twrama 1841_august_2.. - AMA WA

There are, I am told, a host of cities
around the world that can boast a sex
museum as one of their attractions. New York,
Amsterdam, Paris, San Francisco, Athens,
Moscow, even Shanghai all offer them as
part of the tourist experience. I suspect this
means that it is an attraction that holds its own
financially, so to speak.
But only one city has a museum offering
an even more specific attraction within
this particular genre. Only Prague, the
capital of the Czech Republic, I am reliably
informed, has a Sex Machine Museum. I
must say however that I remain open to others
suggesting cities that also offer this particular
feature. I once travelled hours out of my way
to see the world’s biggest rocking horse, only
to discover that in reality it is stabled in Gumeracha, South
Australia.
A Sex Machine Museum would, normally, create little
personal excitement and would certainly not make it onto my list
of potential points of interest. In the case of Prague however it
influenced my visit like a dominatrix.
As I was travelling to Prague for a conference, I accepted
an offer from a fellow attendee to rent an apartment in the
historic part of the city (Old Prague or Stare Mesto in Czech,
established by King Wenceslas I in the 13th century) and see
the real Prague. Great decision as it turned out, as most of the
restaurants and historic features of this wonderful city were,
literally, right outside our door.
But so was the Sex Machine Museum. In fact, our large
feature windows overlooked a small courtyard used by the
employees. While there was no discernable sex machine in the
courtyard, its other attractions meant that the small laneway that
we used to enter our apartment was also used by the hundreds of
museum patrons who it seemed were mostly American college
students on a break. And a Sex Machine Museum is not the sort
of place you visit with silent decorum. No. It seems the firm rule
is that you enter such an attraction only after posing for photos,
encouraging your fellow travellers to come with you, calling
friends around the world to tell them exactly where you are and
what historic site you are visiting – you get the picture.
I soon learnt to avoid the entrance as much as possible and
take the long way to the efficient metro each morning. This
was despite the signs around the museum promising me “an
exposition and explosion of mechanical erotic appliances, the
purpose of which is to bring pleasure”.
Most visitors to Prague would not put this particular museum
on their must-see list, but feel free to put Prague on your bucket
list. This is an amazing city that survived not just 40 years of
Communist indifference but centuries of war, internal battles,
bombing and uprisings.
One of the few cities to survive WWII and then to have the
dead hand of communism, Prague’s architecture is now one of
its great features.
Just walking around the city trying to get lost is one of the
Magnificent: The interior of Vitus
Cathedral and (right) the old town square.
TRAVEL
many attractions, but
try the walk very late
at night to avoid the
crowds.
Visitors should
put a walk over the Charles Bridge and a visit to
Prague Castle at the top of their list of features not to be missed.
Locals are understandably proud of the Charles Bridge that
like the city and the people themselves, has survived almost
everything history has thrown at it. At the bridge you can see
photos of the cranes put in place during the floods of 2002
which were used to pull out of the water any large pieces of
rubbish being carried down the river that had the potential to
damage the pillars. The length of the bridge features statues all
of which are worth consideration.
A walk along the Charles Bridge towards the Castle is one
feature not to be missed, as is a few hours spent soaking up
the beauty of St Vitus Cathedral within the confines of the
castle itself.
A personal favourite is the Museum of Czech Communism
which to anyone who grew up during the variety of uprisings
is extremely enjoyable. The fact that it now carries a number
of large statues of Karl Marx that no one wanted at the end of
Communism and that the museum itself is located within the
same building as a popular casino only adds to the enjoyment.
Also worth touring in the old town is the Astronomical
Clock which dates from 1490. Most people gather at the
bottom waiting for the 12 apostles to move around on the hour.
In reality Perth’s London Court clock demonstrates more
mechanical ability. Try taking the stairs and lift to the top of the
tower and watch those watching the clock.
And did I visit the Sex Machine Museum? On the final day
when I had an hour before making my way to the train station
to get the wonderful overnight express to London with all my
conference activities over, I made the decision to see what all the
excitement was about. Not to actually pay for the tour of course,
but perhaps to buy a T-shirt or a postcard for Mum? Exiting
my apartment, I took the daring left turn, the turn I had been
avoiding all week – only to find the crowds worse than ever.
This was not my day. Tourist interuptus?
August MEDICUS 55