First seen in Chapter 27 of Mytro, the Charles Bridge is an iconic location briefly mentioned by Agata to Turtle as being close to Brehova — the next stop for the pair after Barcelona. When a reader comes to the realization that Turtle and Agata used the Mytro to travel from Barcelona to Prague in no time flat, Agata’s phone immediately began serving roaming messages; the Charles Bridge literally serves as a bridge to stabilize the reader in the first few pages of the chapter. Through some communication and the use of maps on a phone, the characters find themselves reaching one of their goals in the Brehova district.

But what’s so important about the Charles Bridge, besides the story? The Charles Bridge, is in fact, a historic stone bridge that spans the Vltava river in Prague, Czech Republic. Construction on it began in 1357, but wasn’t finished until the beginning of the 15th century. Until 1841, the Charles Bridge was the only means of transport between the Prague Castle and the city’s adjacent areas. It is one of the most beautiful structures in Central Europe and a famous tourist destination. There are thirty separate statues on the bridge, each one beautifully carved in stained stone. One interesting fact? Legend has it that some of the “cages” on the bridge – little spaces covered in bars – were used to hold prisoners that would have to watch the king come and go across the river.

Charles Bridge is 621 meters long and nearly 10 meters wide, with 16 arches shielded by ice guards. If anything, it symbolizes the intensity (and imagery) that the Mytro has on Turtle and Agata — it is old, complex, bold and historic.

Honestly, I think that’s why it was a great way to express the sudden change in setting, even if it’s just briefly mentioned in the book.

– Stefan Etienne

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