Czech-in Out Prague

Kristen Harkey takes you on a colorful ride amongst the baroque buildings, Gothic churches and vibrant culture along the Vltava River in her journey through Prague.

Landing down in Prague, I had no idea what to expect. I traveled to Prague with my close girlfriend who I met and studied abroad with in England during my later college years. We chose this city as one of our stops on our Euro trip based off the variety of spectacular reviews from mutual friends who are also avid travelers.

The colorful lined streets leading to Old Town Square

The bus ride from the airport towards the city didn’t reveal much. We took the underground rail system to the city center where we emerged from the dark and musty below-ground. We each took in and released a collective heavy sigh of an unspoken "we finally made it" only to discover an abundance of color radiating from corner to corner. We both breathed in another heavy sigh but this time of awe and satisfaction.

The charming architecture of all the connecting buildings for miles on end encompassed adorable white trim and A frame rooftops. Each building was colored in it’s own shades of pastel yellows, pinks, blues, greens- you name it! Mixed in between these rows of buildings were fascinating cathedrals and historic buildings all created with a Gothic form- an unparalleled contrast between vibrant color and dark, moody, Gothic masterpieces.

This visually attractive city has one of the most interesting and intriguing culture’s I have ever come across. There seems to be a large generational gap between the youth and the older Czech population. There is a certain beauty in the way the youth take on a carefree approach to how they characterize themselves in the public eye with absolute conviction. The older population, however, are a bit more reserved and seem separated from the younger generation in the public space.

For being the small city it is, Prague or “Praha” in the native tongue, is full of hidden treasures. Go off the beaten path underneath the Charles Bridge and you will eventually come across the historic Lennon Wall where you can admire the artistic graffiti as tribute to the man himself- John Lennon.

Standing in front of the Lennon wall to appreciate the magical artwork in my cut off jean shorts and tank top, I came to realize that it was pouring rain and I had barely noticed. There is something about this city that just draws you in so effortlessly and then spits you right back out. I stood there soaked in the relentless rain pushing its way through the heat of summer as it dawned on me that the locals had been poking fun of my outfit choice for the day. I didn’t take it personally. After all, I was a visitor in their territory.

View of Prague Castle on top of the hill from across the river.

In all of its beauty, this city is built along the Vltava River with its Gothic style bridges jutting across to the other side demanding you for their attention. The bridges, including the famous Charles Bridge leads across to the other side where you can find the Prague Castle dominating the top of the hill. This dark and mysterious castle that captivates the land, overlooks the endless rows of small shops and busy restaurants to explore down below.

The watercolor sunset over the Vltava River

Later on, I had the fortunate chance to behold the beauty of something so foreign to my eye and so refreshing outside of anything I had ever seen on my travels. The sunset forced its way through the haunting dark clouds hovering over the Vltava River and it was the most everlasting of images that I won’t ever be able to get out of my head. This sight alone was enough to complete my barely three-day trip to Prague.

Our time in Prague ended with a four-hour journey to Berlin via train. The long train ride became a vortex of fantasyland and inexplicable sights that seriously could not and did not feel real.

Train ride from Prague to Berlin- Green...very green.

TIPS ON PRAGUE

You might wonder what Czech food might be like, I am still wondering that myself. Czech cuisine typically consists of poultry served with potato dumplings or potato soup, however, I had a hard time finding any of these while I was there. They have a lot of pasta and other dishes to choose from and you can find a plate of Chicken Carbonara almost anywhere you please.

The best time to roam the city is in the late afternoon. Don’t be afraid to sleep in! This city can be covered completely in one whole day. Our three days spent in this city was the perfect amount and we never felt rushed. So go out late, sleep in late and enjoy the city at its peak near the castle as you watch the sun go down over the Vltava River-flowing throughout the colorful city.

Once you finish being in awe of this sight of this city, I recommend heading back down the stairs from the castle, crossing back over the river and head to Old Town Square, which is tucked away in the midst of all the other mysteries this town has to offer. In Old Town the one thing you cannot miss is the Astronomical Clock, which goes off at the beginning of each new hour. The clock opens up into a spectacular show that everyone gathers around to see and the amazing part is that it is free! In fact, the beauty of this city is that most things that you can do are free.

Nightlife in Prague is one of the most difficult nightlife’s I have ever had to conquer. Go out at night and realize there are no bars or clubs to stumble upon? Why you might ask? Because they are all underground and you will be completely confused as to where they are located unless you take part in a pub-crawl. So get down with your bad-self and join Prague’s biggest pub-crawl and end in one of Europe’s biggest nightclubs and bask in all of its five-story glory!

Points of interest

**Wenceslas Square**

A very historical place with wait for it…lots of great shopping! Go at night so you can see how beautiful it is when it is lit up.

**Charles Bridge**

Looking for more artsy, hand-made things to bring home for the fam? This is what I am talking about! Just be careful of crossing this bridge when it is crowded- hard to maneuver and keep and eye on your own belongings.

Heineken Ice Bar

This is the perfect place to spend your time when the weather is hot or humid. Tickets are reasonable and you get to spend a good chunk of time wearing an awesome parka. Your ticket includes a custom drink (made with Absolut Vodka) of your choice.

**Old Town Square**

Go explore and get lost, it can’t hurt. Make sure to buy one of those sliced potatoes on a stick because it is the most delicious snack you could ever ask for after a long day of walking.

John Lennon Wall

Beatles Fan or not, this is still a wonderful sight to see. Off the beaten path and located next to the John Lennon Pub.

| Velkopřevorské náměstí, 100 00 Praha 1, Czechia |

John Lennon Café

A great café for a die-hard Beatles fan like me. After taking pictures with the famous John Lennon wall, head straight across the paved walkway to this café (you can't miss it!) and order a delicious cappuccino. Once finished, go ahead and divulge yourself in all of the Beatles artwork and memorabilia that covers every square inch of this charming little nook turned Beatles wonderland.