czech out prague
the golden city! prague is an old town with a young spirit. a few years back my family & i spent about two weeks in the czech republic, meeting family that i’d only ever heard stories about. we laughed, we ate and we traveled. starting in prague, we drove over 900 kilometers (or more than 560 miles for you americans) all over the country & even made a pit stop in vienna. but prague was by far the most beautiful city i’ve been to. the history of the city is almost palpable in the bustling streets and hidden side alleys. here's some must-sees & must do's:
if you like history:
the prague castle, much like the white house, is office of the president. this 9th century, baroque-style castle sits high on a hill, overlooking the vltava river. on the grounds you can find gardens, towers, churches and even an ancient prison. make sure to climb up one of the towers while you’re there. the view at the top is indescribable.
connecting old town with the prague castle is the charles bridge. construction on the bridge started in 1357 by king charles iv, the first king of bohemia to become holy roman emperor. it’s rumored that king charles actually laid the first stone himself. the best part of the bridge is actually a watch tower that offers panoramic views of the city. the bridge also has a magical statue. legend has it that if you rub the bottom of the statue of st. john of nepomuk, he will grant you good luck & ensure your return to the golden city. who knows if it actually works but it couldn’t hurt to try - plus, i’ve felt lucky every day since!
one of prague’s most famous attractions is a 600-year-old astronomical clock in the old town square. the twelve apostles appear when it rings every hour, on the hour, from 9 am to 11 pm. it’s truly something to see - a large crowd gathers a few minutes before the top of the hour to watch. we saw it ring at least 5 or 6 times while we were there!
the vyšehrad cemetery is the final resting place of some of the czech republic’s most notable writers, artists, scientists and musicians. famous composer antonín dvorák was laid to rest here in 1904. the adjacent basilica of sts. peter and paul is also one of the oldest in the country at over 900-years-old. inside the church is a “treasure room” with ancient artifacts and baroque relics. a short walk from the church is another beautiful overlook of the city & vltava river.
if you like pop culture:
after a sad, december day in 1980, an anonymous street artist painted a portrait of john lennon with lyrics from a few of the beatles hit songs. from then on, the wall across from the french embassy has served as an ever-changing work of art to honor the late musician. it’s a symbol of world peace and love, and thousands of tourists flock each year to the quiet street in prague. we wrote our names on the wall but i’m sure, by now, it’s been written over by other travelers.
if you like food:
trdelnik is a popular slovak street food. on just about every corner you can find vendors that sell this sweet and delicious treat. made from a pastry dough, trdelnik is wrapped around a stick, baked on an open flame and covered in sugar and walnuts. of course, there are many variations, like with ice cream or drenched in a hazelnut spread. i ate my weight in trdelnik by the end of the trip!
