Vaclav Havel, a dissident playwright jailed by Communists who became Czech president and a symbol of peace and freedom after leading the bloodless " Velvet Revolution," died at 75 on Sunday, December 18, 2011.

This news reminded me of the pleasant walk I'd had on the Vaclav square during my trip to Prague, I was quite taken by the beautiful avenue strangely called the square. This long stretch of a wide street has a gorgeous median with flower beds and art while the sides are flanked with roadside cafes and also some shady shops. The square still stands for the birth of the modern Czech Republic. It was in many ways the " Tahrir Square" of the Velvet Revolution.

The view above is from the National Museum that is shown as the central building in the view below.