According to the Prague Travel Guide, Prague is “a new country with a glorious past.” We certainly found it so. After a long train ride from Mainz, Germany, during which we learned something about how to lock doors on trains, we arrived in Prague. A metro ride later and a short walk took us past “Pizza Go Home” to our youth hostel. The hostel had a common room that we could use computers and internet (!!) and learn about what other travelers were doing, going, and where they were from. We were within walking distance of Wemceslas Square. After some sandwiches we all settled down for the night. The next day we went on a leisurely stroll led by Dr. Damonte through Prague, which included her telling us about some of the various sites, such as Wenceslas Square, Old Town Square, the Jewish Quarter, the Charles Bridge, and the Prague Castle (Hrad). It was amazing to see all the different sites and only that evening did we realize how much we had walked. But it was a relaxing walk, not a power tour, and that was perfect.
We spent the next few days eating (amazing food!), having dinner out at a great Czech restaurant (noted by one as the best meal of the trip!), seeing the International Gypsy Festival gala performance, visiting different sites of the city, shopping, doing laundry, and having hair cut. Prague is a very young, but very old city, and it left most of us wanting to return for a longer time period. There are great treasures both historic (the Charles Bridge, memorials to the revolution, Hrad (Prague Castle), Old Town Square, Horologue Clock, Jewish Quarter) and contemporary (shopping values for backpacks that were amazing, amber and other jewelry at outstanding prices – and a few offers for drinks from their salespeople!). Despite the language difference, many spoke English and we made ourselves understood with others. It was a great break in the middle of the trip for us to relax and explore on our own a bit, and we had all developed a level of comfort with traveling that made it a perfect experience away.
