Czechia: Prague

Prague is quaint. Prague is quirky. It's the capital city of a nation that has continued to redefine itself throughout history against neighboring superpowers. Its architecture and infrastructure demonstrates Roman, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Rococo influences, and traces of the communist era remain alongside newer capitalist establishments. Among European cities, it is unique for not having suffered damage from wars or fires that was so extreme as to call for a rebuilding of the entire city. It attracts more tourists each year, but it's also easy to get out of the touristy areas when needed.

During our stay we toured the Old Royal Palace, St. Vitus Cathedral, St. George's Basilica, and the Golden Lane, walked along Charles Bridge and the Vltava River, and explored the Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square, and the Jewish Quarter. We ate goulash in bread bowls, potato pancakes, and trdelníks. We drank Pilsner beer (which is cheaper than water!) We saw the Lennon Wall, the Dancing House (also known as Fred and Ginger, pictured below), and a variety of bizarre statues. We also walked through Christmas markets (which only recently opened, not like London which has been in full-Christmas mode for weeks already).

The sun did not come out during our entire visit, and the winter cold is already settling in among the leafless trees. Nevertheless, we had a fun time learning about Czech history and trying our hand at speaking the local language. Thankfully, English was abundantly used, as we never made it very far past "hello" and "please."

Follow this link to see more of our photos from Prague.