What to see in Prague in 1 day on your own โ route, photo, description, map
The capital of the Czech Republic โ Prague is called a fabulous city, captivating with Gothic castles, Baroque palaces, medieval cathedrals and bridges. It captivates with the magical atmosphere of squares and picturesque parks. Here you want to endlessly walk around the Prague Castle, which combines the architectural styles of many centuries. And why not visit the romantic Mala Strana quarter, with streets built up with baroque houses resembling a fairy-tale decoration and palace and park ensembles? Once in the capital of the Czech Republic, passing through or on a one-day trip, you involuntarily ask yourself the question: what to see in Prague in 1 day on your own, so as not to lose sight of the significant historical places of the city. Perhaps a description of the most interesting sights will help you make a route for an independent tour of Old Prague.
Strahov Monastery
Let's say you have booked a hotel in the Brevnov area (Brzhenov), Praha 6. Leave the hotel and go to the nearest bus stop. Take the tram to Pohorzhelec Square. Important: do not forget to validate your travel card when entering public transport. You only need to do this once. Next, make sure that the ticket is always with you.
Now from a stop you need to go back a little. On the way, be sure to pay attention to the monument to the astronomers Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler. Then, confidently and naturally, pass by the crowds of tourists and enter the Strahov Monastery, which belongs to the order of Premonstratensian monks and is open to visitors daily from 9:00 to 17:00.
The history of the Strahov Monastery is closely connected with the history of the city. Its origin dates back to 1140, when the first building was erected on this territory. Since then, the monastery has been expanded and rebuilt, changing the Gothic architecture to the Baroque and Renaissance styles. Entering the monastery gate, you immediately find yourself in the Strahov Garden, founded in the 17th century. After entering the courtyard of the monastery, stop in front of a stone pillar crowned with a statue of St. Norbert.
Near the pillar, the snow-white Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary rushes to the sky with two towers, notable for its interior, decorated with reliefs and side altars. The holy monastery is proud of the museum of national literature and the library, which has collected 130 thousand volumes and 2500 old manuscripts, early printed editions and graphic sheets. In the library, you will be interested in the room of curiosities โ a cabinet of curiosities of unusual natural collections.
Tourists usually tend to get into the Strahov Art Gallery, which was opened in the 18th century. It presents more than 1000 works of European painting of the XIV-XX centuries in the styles of Gothic, Rococo and Baroque. The gallery is located in the building of the former parliament, made in the style of Romanesque architecture. The interior of the gallery halls is remarkable for the ceilings and walls decorated with paintings.
To see all the beauty of the city, you should not crowd with groups of tourists, it is better to slip past them unnoticed and go down about 20 meters along an asphalt path. Everything, now you can stop and enjoy the magnificence of the opened view of the city. You can take some amazing photos here. Now you need to digest the impressions, so head back to the monastery and be sure to buy a dark brown St. Norbert beer at the local brewery Klasterni Pivovar Strahov. Sit at a table in the yard, take a deep breath and exhale, enjoy the moment, because there are still so many interesting places ahead and you will see all this today.
Attentive tourists will certainly notice an image of a diagram of the brewing process on the wall and napkins. If you have a little rest, then it's time to go further and go down to the โScene of fireโ โ Pohorelec (Burner).
Prague Loreta
In the 17th century By order of Baroness Lobkovetskaya, a copy of the hut of the Virgin Mary was built. The original building, where, according to legend, the Virgin lived, is located in the town of Loreto in Italy. The construction of the Prague analogue was carried out by Italian architects D. Orsi and A. Allio. In the 18th century the facade was decorated in the baroque style under the direction of the father and son Dientzenhofer. The interior decoration is made in the technique of stucco. The wall frescoes correspond to the Rococo style. The patroness of Prague's Loreta donated an ebony altar to the church. In the treasury of the temple there is a bowl made of silver (16th century) and a monstrance โPrague Sunโ decorated with gems (17th century).
In addition to the Holy Hut, the Loreta ensemble includes 6 chapels, 2 fountains, a clock tower โ carillons.
Visiting times:
Beer at the Black Ox
Passing the baroque architectural complex of Loretu, you will see the historic house of โSt. Lukeโ, which has not changed since 1726. Its faรงade is notable for its skillful stucco decorations and a three-dimensional depiction of the patron saint of artists, St. Luke, painting a portrait of the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. The famous beer house โU ฤernรฉho volaโ โ โAt the black oxโ has found its home in the house for more than one century.
