My last real stop on my trip was in Prague. I was there for my birthday, but unfortunately I missed seeing Obama by a few days. Oh well!
I stayed with Kate, and her roommate Kim was nice enough to let me sleep in her bed so Kate and I were roommates again! Her apartment is great, its brand new and has all sorts of cool features like a TOUCH SCREEN ELEVATOR! Also, they had two balconys and MTV Germany, so life was good.
My first day there, Kate and my other friend who studies in Prague, Lisa, were in class so I wandered around on my own. I went to this fortress called Vyšehrad that is where Prague was founded. Its up on this high cliff and there are amazing views and a cathedral and a beautiful graveyard! I think the Czech word for John or something is Jana, because it was on basically every gravestone. Which was weird, but cool.
That night we met up with some friends and went to a beer garden. It was so great! I wish I had gotten a picture of it, but I didnt. Beer in Prague is the best beer Ive ever had. The dark beer is AMAZING. Its like sweet. So good. And you get like a pint or something for only a dollar! Kate and Lisa kept talking about how it would be so hard to go back to the US and its expensive crappy beer. I believe them! The Czech people drink more beer per person than anyone in the world. Not the Germans!
View of Prague from Vyšehrad
Then I walked up the river, past the Fred and Ginger dancing building to the area near the Charles Bridge, where of course I happened across a bagel restaurant. I went to the John Lennon wall, a wall that has layers and layers of cool grafitti, and across the Charles Bridge, where there are tons of vendors selling caricatures and musicians playing tunes.
John Lennon wall
Czech version of goulash! Different from Hungarian, accompanied by DELISH potato pancakes.
The next day, I did some exploring with Lisa. We went to Prague Castle, which is the largest castle in the world! Then we went to the Lennon wall again, and she took me to Old Town Square, which was packed with tourists waiting for the famous astrological clock to change. On the hour, the clock has little figures of skeletons and the apostles that move. She also took me to the Easter market, because it was Easter weekend! There were tons of snacks and little gifts, including willow sticks that the men use to hit the women they find attractive in a celebration of fertility the day after Easter.
Lisa and I with a view of Prague at the castle
Willow sticks! Glad I wasnt there on Easter Monday!
That night at midnight I celebrated my 21st birthday! Kate had a bunch of her friends and friends of friends that were visiting over to her apartment, and I blew out some candles and everyone sang to me. Then we went out to a couple of places, drank (LEGALLY) and danced the night away! It was a great time. The next day we slept in, then went to go lie around in the park. Then Lisa, Kate and I went out for some Mexican food for my birthday dinner. Then another huge group went out again that night, to a club I LOVED called the Cross Club, which was a lot of fun.
We found a flyer that said masquerade for a free entrance, so we made masks. We were mistaken, but we got some pretty awesome masks!
The next day was Easter, and Lisa, Kate and I went to Petrin park to lie around again. Petrin park is this enourmous park on an even bigger hill. There is a funicular to go to the top, but it being Easter, the entire population of the city was there and the line was long, so we just found a spot in the sun with a good view. So pretty!
Springtime in Prague!
I had a great time. It was more relaxing than my other stops on the trip, it was more hanging out with my friends and relaxing, which was nice after such a long time of sightseeing nonstop. Prague was so beautiful! The Czech language seems absolutely ridiculous however. I miss Kate and Lisa already!
