My First Week in Prague
My first week in Prague has been a whirlwind. After 20 hours of traveling from Walla Walla, Washington to Minneapolis, Minnesota to Paris, France, I finally landed in Prague, Czech Republic.
My dad and I were met by our Airbnb host, Rick, who drove us to his river-front apartment just outside of Old Town. It was the first time I’d ever stayed in an Airbnb, but my friends highly recommended it as the best way to travel and experience local culture. They were definitely right. The apartment, decorated entirely in a 1960s style, was spacious and in a great location. Rick, an avid traveler, and self-identified hippie, generously welcomed us into his home. He also provided several guides to his favorite local coffee shops and restaurants.
Though we were exhausted from flying, we forced ourselves to stay up to adjust to the time change. After settling in, we went out and found a café before exploring Old Town Square.
The first few days were filled with standard sightseeing. First, we explored the city on foot, walking along the Vltava River to the Charles Bridge and then up to Prague Castle and St. Vítus Cathedral. The next day was cold and rainy, so we quickly learned how to use the metro. Prague has excellent public transportation that’s affordable, efficient, and easy to navigate. We had breakfast in the Vínohrady district of Prague 2, then took the metro to see the Dancing House, then back to the center to see the book tunnel at the library and the Paternoster Lift in City Hall. Not many people know about the unique, slightly hidden elevator that goes all the way around, but it's definitely worth a visit. Stay on it the entire time!
One of my favorite places we explored was Letná, an up-and-coming hipster arts district. The neighborhood is filled with cute cafés, galleries, and street art (I'm a big fan of street art). There’s also a huge park up on the edge of a hill that has an amazing view overlooking the city.
Another great stop was the guided tour of the Klementinum, an educational institution built by the Jesuits in the 1550s. The tour included the Baroque Library, the Meridian Hall, and the Astronomical Tower. The library was stunning and the Meridian Hall, which used early technology to tell time, was really cool. However, the best part was going to the top of the Astronomical Tower, which had an unbelievable 360 view of Prague.
In addition to the thriving arts and culture, we discovered some amazing vegan food. Every place we tried was delicious, but the best food we had was dinner at Etnosvět. It’s the top-rated vegetarian/vegan restaurant on Trip Advisor, so we made a reservation. It was a good thing we planned ahead because every table was reserved. We decided to splurge and try the six-course vegan tasting menu because how often is there a vegan tasting menu? The courses consisted of vegan tartar, celeriac ravioli, fried sushi, lime sorbet, rice noodle pad thai, and chocolate mango mousse. Each dish was very small but beautifully presented and delicious. My foodie vegan heart (and stomach) were so happy! We also had the sweetest waitress, and when I practiced my Czech by saying “Dêjuku moc” (thank you very much) she was so surprised that she asked me if I was Czech. I told her I was just learning and she said I must be in a good program. Teaching myself basic Czech on Youtube is really starting to pay off!
Overall, it was an amazing first week and I’m excited to officially start my study abroad program. Once I meet up with my program, I’ll have orientation and move into my apartment. Then there’s a week of intense Czech classes before regular classes officially start for the semester.
Though I’ve already seen a lot of the city, I’m excited to live here long-term and immerse myself in the local culture. It was great to have my dad here the first week to help me settle in and to have someone to go sightseeing with, but I’m also ready to have some independence and explore on my own. I already feel a strong connection to Praha and I’m eager to learn more about the city, travel around Europe, and see where this semester abroad takes me.