It does not catch the eye with a modest sign placed in a fake window of the facade, so passers-by pay attention to the beauty of the building. A few centuries ago, windows facing the street had to pay a tax, so the owner of the house came up with the idea of โโpainting them to pay less. Looking closely, on the baroque faรงade you will see a convex glass plank with the coat of arms of St. Luke and the head of an ox.
The building of the beer house is crowned with a high tower with a clock, which periodically reminds tourists to visit this beer โmasterโ with bell accompaniment. Going inside, you will see two small rooms with vaulted ceilings and walls decorated with coats of arms, armor and various mottos. The pub furniture is not comfortable. Visitors sit in empty seats at a common long table with wooden benches. If your heart desires a mug of something cold and foamy, then order the Velkopopovitsky goat, and for an appetizer sausages (parek) and buttered cheese, which are tastier than here, are not found in all of Prague.
Prague Castle
Leaving Loreta on the right side, go through the square and exit onto Kapucinska Street, and then, bypassing the narrow streets, exit onto Hradcanska. If you didn't have time to study information about local attractions in advance, then you donโt even have to try to figure out which palace belonged to whom. Go straight to the Prague Castle gate and turn right in front of it. Here you can once again appreciate the beauty of the city from above.
The most convenient way to start exploring Prague Castle is from Hradcany Square, at the same time watching the changing of the guard of honor at the Giant's Gate. After passing the entrance gate, you will find yourself in the First โ front courtyard, seeing the Baroque Matthias Gate decorated with sculptures, erected in the form of a Triumphal Arch, leading to the Royal Palace with two side entrances, where, entering the left entrance, you can admire the luxury of the Column and Spanish Halls.
Passing the gates of Matiyasha, you will find yourself in the Second Courtyard, where you will see the semicircular court chapel of the Holy Cross with statues of the apostles Peter and Paul, dating back to the 18th century. Inside the chapel there is an art gallery with St. Vitus treasures. Next to the chapel, admire the Leopold Fountain, made in the likeness of the fountain in the Vatican. Another building of the second courtyard deserves attention โ the church of St. George (Gregory the Victorious) with the tomb of St. Ludmila of Czech.
In the third courtyard, enjoy the beauty of Prague's architectural gem โ St. Vitus Cathedral, which took 600 years to build. Several generations of Czech kings found their rest in it and the royal regalia are kept. After going to the southern tower of the temple, you can climb to the observation deck and enjoy the amazing panorama of Old Prague. On the square near the temple you will see an equestrian statue of St. Gregory the Victorious, erected in the 14th century. Here, on the square, the Presidential Palace flaunts.
The attraction of the Prague Castle is the picturesque Golden Lane, where a 17th century tavern is recreated, and the beginning and end of the street are marked by two towers: New White and Deliborka, which houses the Museum of Torture. Finish the tour with a nice rest in the Royal Garden, pleasing to the eye with a picturesque palette of flowers, the beauty of fountains surrounded by exotic trees.
St. Vitus Cathedral
The Cathedral of St. Vitus, Wenceslas and Vojtech is recognized as a national shrine. It belongs to the most beautiful religious buildings in Europe, made in the Gothic style. The construction of the basilica dragged on for almost 600 years (1344-1929). The temple served as a royal treasury, a family vault for Czech monarchs, and a place for coronation celebrations. It currently has the status of a cathedral. The central facade of the building is occupied by a high window with a decorative rosette. The window opening is decorated with a stained-glass window on the theme of the creation of the world. On the sides of the rosette there are figures of saints carved from sandstone. Inside the cathedral there are bust images of Czech rulers, tombs of monarchs, religious attributes.
Schedule:
Golden street
The most famous and popular city artery among tourists is Zlata Lane. Her visit is included in the Prague Castle itinerary. Visitors are attracted by the unusual design of the buildings located along the pedestrian route. The buildings are painted in different colors and resemble fairy-tale houses. After reconstruction at the beginning of 2000, 9 buildings were presented to the attention of tourists (a tavern, the dwellings of a fortune-teller, a herbalist, a jeweler).
