Originally posted on my Tumblr travel blog, A Roman Spring with IES, in 2008.
This past weekend I took the leap into Eastern Europe. On Friday, I hopped on a flight to Prague, Czech Republic, to meet up with Riley in her city of study. I woke up extremely early to head to the airport; I wanted to be early since I barely made the last flight I took. But when I got there the flight got delayed 3.5 hours. So I ended up sitting in the terminal for 5 hours. This makes me think that you CAN be too early for a flight.
I finally got into Prague around 330pm and met up with Riley just outside customs. She was trying to impress me by wearing all new clothes that she had just bought. But, it was really just good to see her. We took the bus, to the Metro, to the tram, to her dormitory. There we dropped off my stuff and I met her friend Ben and roommate Diana. They are both really nice and I am glad that Riley has made such good friends.
Soon after, we went down do an authentic Czech restaurant just next to her dorm. I ordered a pork dish and Riley ordered salmon. Now, I found that the Czech food is very interesting. My pork was basically just small pieces of pork drenched in a thick sauce. I can’t tell you what the sauce was, but it was thick! Riley told me that this is the traditional Czech way. Their food and beer is as thick and rich as possible. She told me that there are even some dishes that are meant to be eaten with a beer in order for it to digest correctly. She also said that most all of the kids on her program have gained weight since getting to Prague and I can see why. If I was eating that type of food all the time I am sure that I would come back twice as large. But yet, the Czech’s are surprisingly skinny. It must be an European gene that allows that to put off all the weight they should be gaining.
Anyway, the meal was really good and afterwards we went back to her room for a wine and cheese party that she and Diana were hosting. I hate to say it, but Riley bought me a kind of expensive bottle of wine hoping it would taste good (you know, since I was coming from the 2nd biggest wine-producing nation in the world). Unfortunately, everything I tried tasted like water. I am really glad that she tried, but the Italian wine is just too good. I don’t think this is a good sign for when I return back to the States.
That night we attended an opera with her CIEE friends. It was Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” and it was really well done. The only thing that could have made the performance more enjoyable was if we weren’t seating in crappy seats that we had to strain our neck of the edge just to see the stage. But, all in all, it was a really good performance.
After, we got a chicken gyro and went to a bar where I tried my first Czech beer, a Krusovice. They told me that it is not a very good beer, but I tried it anyway. I have to agree with them, it was good, but a little tasteless.
Saturday, Riley and I went out to do sightseeing in Prague. First, we went in to Old Town Square. This is where they have the Astronomical Clock that doesn’t really tell time but has the twelve apostles come out of the top every hour to say hello. Riley showed me where she used to live (she lived in a different place for 2 weeks when she first got there) and then we went to see Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, St. Vitus, the Lennon Wall (it’s a wall that was originally painted with John Lennon’s face and has since become a sort of place for peace writings), and the castle’s gardens.
I really enjoyed all of the sites of Prague. It is a lot different than Rome. There is a lot less traffic and more pedestrian areas. The buildings and monuments are kinda dirty in Prague (because they are not cleaned of pollution), but the streets are very clean and nice to walk around. You feel safe walking around Prague, even late at night. I have a theory that Florence and Prague, in a lot of ways, are very similar.
Anyway, that night Riley took me to a cute little restaurant called Little Buddha. They served some really good Chinese food, and all for a really great price (I think the total was somewhere around $20 for the two of us after the conversion from Czech Krowns). It was pretty romantic because everything was by candle light. Anyway, we had a good time and then headed back to Riley’s dorm to meet up with her friends.
That night we went with her friends, Andrea, Ben, Diana, and Doug, to the famous dance club Karlovy Lazne (better known as the 5-story club). This club has 5 difference dance clubs in one. Each floor has a different kind of music. For example, 1st floor was rap, 2nd floor was techno, 3rd floor was 80s, 4th floor was hip-hop, and 5th floor is the chill floor where they have tables and seats to just relax. It was really fun to hang out with Riley and her friends and just dance! Riley has always been one that likes to dance and we had quite a good time together. We even got to swing dance a little (to hip-hop music, haha!).
On, Sunday I had to leave mid-day and I got back to Rome around 4pm. I was quite tired. It was a really great weekend with a great girl in a great city. I highly recommend a trip to Prague if given the chance. I think it is sort of a hidden gem in Europe. When people think Europe, they think Rome, Paris, London, etc. But Eastern Europe has some beautiful scenery and great cities that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Prague definitely fits into that category. Oh, and I never got around to looking for relatives, sorry Grandpa.
This weekend, I have another adventure, this time traveling with IES. I will be going to Cinque Terre, a beautiful area along the sea with five cities in the hills. I will be sure to keep y’all informed.
Photos
Old Town Square.
Riley and her Prague guide book. Doesn’t she look like a great tour guide?
The astronomical clock. Apparently, the creator of this clock had his eyes removed because the owners didn’t want him creating another one like it. Wierd.
These are the apostles that come out every hour.
The astronomical clock.
Prague Castle in distance.
Charles Bridge
Local Czech.
Saint John of Nepomuk. He was killed for not telling the king the confession of the queen. Legend goes that he promised to tell one soul in the room if he wasn’t tortured anymore and that he told the king’s dog. So he is the master of keeping secrets.
St. John of Nepomuk’s statue. Everyone touches this part of the statue and so there is a big spot where it hasn’t gotten dirty. Gross.
Inside Prague Castle. Apparently, it doesn’t look like a typical Middle Ages Castle.
St. Vitus Cathedral
So many spires. True Gothic Style.
View from Prague Castle.
Stairs down from Prague Castle.
Here, fishy fishy fishy.
Riley wanted to fight the peacock.
This wall was made to look like the inside of a cave.
Prague Castle and Charles Bridge.
The couple with Charles Bridge and Prague Castle.
Hippy at heart. Lennon Wall.
Riley and the Lennon Wall.