View from Prague Castle

When I haven’t been in orientation I have been on field trips or out and about the city. I’ll start off this post by telling you all about one of the best nights I’ve had. Later tonight I will tell you about my field trips and plans for the next few days.

At about 11pm on Tuesday, my roommates and I decided we wanted to take the tram into Prague 1 and get a snack. We knew many things would not be open, but after having orientation all day we were ready to get out and see Prague for ourselves. So we asked our dorm mother, an old Czech woman who lives with her husband in the dorm, for some suggestions where to go. She recommended an area with shops that would be open so we set off on the tram.

When we got downtown 15 minutes later, the suggested café was no longer accepting customers. we found a little Italian eatery still open. This was the first time we left the touristy Old Town area, so we were surprised and a little nervous when we realized wait staff did not speak English. We know absolutely no Czech so ordering was a challenge. Luckily the waiter was patient and our food came out correct. My ice cream and crepes were delicious. Probably the best food I’ve has since I left England.

I really liked the restaurant because it lacked the pretentiousness that all the Old Town area stuff is known for. The décor was simple, the food was good and a group of Czech men played cards and drank coffee at the next table over. It was also nice to get finally get away from our group. Traveling in groups is fun, but when you are with 10 American girls things get loud, the restaurant and its patrons get angry with you and you miss out on what’s happening all around. So it was really refreshing to go out to quiet meal off the beaten path. One thing you should know about Czech restaurants is that the service is slow. You can’t go in expecting to be in and out like we do in America. Czech waiters do not want to rush you, so they will not never bring the bill until you ask for it. This is a stark contrast from my days at cheeseburger in paradise, where we were yelled at if we didn’t bring the check immediately after the customers finished their meal.

By the time my roommates and I finished, the 22 tram had stopped running. It is possible to take other trams but we forgot our transportation maps. We had no choice but to walk. I didn’t mind. Prague at night is even more beautiful than Prague during the day. We ended up getting lost and wandering around the city. Forgetting the map ended up a blessing in disguise because each place we ended up was more incredible than the one before. On the way up the hill to Prague 6, where our dorm is located, we climbed the steps up Prague castle. The view from the top was worth the steps. From there we could see the entire city lit up. If you are ever in Prague you must see this. Even if you are only here for one night you seriously have to take in this view. I cannot wait to show it to everyone who comes to visit.

From the top the castle I felt the city come alive. For that moment all my problems, jet lag and homesickness went away. All I could think about was how lucky I am to be in such an amazing place filled with history and culture. The view made me realize how truly excited I am to spend the next several months in Prague.