The first houses were built in this area in the 16th century. Masters of jewelry worked and lived in them, so the โprofessionalโ nickname Zlatnitskaya stuck to the street. In the 20th century the street gained fame thanks to its new inhabitants โ writers: Kafka, Seyfert, Nezval, Galas.
You can visit the Golden Street on any day:
The ticket includes a tour of the entire territory of Prague Castle.
Now you need to go down the very picturesque Nerudova Street to Lesser Town Square. Here you will see the Gothic Church of St. Mikulas (Nicholas the Wonderworker). Next, along with a crowd of tourists, go towards the Charles Bridge. Passing the restaurant tables (don't even think about being tempted by the aromas, there is still a lot of work ahead), turn left in front of the Old Town Bridge Tower and you will come out onto the busy Lusitsky Seminar Street.
one man street
Here you can take pictures on the narrowest โOne Man Streetโ in Eastern Europe, the passage through which is regulated by a traffic light. Its width is only 70 cm. In fact, this is not a street at all, but an ordinary fire passage. But the owners of the restaurant, to which this very street leads, came up with an excellent marketing ploy, installed a traffic light and came up with this attraction for tourists. Resourceful entrepreneurs are no longer afraid of the crisis. Now turn onto Cigelna and pay attention to the comic installation-fountain of David Chernigo โPissโ. And, by the way, these men relieve themselves on the map of the Czech Republic.
But let's not waste precious time and move on. Then you can look at the Charles Bridge from the side, as your road will now lie to Malostranska and then you will need to cross the Vltava River along the Manesov Bridge, which the best architects once worked on. Here you can take a few more successful shots and admire the mesmerizing view.
jewish cemetery
The Prague Jewish cemetery, located in the Josefov quarter, is considered the oldest Jewish churchyard in Europe. Burials have been held here since 870. Today, the cemetery consists of 12,000 tombstones, distinguished by a special design. You will see slabs decorated with a variety of ornaments depicting plants and animals, the Star of David and the Jewish symbol of blessing hands. For later tombstones, the presence of decorative elements and symbols indicating the name, surname or profession of the deceased is inherent.
The tombstones of rich and noble Jews are distinguished by the image of a crown or a bunch of grapes, tailors โ by engravings with the image of scissors, doctors โ a lancet, and ordinary mortals โ an animal associated with the surname: Wolf โ a wolf, Beer โ a bear. Visitors to the cemetery can enter the ceremonial hall with an exhibition showing how a Jewish funeral should be held. At the cemetery, you will meet the graves of Jews who glorified the Czech Republic with their deeds and labors. Next to the Jewish churchyard is the largest synagogue in Europe Stranovskaya and the Jewish Museum.
Passing the synagogues, walk along Maiselova Street to the authentic beer house โU Pivrnceโ (At Pivrnce) and do not hesitate to take a table in the basement, where there are fewer tourists and much more interesting. Here you will definitely appreciate the work of cartoonist Petr Urban, draft Velkopopovicky Kozel, Pilsner Urquell or Gambrinus and traditional Old Bohemian cuisine.
Old Town Square
After a glass of beer, we recommend taking a walk to the Old Town Square, which the locals simply call Staromak. To get to the square, pass by a very original monument to the writer Franz Kafka, which was created by the sculptor Jaroslav Ron, and the Old Town Cathedral of St. Mikulas. Having reached the square, you will have enough time to look around, as well as see the Orloi astronomical clock on the town hall tower and, if you wish, go up to the observation deck.
First of all, stop looking at the main building of the square โ the Old Town Hall, which stands out with a luxurious Gothic portal and a tower with a unique astronomical clock, which is over 600 years old. Above the windows of the 2nd floor of the tower there are figures from mythological scenes, and between the windows there are sculptures symbolizing perseverance, wisdom, justice, fertility and motherhood.
Every hour from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with the chimes on the tower, a performance of a medieval puppet theater begins, gathering crowds of tourists. You can take the elevator up to the observation deck of the tower to admire the views of Prague from it. In the center of the square, you can relax on a bench near the monument to the Czech hero Jan Hus.
