Wanted, had a huge opening last weekend, coming in second to Wall-E only because it opened in 800 less theaters across the country. The movie tells the story of a young man who, after learning his dead father was an assassin, is recruited into the same exclusive, superhuman association his dad once belonged to.
Wanted was filmed in Prague, Budapest, and Chicago. OLV brought you all of the Chicago locations as they were shooting last August, now we have even more travel inspiringinformation about Prague and Budapest.
Prague is not just the capital of the Czech Republic but also the cultural, economic, and political heart of the country. Since Prague was the primary filming location for Wanted, a large set was built in the city as director Timur Bekmambetov explained to MTV “we built a huge textile factory in Prague. The production designer, John Myhre, made ‘X-Men,’ ‘Chicago’ and ‘Memoirs of a Geisha.’ He’s built this huge set, and we’ve created a mythology in this world of weavers.”
Prague’s cityscape is still largely made up medieval cobblestone roads, traditional pubs, and ancient courtyards, all overlooked by a 1100 year old castle. This is not to say the city doesn’t have its fair share of trendy cafes and boutiques. It would be easy to spend three days just exploring the city and admiring the architecture she is known for. But there is also a thriving nightclub scene in Prague, another illustration of the dichotomy between old and new in the city. Prague’s many options spill over into the vast choices for accommodations too. From hostels to luxury hotels, there is truly something for everyone.
Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is also considered a cultural and historical capital, it is even referred to by some as the “Paris of Central Europe”. Museums, cafes, nightclubs, and festivals make this one of Europe’s often overlooked gems. One stand out museum is the House of Terror, a monument to the memory of those held captive, tortured and killed in this historic building during the holocaust. But exploring historic landmarks is not all there is to do here. Although some may think of Budapest only as a city center there is plenty to do for the nature enthusiast too. From ice skating in the winter to “taking the waters” in one of several spas throughout the city in the summer, there are activities year round for everyone. It can also be quite affordable to stay in Budapest, especially in the summer when most college and universities open up their dorms to travelers.
Together, Budapest and Prague complement each other nicely when coupled for a European vacation. Both cities are known for their architecture and can be reached relatively inexpensively by Eurail. You can also save a little money by traveling on the train overnight which will spare you the cost of a hotel room and give you an opportunity to enjoy the scenery rather than be shuffled on and off of a plane that will most likely be late, expensive, and crowded. If you do find yourself in Europe travelling by Eurail and are not experienced with the system, read up a bit on a guide to the Eurail as we are learning it can be tricky to determine when a supplemental ticket is needed, especially if you do not speak the language.
So yet again a summer blockbuster has inspired us to see the world. Wonder where the movies will bring us next?
