When in Prague

Where Have You Been?

When In Prague

By Faith Callo-Sta. Maria

I had a chance to visit Europe in 2013 with my father and younger sister during our eldest sister’s wedding in Kyjov. It’s a town south of Czech Republic and a 3-hr drive from Prague, or Praha in their native language. With a month vacation, we grabbed the chance to check the two neighboring countries, Austria and Hungary. Vienna, the capital city of Austria, was an hour drive from Kyjov. That’s the reason we entered Europe in Vienna instead of Prague. And from Vienna it took another two to three-hour drive to Budapest, Hungary.

But no, I’m not going to talk about that because this story is entirely about Prague and how amazing it is. I loved the three cities and I cannot say one is better than the other as they are all unique in their own beautiful ways. But since we stayed longer in Prague, I was able to enjoy and appreciate it more.

Good thing my sister used to live in Prague. Roaming around became easier with her as our guide. And we got lucky the weather was sunny with just the right amount of coolness. It was perfect for a walk! Prague Castle, Petrin Hill, the famous Charles Bridge, Wenceslas, and the Old Town Square were among the famous spots we visited.

Entering Prague Castle Compound

Prague Castle is the Malacañang Palace of Czech Republic, the residence of the country’s President. It is recorded as the largest ancient castle in the world. So large I was thankful we did not get lost inside. The castle has a lot of establishments in its compound but the most popular is St. Vitus Cathedral. St. Vitus Cathedral, the gothic-styled church, is the biggest and most important church in Czech Republic. I see it as the face of the Prague Castle. It is the one that comes to mind every time I speak of Prague Castle. It is seen from afar, standing tall and proud, with its gothic architecture so beautiful and details even more so.

Prague Castle Gate

View of the city from the Palace

St. Vitus Cathedral

Tired? Have a seat.

Petrin Hill is like a big park on a hill open to public. There are gardens, restaurants, a church, and a mirror maze. To reach the hill, you need to ride the Funicular Railway for a fee, although, there is an alternative cheaper way but will take you longer. The hill is known for its observatory Tower or the Petrin Tower.

The Petrin Tower is a mini version of Paris’ Eifel Tower with 299 steps to the top. The stairs are narrow that run around the structure so don’t go too fast if you don’t want your head spinning afterwards. Going up may have been tiring, it was worth every step! The view on top is magnificent. Those uniform colored roofs and luscious green trees and gardens are so perfectly paired together. The city was all over our eyes.

View on Top

Charles Bridge is one of the renowned historic bridges in Prague crossing Vltava River and connecting the Prague Castle on Lesser Town and Old Town Prague. It’s a pedestrian bridge where on each end, stand two gothic towers serving as guards of each town. People can climb to the top to have a better view of the surrounding.

The bridge is decorated with statues and replicas of the people that have been part of country’s history. It is also a popular spot for artists, musicians, and vendors. I actually regret not having a portrait for remembrance. There was a lot to do, look, buy, and enjoy while crossing the bridge. It was fun! The bridge was so full and alive.

Wenceslas Square is the first spot we visited on our first day. One of the busiest lines of the Prague’s Metro, Line A, runs underneath the Square and has a direct entrance to its street. The square, which is not really a square despite its name, is part of the New Town quarter of Prague. This is where the commercial, business, and cultural sides of the city are. The Square is surrounded by hotels, restaurants, shops, and museums. And strategically positioned, the Czech National Museum is one of the more obvious landmarks of Wenceslas.

Any Prague experience will not be complete without visiting the historic Old Town Square. I believe it really is the tourist center of Prague. It is the home of great structures like the gothic Church of Our Lady Before Tyn, the baroque styled St. Nicholas Church, the Old Town Hall, and the Prague Orloj or the medieval astronomical clock mounted on the wall of the Old Town Hall. The churches of Europe are incredibly eye poppers! The details are always unbelievably well-preserved – a fine example of old but gold.

The Prague Orloj is a crowd magnet. The clock is one of the world’s oldest, functioning astronomical clocks. There is a clockwork show every hour that gathers people around the Old Town Hall. It’s called, The Walk of the Apostles. While the clock strikes, there comes a parade of moving sculptures of a skeleton and the Apostles indicating that an hour already passed. I believe the skeleton symbolizes death and the time gone. The show lasts a minute or so. Considering how old it is, it’s amazing how the clock still works perfectly. I was in awe that I forgot to film the show. I simply stared.

Staying for a month in Czech, I can say their culture is quite similar to us. They value family and the people are friendly. They say “Ahoj,” or hello to anyone, even strangers. They are frank and straightforward with words. And when mad, they will argue through words, but are very seldom violent. They are financially independent. If you are out with your family, pay for your own expenses. They are also not used to having house help. Prague is a progressive country even in technology and there is a machine for almost any household chore you need to do.

They are meat people. They love sausages and hotdogs, soup and bread, and a lot of mustard. We stayed in my sister’s place so we had rice and other Filipino food. But she also cooked Czech food for us; only, in Filipino style. Czech food is okay. But when I say sausages and hotdogs, they taste far different from what we have here and consumed either raw or steamed. But as they say, when in Rome, do what the Romans do. So here in Prague, we try to eat what Praguers eat.

A view of sea of orange roofs from the Old Town Hall

Their bread is not hard but definitely not soft either. Maybe it’s the reason why my sister always asked for pandesal. When we were at restaurants, I can finish a plate. I assure you the food is not bad; although my taste buds prefer our own. I remember once ordering a rabbit meal. At times, I ask for an Italian restaurant instead. But please don’t get me wrong. There are good meals; then there are the not so good. And they definitely are not into fish. The nearest to an Asian cuisine is the Vietnamese store and restaurant there.

To those who want to visit Prague, remember to always check the weather bulletin. We visited Czech on summer, May until June, but I ended up borrowing lots of coats from my sister. It was raining a day before we came. The 28^oC temperature we expected dropped to 4^oC. It may not have rained every day but the temperature was already affected. I blame global warming, really.

They have a unified transport ticket. That means one ticket is good for every public transport there is like the Metro, tram, bus, and the funicular railway in Petrin. Depending on how long you think your transport time is, is the lifespan of the ticket. It’s usually unlimited rides for an hour or more, so maximize it. The tickets are available in every store and shop. It’s very accessible. Study the Metro lines and the tram numbers before going out. There will be a lot of walking but these are all enjoyable. So put your comfy shoes on and walk from Wenceslas Square to Charles Bridge until you reach the Old Town Square. There’s a lot to see on the streets!

If you’ll visit Prague, don’t miss Charles Bridge and, of course, the Old Town Square. They are my personal favorites. There are still a lot to see on Prague – a zoo and the Dancing House. So I definitely have a lot of reasons to be back. And I will visit again those I have already seen. I know they will be as beautiful as ever, captivating me once more. So plan your trip now and enjoy!