which district would appeal to you in that case?
We're not planning a change at the moment, both my partner and I love to travel, so we often venture abroad or to our mountain cottage on Ještěd. At the same time, we always love to come back. In my life, I have lived in many Prague districts, I would say that I was really a bit of a nomad for a while. I've lived in Žižkov, Malešice, Národní, Smíchov, and in the end, it mostly depends on how you make your home.
You were born in Prague and jumped to Brno for your studies – how would you compare living in both cities?
I think that Brno has a completely different atmosphere than Prague. It's much smaller and therefore cozier. You can walk through the center and if you only move around it, you don't need to use public transport at all. I've always considered it a very friendly, student city. After all, it is Moravia, and maybe people are a little bit more open. At the same time, because the center is small, you very quickly find your favorite places and it can happen that it becomes a bit ordinary over time, even though, for example in terms of gastro culture, Brno is far ahead and very original. The fact remains that Prague is huge, so it's incomparable.
Actually, I never really understood the kind of Prague-Brno rivalry. I think they cannot be compared. Both have their pros and cons and it depends only on how one feels at a specific stage of their life.
And finally, one question close to the heart – which part of Prague do you like the most?
I really like Smíchov and Vyšehrad, they are such airy districts, perhaps because of the view of the river, it gives one a sense of flow and a breath of fresh air.
Source: author's text, own questioning
