While standing in a very long queue at Passport Control, Pamela Hellig had time to consider the surprising parallel histories of Prague and Cape Town, and the years it takes for cities to heal.
“First came the Nazis, then the Communists, and now the tourists.” The citizens of Prague may feel weighed down by the constant invasions of the last century, but, for better or worse, its architecture and history have made tourism the driving force of the city’s economy. This edition of Ideas from Cities picks up some ideas from this hotspot, beyond the buildings, which could work in Cape Town too.
The Arab Spring opened the doors to the Arab Street where the concentration and mixing of people once again gave Cairo a sense of Urbanity. Through the strength of urbanity, a real city arise and continue to prosper, even after great dissent.