So I land in Prague around dusk, semi-exhausted and the only metro map I could find was in German, after I had to deal with getting change in the Czech koruna, which is like $1 to 25 CZK... tricky. So I wander in the direction I think the hostel is in, in a bustling area that is obviously the center, where they have all these "helpful" signs pointing you in certain directions-only in CZECH! Cool, way to ward off tourists. So I continue one way, then turn around and go the other, then turn back around and go back the other way, then back the opposite way, looking like a completely baffoon. Eventually, I ask a nice lady who pointed me to a hotel where the guy gave me an English map and highlighted the street I need to be on... which is right in the center of the old town, straight in the opposite direction. Good enough I says, and headed off.
The first hostel sign I saw I ran to, and bam! Happened to be the right one. The guy behind the desk was a cool NYer who lived in Copenhagen for 2 years, which was a comforting welcome. As soon as I checked in and was about to head down to use the internet, the nicest Aussie ever, Angus (tee hee hee on his name...we may have called him Beef, but...whatever.) He was such a great guy, and told me all about how he is traveling the entire world for a year, even though the friend he was with ditched him. Then walk in 3 girls from Texas that study in Masstricht, NL (homies immediately!) and a guy from NYU who studies in Madrid (ginger could speak bueno Espanol) We all clicked well, and wandered around a bit the first night before ending up at a bar called Bloody Freddy's where we met a bunch of stereotypical English guys on a "stag do" (aka Bachelor party). They were lame, but we were not.
Next day we got up early because Angus wakes at 730, yippee! Either way, we wandered for a bit before meeting for a free tour. There we met some other cool kids, a Canadian and another NYer working in Stockholm. Good times, more bonding.
We started at the Astronomical Clock in the Old Town Center:
The clock is pretty awesome- it goes off every hour starting with the bells and a skeleton ringing one and shaking his head, as if to say "your time is coming," representing the sin of death. The 4 other figures are vanity, greed, and infidelity. At the same time, the 12 apostles move through the windows above. Below, the calendar shows the 12 months of the year, as well as everyday and changes at midnight when the day is over.
Old Town Square with Tyn Church
From there we went to the oldest Jewish synagogue in Europe, I believe, and the graveyard that is overflowing with headstones toppled on each other. This leads to one of the wealthiest shopping streets, packed with every Italian designer you could ever dream of. We also saw Charles Bridge, the main passage way for tourists over to the castle on the other side of the river. Peddlers and artists set up booths and sell everything from jewelry to photos to paintings to caricatures. I even saw a guy with a cute dog laying on the ground..but upon closer inspection, there was a fat rat and smaller mouse on top of the dog, on their back legs, little freaky hands reaching out to him as he crouched over them, presumably talking. I may have to steal that trick when I get back to SF just to pay rent.
Then we hit up the Lennon wall, dedicated to John Lennon because the Beatles were banned during the Communist regime's rule.
We also crossed a little bridge that had the beginnings of a little love monument... when people get married, they come down here and lock a lock engraved with both of their names, and then throw the key in canal below. So cute!
(Yea, people love me.)
From there we saw a sculpture from this crazy artist David Cerny, who made 2 men who swivel and pee on a pool shaped like the Czech Republic.
Then it was on to the CASTLE! I thought riding a bike was hard. But 2,754 steps later I thought differently. Awesome views of the city, and an amazingly huge Cathedral that's still free of charge, and houses all of the CR's famous crypts, as well as a secret room that has 7 locks with 7 different keys all held by the most important people in the country.
The tour ended there, so we headed back down to eventually get some dinner. WOW. Greatest experience. This was my plate:
Beef goulash and an original pilsener to wash it down..for like $10. I love Prague!
After that it was decided that we would go on a pub crawl, mostly because the guy running it was hilarious, and he and the other chick missed all the Aussies, and since we had one in our company..we got a discount and Angus went for free! The first bar left us in an attic in the dark because the light didn't work...but unlimited beer was the upside, so we didn't complain. Then the 2nd place was boring and expensive, but we made our mark on a graffiti wall with '205 2009' for our room number.
The 3rd place, Chapeau something...was so euro! I loved it. The top looked like a normal, nice bar, but downstairs were foosball tables and a live band with a crazy dancefloor, and cheaper beer. Then, the 3rd level down was where it got cool. It was like being in a cave, with all rock walls, and loud dj music from one small room, and then a tiny bar in the back with beer for like 1 euro. It was an oddly magical experience you only expect in movies...i loved it! The 4th place was lame, but it was 3am and we decided it was time for home anyway!
Sunday, we woke up early again and I split off with the girls for a bit more exploring, and then they left later in the day. Angus, me and Domenick from Stockholm took another walk later on, saw a cool statue of a guy hanging from a building, and explored some of the Churches that were still open. Later, Domenick and I found the original Budvar (Budweiser, suckas!) and met some cool kid with a girlfriend in Copenhagen.
Monday I went to meet up with my German girls, Hanna and Nina, and then dinner with Angus before he left for Berlin! Lucky guy :)
I know it sounds lame and I can't explain it, but I really had the time of my life that weekend. Meeting people from all over that I actually had so much in common with (could be the American side of things...) and just being able to have a good time and not stress about school yet was much needed. Like I told my mom, it felt like I was walking on clouds, I was in such a good place. Hopefully I'll feel that way again soon :)
Tuesday I did some more exploring and prepared for interviews later in the day, meeting with the editor in Chief of one of the biggest papers in the CR, and then a freelancer from New Jersey who has lived her for 17 years. Wednesday I had an interview with the editor in Chief of Prague's biggest (and only??) English speaking paper, and then Nina and I ventured out to watch a film at a festival I wanted to go to. It was called One World, and focuses on Human Rights issues around the world, and this year had an emphasis one the 20 years since Communism (basis of my article, fyi.) We got really, completely, utterly lost, but it was worth it :)
Thursday I went out to take more photos and some video for my assignment, then met up with Hanna so we could climb the mountain opposite the castle. Btw, she did this while suffering from kidney stones. TROOPER!
It was a beautiful day! (though it snowed in the morning, hmm...) This is taken near the Charles Bridge.
Near the beginning of our hike, a statue dedicated to the 'victims of Communism,' showing the destruction of people.
View from near the top, before we slipped in mud :(
View over the river, dusk-ish
Another Cerny design, the BABIES!
After this, we met up for coffee and dinner with Tomas, a Czech guy who lived above me last semester in Utrecht. He is a really smart guy, and so sweet and polite. I'm glad we got the chance to catch up!
Then it was our "brilliant" idea to climb to the castle at night, but the views from below up at the castle are much more astounding than in the opposite direction.
It was my last night in Prague, and a very good one. Can't wait to go back one day :D