But still, the most valuable attraction of the square can be called the Gothic Church of the Virgin Mary in front of Tyn, whose 80-meter towers, admiring the Baroque style, rise above the square. Inside the temple, 19 skillful altars, 14 large-scale canvases with biblical and historical scenes, many statues, a wooden font of the early 15th century with reliefs of the apostles and an old organ are amazing. But its value lies not only in the unique architecture and decoration of the church. There are 60 graves of prominent people here.
Tyn temple
In the center stands the Tyn Church. It was erected in the 14th-16th centuries. The architecture harmoniously combines the features of the Gothic and Baroque styles. Well-known architects worked on the creation โ Mathieu of Arras and Petru Parler. Two towers stand out in silhouette. They symbolize the biblical Adam and Eve. Inside the temple is a collection of religious rarities: an altar (artist K. Shkreta), paintings (artist F. Chermak), a stone pulpit, a tin font with bas-reliefs of the apostles. The church played the role of a national necropolis.
More than 60 outstanding natives of the Czech lands have found their last resting place in it. Among them is the famous astronomer T. Brahe. The temple is open for visits every day (except Mondays). Tourists are free to view it from 10 am to 1 pm (on Sunday until 12 pm) and from 3 pm to 5 pm At the entrance there is a box for collecting donations for improvement. There is no fixed fee.
After the tour, go through the souvenir shop to the street and you will find yourself in the Tyn yard, also called Ungelt. Previously, this place was the center of international trade. If you reach the church of St. Jacob, then at the entrance raise your head and you will see on the right side a suspended human hand of a thief who, according to legend, encroached on the temple.
Now the most important thing is not to get lost in the three streets and go to the Public House and the Powder Gate. If you still haven't had a bite to eat, we recommend that you do so in order to replenish your energy and strength. In general, it is best to make a plan of stops for a snack in advance so that the walk is not tiring and enjoyable. By the way, in the building of the Public House there is an excellent French restaurant and coffee shop โObecni dumโ, where you can enjoy fragrant coffee and the most delicate cakes.
Now, in order to continue the planned route, you need to go under the Powder Gate and turn to the Fruit Market Square. At the end of this market, you can see the Cuban-style house At the Black Mother of God, the most beautiful in all of Europe, the Estates Theater and the Carolinum, which can be visited on open days.
Estates Theater
The Fruit Market Square in the Old Town adorns the neoclassical building of the Estates Theatre, erected in 1873. With its architecture and fascinating history, the theater is of great historical and cultural value. The theatrical faรงade is reminiscent of a majestic ancient temple of the arts, thanks to the Corinthian columns and relief ornaments along its cornices.
The theater was built with the money of a patron, Count Franz Nostitz, who wished to engrave the words โTo the Motherland and the Musesโ on the marble portal of the facade. The Estates Theater is the only theatrical building that has survived in Europe, on the stage of which the performance of the brilliant Mozart took place. Having visited Prague, the composer liked the city and the theater, so he promised to write an opera especially for the Estates Theater.
During his next visit, Mozart brought the opera Don Giovanni, which premiered on the theater stage, where the maestro himself conducted. Until today, the building and the interior of the theater have not changed much. You can see it inside by signing up for a guided tour. The highlight of the tour will be a concert in the Mozart salon with a glass of champagne.
Church of the Virgin Mary of the Snow
The Church of the Virgin Mary of the Snow was founded in the middle of the 14th century on the border of the Old Town and the New Place, and the following centuries were completed and rebuilt. Today, the temple is listed as the second highest religious building in Prague, the vaults of which reach 32 meters. From the outside, the temple looks rather modest, only at the main entrance you are greeted by the Mother of God, depicted on an icon inscribed in a shallow rectangular niche. Once inside the temple, you will be captivated by its early Baroque altar, which rises to 29 meters, and four small altars, notable for the late Baroque.
They are located on two sides of the nave: two altars โ St. Catherine and St. Francis and the other two โ the altar of the Holy Cross and the Annunciation. On both sides of the walls, decorated with ornamental paintings and paintings, 10 sculptures of Franciscan saints look at visitors. To the left of the entrance to the temple you will see the chapel of St. Anthony with an early baroque altar.
The courtyard is interesting, where sculptures of saints are installed near the entrance and there are two chapels โ St. John of Nepomuk and St. Michael. Near the temple, you can go to the Franciscan monastery and take a walk in the monastery garden, founded in the Middle Ages.
Now it's time to go to the Charles Bridge and enjoy the beauty of the most romantic corner โ the island of Kampa.
