The museum is placed in Praga which in urban translation means a lot of minimalistic yet industrial style, niche yet modern art and places which stun and confuse You all at once. Needless to say, as soon as I found my way around the district I realized why Praga is the 'it' thing in current trends and why all 'alternative' pubs, clubs and galleries fight over spaces to rent around there. The simplicity, industrial feel and even the level of destruction of all the buildings from the outside make You assume there's nothing to be found in the area, yet as soon as You enter any given object, You realize You actually are a part of the heart of Praga - minimalistic and chic design, the most amazing instrumental music and chats and gossips flying across the air - that's exactly the vibe You are to inhale.
The Museum is surrounded by a few restaurants and pubs which not only amaze with their interior taste but also, thanks to the Museum, with restored bright neons. And that's what You probably should know before You visit the Museum. You are not going to enter a neat space, with exhibitions and displays protected by alarms which You could hear from 400km away, when You visit the Neons Museum You are entering an old warehouse full of old neons which come with a little card attached 'warning! hot!'. And that's it. That's why this is my top most loved, appreciated and almost magically experienced museum ever. It's real. Every single thing from the exhibition has it's own history, has it's own meaning and it's own life. You can stand in front of any given neon and watch it burn, feel the warmth and sense the smell, You become a part of the neon's life. Obviously there is a part which explains it all, right after You enter You get to read a short story behind neons in Poland from the early XX cent. till this day, I recommend to have a read because, honestly, I am the first to skip the descriptions and longwinded texts about exhibitions, but this one swallowed me whole.
Oh and last thing before we head onto all of the photos I took, in case You thought it couldn't get any better - THEY ALLOW DOGS INSIDE and not only toy sized ones, ALL OF THEM!!!
Ok, back to the photos...
After spending the best Valentine's Day the best way possible all I can tell You... it's been less than 6 months since my visit and IS ANYONE GOING TO THE MUSEUM BECAUSE I'M COMING WITH YA!!! ;)
xoxo, Ala
