Dear Praguers,
With summer now reaching its peak, many Praguers are leaving the city to enjoy the season’s beautiful hot days to take a break from the cities hustle and bustle. They can, at least for a while, exchange searing hot snarled up streets and houses for lakes, bikes, sea... However, even in our city we had a great occasion to experience an enchanting Balkan fairy-tale evening – the Summer Night Dream. Calm waters of Vltava River substituted salty see waves with dignity. The river saw a great performance featuring Goran Bregović and His Wedding and Funeral Orchestra on a pontoon boat, just a few steps from Charles Bridge, the National Theatre and Kampa. Serbian musician incited many to dance among the many thousand people who watched his performance from bridges, embankments as well as boats floating on the Vltava River. The Summer Night Dream, which featured also the famous Czech singer Karel Gott, could just as well become the beginning of a pleasant, entertaining and enchanting tradition.
I would like to take this opportunity to say good bye. This is my last monthly mayor’s column. October will see municipal elections and its result will change the composition of Prague City Council. In those eight years I have been leading Prague, the city has undergone many changes, and I hope, for the better. It was a great honour, responsibility and fundamental joy to lead one of the most beautiful metropolises in the world. Believe me that I will continue doing all in my power to ensure that Prague is developing and it is a safe and healthy city that provides great comfort. Thank you for all you are doing for the City.
I wish you the best possible second half of summer holiday and most importantly happy future in the heart of Europe.