The next stop in our express Europe trip is the Czech Republic. Our flight got delayed though… for five freakin’ hours! The staff of Ryanair couldn’t give anyone definite answers. Thank goodness there was free WiFi at the airport in Rome. And i though hey, at least I could get one last authentic Italian meal. Or so i thought. In any place in Italy, you can never go wrong with Pizza or pasta, no matter how cheap it was— except at the airport. Wow. The pizza I ordered was even worse than your typical airport food. Frankly it tasted like cardboard. it was such a chore to finish it.

So we did arrive in Prague 5 hours later than expected. My friend booked us an entire apartment via AirBnb. The price was really cheap, so we didn’t know what to expect. It’s funny that it’s right in the center of the red light district. LOL. The owner was kind enough to wait for us even if we arrived at such a late hour. When we got inside— BAM! The place is huge! Unbelievable considering the price we paid! It also had a washer and dryer, which was really convenient because my luggage was already full of dirty and stinky clothes lol. Laundry detergent was even provided!  The owner was also really nice, making sure we were all comfortable, giving all sorts of recommendations. it felt as if he was welcoming friends.

Later on I would discover that there are two things that are common in Prague. First, everything is really cheap compared to the other countries we’ve visited. The other thing? So many people were incredibly helpful. Like in the train station or any place where we seemed lost, strangers would approach us asking if we needed any help. Everyone is also well disciplined. Everything is kept in order without anyone watching them. Could this be an effect of being under communist rule for so long?  i’m not sure about that, but the behavior of people in Prague was really different from the rest of Europe, where most people seem to mind their own business.

The next morning, we started our tour of the city. First stop was the top tourist destination in Prague— the Prague Castle. The entire complex is massive, you could spend an entire day in this place alone. You’ll buy tickets inside one of the buildings in the courtyard. Once you clear this area, you’ll be greeted by the St. Vitus Catheral. This building is truly a work of art, both from the inside and from the outside. One could spend hours just admiring the architecture. Renting the audio guide further enhances the experience. The cathedral has so much history, you’d have greater appreciation of its beauty if you knew the history behind it.

There are other buildings of note. Churches, museums, and replicas of houses during medieval times. The armory was fascinating, you’d also get a peek of a medieval torture chamber.

I’m not sure what this is.. .could it be a medieval toilet?

We have been walking for a few hours now, and we were quite hungry already.We came across a stall selling Trdlnik, an traditional Czech pastry. It was pretty good. or maybe we were just really hungry.

After touring the entire castle, we decided to proceed to the old town square. it was just a short train ride away.There were numerous food stalls in the area, selling sausages, hams, and all sorts of meat. The food was really cheap and very filling! Two of my friends got diarrhea though. Not sure if it was from the food. If the food was contaminated then i must have a really strong stomach because i did not experience any symptoms of food poisoning. LOL.

The astronomical clock is an attraction in the old town square. it’s one heck of a work of art. The attention to detail is astounding.

After our very late lunch, we took a long walk toward Charles Bridge. It was bursting with activity. There were so many tourists passing by to admire the sculptures in the bridge. There were also a lot of vendors selling trinkets, paintings, and other handicrafts.The view of the Vltava River was amazing. We remained in the area waiting for the sunset, admiring the view.

The perfect way to end the day? A couple of pints of Czech beer of course!

 

I really loved Prague. I loved the scenery, I loved the infrastructure, I loved the people and their way of life. Since I’ve already seen its top attractions, i probably won’t come back as a tourist. But i loved it so much, it’s a city that i would be happy to live in.