Mánesova itself was a sleepy block, with a pub across the street and a cafe on the corner. To get to the metro however, I had to walk around the other way. An eclectic row of shops occupied Španělská - a cello manufacturer, a travel agency specializing in Finnish tourism, a small coffeshop/sandwich type place, and a herna (casino), strongly lit with neon light. Crossing the street, I came to a ledge that overlooked Hlavní nádraží, king of the Czech train stations. There were always people standing there, watching trains arriving or departing, admiring the view of Wenceslas Square from a zone of comfort, taking family photos or just merely resting. I thought about doing my independent study on the spot, sitting there for thirty days and documenting, at different points of time, the people that came and went. My Czech was not as proficient to interview them however, and so I abandoned the idea.