The Charles Bridge
The Charles Bridge, thrown over the Vltava, connecting the historical districts โ the Lesser Town and the Old Town, was a unique landmark of Prague. The history of the 520-meter pedestrian crossing, shrouded in legends, goes back to 1380. Previously, not only people walked along the Charles Bridge. The Royal Route passed here, along which Czech monarchs traveled to the coronation. The bridge delights with its beauty during the day, both in sunlight, and in the evening in romantic illumination.
It is decorated with numerous sculptures related to the history of the country and the bridge. Entering the bridge from the right bank, stop by the medieval Gothic Old Town Bridge Tower, which has long served as a triumphal arch on the Royal Road. Climbing it, you will see a charming panorama of Prague. On the left side of the bridge you will see two Lesser Town towers โ a high one built in the Renaissance style and a low one. They are connected by a wall to the gate and are also equipped with an observation deck.
There are two places on the bridge where wishes are made. At the statue of John of Nepomuk, the patron saint of Prague, in order for the wish to come true, you should first touch it on the right side of the pedestal, then on the left, and then rub the bas-relief of the dog with your hand. The second magical place is considered to be a grate with the image of St. John, in the place where he was thrown into the river. There are 5 stars to which you need to place your fingers when making a wish. They say that a wish made on the Charles Bridge comes true.
For inquisitive tourists, a more detailed list of interesting places is offered.
45-minute sightseeing cruise to Chertovka Canal โ โฌ16
50-minute river cruise โ โฌ14
New Yearโs Eve Dinner Cruise with fireworks โ โฌ173.53
Folk Dinner with Music and Dance โ โฌ86
Wenceslas Square
A favorite place for walks of Prague residents and guests of the city is the famous St. Wenceslas Square. The monument to the patron of the Czech Republic was erected at the beginning of the 20th century. The sculptor J. Myslbek depicted the Czech duke surrounded by famous local saints: Vojtech, Prokop, Ludmila and Anezka. Wenceslas ruled in Bohemia in the 10th century. and became famous as a zealous Christian. Wenceslas Square bears little resemblance to an ordinary parade ground. In shape, it is close to a quad with a length of 750 m, a width of 63 m along the upper side and 48 m along the lower side. The site (45.000 sq. m.) stretched from the northwest to the southeast.
The perimeter of the square is surrounded by about 60 buildings, mostly of the 19th-20th century. Many of them have through courtyards facing parallel streets: Jindrishska, Opletalova, Vodichkova, Shtepanska, Ve Smechkah and Krakowska. Of interest to tourists is the National Museum. Its exposition is housed in a building designed in the spirit of the new Renaissance. The author of the project is J. Schulz.
Vysehrad fortress
The rocky right bank of the Vltava is the location of the historical district of Vysehrad. The Visegrad Fortress is entered through the Tabor Gate, notable for its baroque style. They served as a defensive structure with a drawbridge and a watchtower with loopholes. The territory of Vysehrad begins behind the early Baroque Leopold Gate, where you will see the oldest Romanesque building โ the Rotunda of St. Martin, erected in the 11th century and completed by the southern portal at the end of the 19th century.
In front of the chapel stands the Plague Pillar. Behind it you will admire the Renaissance chapel of the Virgin Mary Shantsovskaya. Walking along the left road from the Rotunda, you will find yourself in the Charles Gardens with the Devil's Pillar. Not far from the column, covered with legend, rises the famous Church of Saints Peter and Paul, majestically appearing before your eyes in neo-Gothic style with pseudo-Gothic towers. Inside the temple, you will be interested in amazing stained-glass windows, a stone Romanesque sarcophagus of the 12th century โ the resting place of the Czech prince, the 14th-century icon โRainy Madonnaโ and sculptures of saints.
Outside the walls of the temple there is the Slavin pantheon, in which there are 600 graves of prominent Czechs, including the graves of the famous Czech composers Smetana and Dvoลรกk. After the pantheon, take some time to stroll through the Visegrad Garden with numerous sculptures: the founders of Prague, heroes of folk legends and tales. At the end of the garden there is an observation deck, equipped on the walls of the Vyshegrad fortress. If you are interested in military history, then from the rotunda of St. Martin, go down the street to the Visegrad casemates.
