Ruth Jolley finds that Prague is a beautiful city, despite killer floods just weeks before her visit ...

DURING my two day stay in Prague I was surprised by the lack of evidence of the destructive floods that had swept through the city in the summer.

In the middle of August, the Czech Republic capital was hit by floods which deluged some landmarks, museums, cafes, galleries and cultural centres, wreaked millions of pounds worth of damage and killed 17.

But when I went to visit the city just two months later, life had pretty much returned to normal.

The most noticeable sign of the floods were the watermarks on riverside buildings -- some reaching first floor level -- and a few basement windows were covered by boards.

The subway was still closed but I was told that it was about to partly reopen.

All the roads were open and there were no problems with transportation.

Trams and buses were working and there were plenty of taxis. There were one or two places where repair work was being carried out in the city streets but none of the flood damage detracted from the city's beauty.

Walking through the streets of Prague is a jaw-dropping experience.

It is full of perfectly preserved historic buildings and there are countless examples of baroque, gothic, Romanesque and art nouveau architecture. It is definitely worth touring the city with a guide, as every building has a story.

I travelled from Manchester Airport to Ruzne Airport, about a 20 minute drive away from Prague's centre, in business class on CSA Czech Airlines.

The perks for business class passengers include being able to sit in the exclusive executive lounge and enjoy free snacks and drink, while waiting to board.

On club class flights there is plenty of extra leg room, passengers are seated just two abreast and as it was an early morning flight I was served a cooked breakfast.

I stayed at the plush five star Hilton Prague, in the heart of the city.

Even though the hotel was damaged by the August floods and hotel visitors had to be evacuated, there was no sign that anything remiss had happened.

My double room on the executive floor was immaculate and included an en-suite, TV, mini bar and a desk. But there were a number of items placed in the hotel room that were not included in the price, such as a camera and a dressing gown, which would have been added to the bill had I taken them.

Our party had an evening meal at the popular U Kalicha restaurant.

The place is owned by a famous Czech actor and has a unique atmosphere. Its walls are covered with felt tip messages, poems, pictures and songs written in various Slavic languages and diners are serenaded by two musicians.

Beer was served in comically large tankards and £2 brought almost two pints.

I found the Czech food to be quite heavy and stodgy. I was first served a sour tasting marinated sausage, then we were told to help ourselves to a platter of Prague ham, pate and cheese, followed by beef with mushroom sauce, smoked pork, potato dumplings, cabbage and roast duck. We then enjoyed a huge helping of ice cream. The total cost of the food, which was served in generous portions, came to roughly £20. Other meals available on the menu included roasted piglet and fruit dumplings.

We spent hours touring Prague Castle, which dates from the 9th century.

The castle is not just one building but a complex of churches, fortifications, and palaces, built around three courtyards, and I could have spent days looking around. Originally, the residence of Bohemian princes and Kings, the castle is now the seat of the Czech president.

Prague's oldest bridge, the 14th century Charles Bridge, was one of the most memorable sights. Having emerged unscathed by the floods it has about 30 sandstone sculptures of saints on its walls, which were built between 1683 to 1928.

Twelve apostles appear every hour in the 15th century astronomical clock in the Old Town hall, between 9am and 9 pm, and that is a definite must-see for any visitor.

Other sites worth a mention are the baroque style Strahov Monastery, which houses medieval illuminated manuscripts. And Prague even has its own Eiffel Tower -- the Petiin View Tower -- a 60 metre high copy of the famous Parisian landmark.

The city is fantastic for shopping and has an especially good range of crystal and glass shops. Most of the younger generation speak English and the weather was about the same as in England at this time of year.

The currency is Crowns and the exchange rate is about 45 crowns to a pound. There are plenty of town centre places to exchange at good rates.

Tourists are warned to be careful about using taxis. I was told that there is a real problem in Prague with tourists being massively overcharged -- so it is better to agree a price before getting in.

Getting about the city by tram is cheap -- a single ticket costs just 12 Kc and I was told it was cheaper to buy single tickets rather than day tickets.

Returning home I travelled in CSA Czech Airlines economy class. There was still quite a lot of room and even though I had quite a large bag I did not need to check it in and was able to stow it in the overheard locker. The flight took about one hour 40 minutes.

Prague is an ideal place for a weekend or three- four day break.

(Prices: From November 1 CSA Czech Airlines business class flights start from £449 plus £35 taxes. Economy from £139 plus £30 taxes. For Hilton Prague prices click on http://www.hilton.com)