Was a sunny day
You can see the delight on the faces of the tourists as they stroll down the pedestrian zone of 28. října on a lovely weekend morning. They're mesmerized by the sights and sounds on the cobblestone avenue. To the left and right are alluring outdoor cafés and restaurants; over there is a quaint shoeshine stand; a few steps toward the square is a Unicef exhibition of artwork by children; not far along is a flock of parrots and their handlers; inconspicuously placed a bit further on is a hungry artist taking it all down in oil. It's a picture-perfect scene. Until the promenaders are scattered by a garbage truck barreling down the avenue at 30-40 km/h, side doors clapping to and fro as the grimy, smelly driver swerves wildly to avoid hitting a disoriented tourist busy snapping magical photos. CzechTourism and Prague city hall can spend tens of millions on tourism promotion, but it's still the fine details that matter the most.
Glossary of difficult words
to stroll - to walk in a leisurely way;to mesmerize - to capture and hold the attention of someone to the exclusion of all else;
alluring - enticing, tempting, attractive;
quaint - attractively unusual or old-fashioned;
promenader - someone who takes a leisurely walk;
to barrel - to drive or move fast, often without regard for the surroundings or conditions;
to and fro - back and forth;
grimy - covered or characterized by grime or dirt.