Zoo
Prague Zoo, spread over 60 hectares in the center of the capital, is one of the ten best zoos in the world. Here, in conditions close to their natural habitat, 672 species of animals from all over the world โliveโ and give birth to offspring. The picturesque territory of the zoo consists of 2 levels connected by a funicular. Animals are kept in open and closed pavilions. However, closed pavilions, where predators live, are spacious and decorated with maximum approximation to the natural environment of animals.
In the two-tier pavilion โIndonesian Jungleโ you will see a waterfall, growing lianas on which outlandish birds chirp, like gibbons and monitor lizards walk among blooming orchids. In the African pavilion, get a close look at the inhabitants of South Africa โ aquatic and terrestrial turtles, porcupines, squirrels and mongooses. In the pavilion of South America, you will watch with interest the behavior of baboons, monkeys, llamas and other rare species of animals that are not found in Europe.
In addition to thematic pavilions, there are specific โapartmentsโ for each type of animal: tigers, bears, lions, penguins and other species. A good end to the tour of the zoo will be watching the Zoo-cinema.
The zoo is open to visitors daily from 9 a.m.
dancing House
A building with an unusual appearance appeared in the capital of the Czech Republic at the end of the last century. Its creation was initiated by the former president of the republic V. Havel. He ordered to give a picturesque look to the ruins of the house, destroyed during the Second World War. The Croatian-Canadian tandem of architects V. Miluniฤ and F. Gerri won the design competition. They proposed to make one of the two hulls with an unconventional curved shape.
The towers, as it were, support each other, like a pair of dancers. 2 names were assigned to the design: โDancing Houseโ and โGinger and Fredโ. The straight structure represents the male dancer (Fred Astaire), and the curving silhouette corresponds to his partner (Ginger Rogers). Initially, it was supposed to be a cultural center in the house. private hands, it housed offices, a hotel and a restaurant.
Zizkov TV tower
The right to view Prague from a bird's eye view is granted to the brave souls who climbed the TV tower. This is one of the newest architectural creations in the capital. The project was developed by the architect V. Aulicki. Outwardly, the structure resembles three huge pillars connected by protruding viewing platforms. The construction caused a mixed reaction in society.
The Zizkovskaya skyscraper is included in the list of the most bulky buildings. Its total height is 217 m. There is an elevator inside. The first tier is occupied by a restaurant, on the second (93m) there are panoramic platforms, at the top there is a cellular communication installation and a meteorological station. In addition, the tower has a luxury hotel room and an exhibition hall.
Reception of visitors daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Petrin Tower
Residents are proud to have their own Eiffel Tower. An exact copy of the Parisian skyscraper was erected on the main Prague hill โ Petrinskiy and bears his name. An analogue of the design of the engineer Eiffel is reduced by five times. Its height is 63.5 m. Weight is 175 tons. The spectacular building appeared in the city at the end of the 19th century, thanks to the initiative of the Czech Tourist Club. The creators are Y. Soucek and F. Prashil. In the middle of the last century, a relay node for republican television was placed on top.
2 viewing platforms are open for visiting on the upper and lower tiers. They offer panoramic views of the city. In addition, the building has other attractions: the Museum of the โGreatest Czechโ Yara Tsimrman, a souvenir shop, a cafe.
Alphonse Mucha Museum
Czech artist Alfons Mucha entered the history of world painting as a prominent representative of the Art Nouveau style. His colorful canvases are among the best examples of Art Nouveau. In addition to paintings, Mucha proved himself in the development and creation of advertising posters, posters, and also demonstrated his talent as a designer of decorative products. The descendants of the Czech modernist founded a museum exposition at the end of the last century. It contains numerous sketches and finished works of the painter, his personal belongings. To accommodate the collection, a house was equipped at the address: Panska Street, 7.
The building is part of the Kaunica Palace, built at the beginning of the 18th century. designed by architect D. Alliprandi. The building was reconstructed and re-equipped in the 90s of the 20th century.
The world's only museum of A. Mucha is open to the public every day (10 am โ 6 pm). Ticket price:
Perhaps now you can be sure that you have bypassed one of the most popular places in fabulous Prague. Of course, to see everything, well, or almost everything in one day is not enough. Be sure to come back, the Czech Republic has something to surprise and amaze you with.