Days 108-114: Prague!

Prague!

Days 108 – 114

April 15 – 21

Prague, Czech Republic

In the wake of my Camino, I had no idea where to go.  I didn’t actually plan anything for the rest of my European vacation; I figured that I would just wing it.  I had bought a ticket into Barcelona and a ticket out of Dublin with three months in between, and I only planned to walk the Camino.  So, as I was sitting in Santiago again, just after reaching the end of Finisterre, I came to a sudden realization that the longer I waited to make a decision, the longer I was going to do nothing.  So I did what any sensible human being would do: I hopped on Google Flights, found the cheapest ticket from Madrid to Anywhere, and bought it.  Six hour later, I was on a plane to Prague in the Czech Republic. 

It is safe to say that I came to this country ill-prepared.  I didn’t know anything about the country or its people, I didn’t download the offline maps for the region, I didn’t book a hostel in advance, I didn’t speak a lick of Czech, and I had no idea what public transit to take from the airport to the downtown region.  My ignorance of the Czech Republic was made more evident upon landing.  I followed the signs for ground transportation and found a bus to the city center, but the ticket machine requested something called CZK.  At the money exchange station, I found out that the Czech Republic is in the political European Union, but not the financial union; they don’t use Euros.  But I was in the perfect place to fix this problem!  I also asked the woman there how to say “hello,” “thank you,” and “where is the bathroom?”  With $50 USD worth of Czech Koruna and the most important words in any traveler’s arsenal, I bought a ticket downtown and ventured into the new unknown. 

On the train, I conveniently met Mary, a Czech woman, who gave me a 30 minute brief on everything I needed to know about my stay.  We exited at the same station, and she gave me an orientation of the city and pointed me in the direction of the old town square, the main tourist attraction (and for a very good reason).  Prague is a gorgeous city, partly because it managed to avoid any of the carnage of the last few centuries of war that have devastated the rest of Europe, leaving their multi-generational architecture in pristine condition.  Following Mary’s suggestion, I explored the old town square. 

Street performers and interesting architecture abound in the Old Town Square.

And dancing bears.

 

But my hunger demanded I eat soon, so I left the square to venture outward.  I found a hole-in-the-wall specialty pancake restaurant where I had some of the best pancakes of my life and was able to mooch their WiFi long enough to download a map of Prague and find a hostel for the night.  Conveniently, the route there was along Mary’s suggested way through the city.  However, with so much to see, I got distracted on my way and found myself exploring a park with peacocks and a castle complex with a massive Gothic-style cathedral.

After the last 38 days of meditative walking and soul-searching, I needed a city like Prague, a place to unwind and have some fun.  A city known for classical music and performing arts, I managed to get two relatively-inexpensive tickets to the Czech Philharmonic and a ballet performance of The Wayward Daughter in the National Theatre.  A city known for its nightlife, I went out for an unforgettable night of dancing with a truly international group of people I met at the hostel: two Danish guys, two French girls, three Indians, and a guy from Minnesota.  I went on a picnic with a group that I met on Couchsurfing.  I met up with two local musicians in a coffee shop in an abandoned building to listen to them jam and talk about the meaning of life over beers.  And I managed to get out of the city for a day and explore the natural landscape sans city pollution. 

Our international group of travelers at the famous Lennon Wall.

On a hill north of the city, we could see the ten bridges over the river.

I revisited the peacock park with a Chinese friend.
We were lucky; the males were on full display for the females.

Exploring the outskirts of Prague with a group from Couchsurfing.com.

Our hike lead us to some caves.

And finally, sharing a beer after a long day on our feet.

Alas, all good things come to an end.  After a week in Prague, I became bored with the city, and I needed to venture onward and see more of Europe.  But this wanderlust begs the question: where to go next? 

In my travels, I have learned that everyone everywhere is convinced that their beer and food are the best beer and food in the world (please forgive my use of absolutes; it is only for dramatic effect).  And here in Europe, there are three countries where everyone I met was utterly convinced that their beer is the best beer that cannot be topped by anyone else’s beer: Belgium, Germany, and the Czech Republic.  With one of these countries in my passport, it was only logical to visit the other two.