After a fantastic long weekend spend in the Czech Republic - Prague it is time to sit down and try to give you my view of the city and my experience. Initially I had planned to write in a different style this time and be very detailed on what exactly I did in terms of the sightseeing, but it is just too much and most things are obvious anyway and if you are very much interested in the history of a country and the architecture, I am sure most of you will know it already or read up on it somewhere else more reliable. So here again, just a semi high level view.
I arrived around 10pm at Prague Airport. I booked a little Hostel called Orange which is located in the main area, near the Mustec Metro station / Wenceslas Square. The transport was quick and easy, with the Bus 119, which was located just outside the Airport Exit and the Green line, I arrived in just 40 minutes in my 4 bed room dorm with En-Suite Bathroom.
I just love the feeling when I arrive in a city and the language is different and if feels like you are thousand miles away from home. This is one of the reasons I love Europe. You have so many different cultures next to each other and you are there just within a few hours.
I dropped my stuff, quickly changed into some fresh clothes and headed out for some nightlife experience and met a few fellow travellers. We first stopped at a club/bar called Techtle Mechtle, which is mainly visited by locals, but you can find the club as well listed in the lonely planet. The music was great, the girls drunk and overall it was a good atmosphere. One of the girls climbed at one point on top of the bar, another one poured a shot into her bellybutton and drunk it under loud screams of their females friends and roaring from the male observers. Apparently that is tradition in Prague.
Next we moved onto a Music bar just next to the Palladium Shopping center. It was hot and sweaty and music was pretty mainstream. A mixed crowed was rocking hard and drinking harder. Around 3 am I called it a night and went back to my room. On the way back I kept seeing some creepy people standing around the streets and it seemed they were waiting for something. I made sure I don’t get involved and walked a little bit zigzag to avoid them.
Another fact I realised very soon is the amount of homeless people. For some reason the amount of beggars and tramps in the streets seemed to me very ridiculous. I will read up a few more information about this to be able to get a better understanding.
The next morning I slept a bit longer than I expected. When I stepped out into the sun, showing me all the little details I missed upon my arrival, I realised with shock that for the first time ever I forgot to change my clock to the local time, so it was actually an hour later than I thought. I am still wondering why I forgot that.
I didn’t really had a agenda on what I wanted to see and where to start so I decided I do what I usually do and just start to walk into one direction and see where I end up.
On the way I bought a sandwich with some unpronounceable ingredients, I enjoyed it very much. I first came across a market which then led me to the Stare Mesto, the city town hall. With a twitch in my eye I accepted the admission fee of 105 korunas to get up the tower and view the city from above.
Next I walked across the Legion Bridge towards the Petrin Look out tower. There is as well a tram that brings you to the top of the hill, but the queue was miles long so I decided I walk instead. It was exhausting to get up there and with my little ballerina flat shoes not the easiest walk I ever done, but I made it. I even managed to get up the look up tower, which was another 105 korunas.
This was followed by a walk to the Prague Castle and its surrounding. The whole city seems to only exist of tourist, it was overrun with people from all over the world and you barely had space to make a proper picture in the main areas. The Charles Bridge wasn’t even properly visible because there were so many people on it. I am sure in other seasons of the year the city is quieter and places are easier to access.
I returned via the Bethlehem Square back to my hostel to get some rest. All the walking made me pretty tired. I did head out for some food with some other travellers later that night again. In the restaurant I experienced again the overall very direct (nearly rude) attitude of the Czecks. But you can easily turn them to become friendly when you just smile and don’t get irritated by their behaviour. They will be nice and respect you as long as you show respect. Don’t get intimidated when the wave you away with their gestures, it is just part of their culture. But in general they are nice! Overall a very pleasant day.
On Sunday I had something really special planned. As some of you might know by now I am active on the website couchsurfing and meet on a regular basis people from there. One of the members posted an activity to visit the Hluboká castle aka White castle (http://czech-transport.com/index.php?id=135), which is a 3 ½ trainride away from Prague. Since I did most of the sightseeing already in Prague I decided I join the group.
Early in the morning we met at the main station to catch the train. I first met R. who was the host of the event. Together we bought our tickets with return and were waiting for another member to join us. He was running late and just made it to the station on time to buy his ticket. When the ticket contactor came we realised that he had actually bought the tickets for all three of us. It doesn't sound very funny now, but it later was the Odyssey of tickets!
We started to talk and talk and talk. We talked so much that we actually missed a stop where we needed to get off to catch another train to the city where the castle was located. So instead we got of the next stop, bought some more tickets and looked for another way to get there. After some funny back and forward, a missed train (the one we should have taken to get back to the first stop), searching for wifi to get a map on our phones and discussing the possibility of hitchhiking. We decided to take the bus which was leaving over an hour later. So it was coffee time. I am glad I did this trip with people that didn’t get furious because we didn’t really have a plan and stayed overall pretty relaxed.
We arrived at the castle and it was totally worth the trip and I am really glad we made it. We then headed for some Archery after that and a visit to the nearby forest which came with some mosquits bites.
The area seemed really great for some hiking trip. The Czeck republic in general seems very great to do nice hiking day trips.
We met another member near the Castle and he joined us for the rest of the trip. He was so kind and drive us to a nearby lake and we stopped at Ceske Budejovice Old Town on the way back to the station, such a beautiful place, I am really glad I got to see it. I am really glad I was able to meet such wonderful people once again.
We arrived fairly late in Prague and were all really tired. So headed back to our beds and got ready for the next day.
Before my departure I headed to the dancing building and the river front. A great place to relax and hang out.
Then it was time for my departure and return to London. The only thing that left a bitter taste of this trip was the fact that security checks at the airport takes place after the passport control and duty free, so you can't take the usual bottle of water with you or only if it is packed into a one of the airport sealed bags! I lost my bottle of water! Of course this won't ruin the trip, but still, this is unfair as a principal!
I probably have another thousands thing to tell and a lot more impressions I would love to share, but as usual I don’t want to overdo it and most if the time pictures say more than a thousand words. Thank you Prague for having me and read you next time again from somewhere in the world :)
