World Travel Addict: Prague, Czech Republic

Prague is a magnificent city with loads of different style of architecture from many periods. Gothic style architecture are in abundance here. The capital city, along with the rest of the Czech Republic, was largely untouched during World War II. Often called the "city of a hundred spires," you can see from a good view point hundreds of towers dotted across the city.

My first trip to Praha, as the Czechs call it, was on my way back from a job interview in Plzen. I stayed one night the at a hostel, called Old Prague Hostel, near the old town. If you walk around old town expect to get lost a lot. Narrow cobblestone streets with many of them off limits to cars will sure to make you feel like you are in a maze. I didn't really meet any other guests in the hostel to hit the town with, so I went at it on my own. I walked down across the most famous bridge in Prague, Charles Bridge, to the western side of the Vltava River.

With not a real plan to my walking I stumbled across a pub playing gypsy style music. I peaked through the window to watch a gypsy woman dance with a half meter rope on fire. When the fire went out I continued to walk up a hill up to a set up stairs that extended far out of view. As I stood there trying to talk myself out of climbing the stairs until the next day and going back over to the Old Town, I could here the gypsies start their next song. Of course with me standing at the bottom of hundreds a steps that song would be the montage song from Rocky. Therefore my decision was made and I climbed the stairs. At the top was a breath taking view looking east over Prague.

Also at the top of the hill stood Prague Castle. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, rague Castle is the most coherent complex castle in the world. It took six centuries to build the castle which started in the ninth century. It is the most detailed building I have ever seen. I took a few pictures of it but I did not have my tripod which is a must to capture the detail and thought that was put behind its construction.

You can see a couple of the gargoyles

I will have to go back there when I have more time and my tripod to take better pictures.
   After viewing the stunning Prague Castle I decided to hit the town. Now, me being an experienced traveler I know the areas to avoid if I want to do the city on the cheap. After a very nice and rather cheap typical Czech meal, goulash, I found myself going against what I usually avoid. I was drawn into a touristy pub by a sign out front that said "Absinth." I had a couple rounds of what probably taste worst than gasoline, then got lost wandering around the maze that is Old Town.
   The next day I took a free guided walking tour around Prague. Very interesting tour but not exactly free. You have to tip the guide at the end. Its a job I wouldn't mind doing on the side once I get legal to work here. I think the guide made up or at least exaggerated some of the stories. I know this because I have worked in the tourism industry for a couple years and use to do the same just to get a rise out of the tourists. Did you know that there is a glacier in New Zealand called Nate's Glacier? Named after me of course when I was asked the name of it that was the first thing that popped into mind.
   The following week a friend had to drive to Prague every morning for work. So, I tagged along for the ride each day and met up with him at the end of the day to go back to Hradec Kralove. It was a great way to see a bit more of the city on the cheap. I also had to go to the U.S. embassy to get some documents so I could apply for a business visa to teach English in Czech. Since Prague is more expensive than the rest of Czech I try to make it a point to eat cheap. You can get a great meal in Prague for under ten dollars. A meal than could cost around twenty in many other places. But, I try to spend as little as possible until I can get my business visa and a job. While visiting Prague I would usually get a sandwich from the grocery store and go sit somewhere by the street to eat. One time as I was enjoying my cheap meal i saw a woman forty feet away drop a coin and could be bothered to pick it up. So I sprung into action to get it. It was a two crown coin or about ten cents U.S. Every little bit matters. But, twenty minutes later when I went to get my ticket for the metro, a guy asked me, in Czech, but I knew what he needed, for two crowns to help pay for his ticket. I guess that two crowns I picked up was meant for him.
   Here are some pictures of my several walks around my favorite city.