It's something I'd been looking forward to for ages. My big sister went to Prague when she was 18, and ever since looking at her photos, I've been dying to go. So when invited by friends to go on a wee mini-break there with them, how could I refuse?!
To add to this, my trains were dirt cheap (I heart Europa-Spezial tickets), and accomodation was equally cheap...and beautiful. And central. Aaahh.
So, after a 9 hour train journey (which I have to say I am becoming a pro at), I stepped out into the big city of Prague. After getting a bit lost, receiving our keys, finding our apartment and finding a lost friend...we went for dinner, in what appeared to be a French themed restaurant, with German posters on the wall...serving Czech food and wine. I can but presume it was a little culturally confused as to what to aim for. I, quite boringly, went for chicken (somewhat Italian styled, confusingly!), swilled down with some French wine....all good. It was so nice to see Magda and Richie again, and we were very quickly back to the giggly times, similar to our July antics...
After dinner, we walked around the old town. I am somewhat a fan of touring cities by night, or by evening....everything looks nicer in the dark in my opinion! Or maybe having moved to Germany, I have just realised that things look better lit up with artificial lighting, as opposed to the dreary rainy daytime..an hour later, everyone but me and Richie decided to head back to bed...true to form, we decided to explore Czech nightlife. Which, for a Thursday, in a capital city, was somewhat DEAD! We found an underground bar, where we managed to get suitably wine-d, and caught up on each others lives...it was lovely.
The next morning, as per, I was hungover. I had drunk quite a lot, and I guess I haven't really been drinking since being in Germany, so my liver isn't quite as used to it...but the fact that I always end up being hungover when others aren't does annoy me! We got up bright and early, headed out for coffee and breakfast...where I ended up paying 24 Euros for a coffee, an orange juice, and a sandwich. 24 Euros! It would seem some places in Prague have been taking "How to be robbing twits" lessons from their Swiss counterparts.
Magda and Richie had a meeting to attend, so I left them and joined two other friends that had come with them from Warsaw. I was still hungover, but determined to see Prague, with the little time I had there already! So we walked into the town, along the river....and it was stunning. I haven't mentioned this yet, but the weather was oddly warm. Especially for Prague. Especially for November. Coats were certainly not needed, at any rate. Walking along the streets of beautiful Prague in the sun, well, it was perfect. We walked up to the cathedral, and to the Jewish Quarter, and then through some unknown little streets until we muddled our way back to the old town. En route, I found Franz Kafka cafe...though, I can but presume, it has nothing to do with the man himself. All the same, I took a photo!
Then it was lunchtime. Lunchtime saved me. Although hungover, I sort of new, deep inside me, that a beer was going to solve me...and it did. It was shameful. But it worked...they do say nothing like hair of the dog?! This was followed by a walk back to the apartment to pick up Magda and Richie, where I then decided to crash. Midday crashes are the best things ever. And I needed it, for I would be on my feet for the next 14 hours. Eek.
We set off back into the city of Prague once more, with no other aim than to see pretty things! It was much of what I'd done all day, just wandering...followed by beer and researching Jazz Bars for the night time! We researched, and then trekked up to the castle to meet some friends who'd left us earlier....the castle was beautiful....
Dinner was so much fun. We met with a friend of Magda's, who lives in Prague, and she took us to this little restaurant by the river. Because the weather was quite nice, and not too cold, we could sit outside. The food and beer was good and cheap (or guenstig, as the Germans would say!), and it was lovely to sit and talk, so relaxed, without a care in the world! We did, however, stay a bit too long, as we realised the clock was ticking on our evening, and me and Richie were determined to get changed before heading into the nightlife of Prague....so we hurried everyone along, got our gladrags on, and headed to venue numero uno- a Jazz Bar called something or other that roughly translates into White Horse! We should have got there earlier, as the jazz sadly ended half an hour after our arrival...but it was so brilliant. We spent the rest of our evening, and well into the morning (bedtime was 6.30am...) in various clubs and bars in Prague, meeting many interesting characters and having lots of laughs along the way!
The next morning, half drunk, half hungover, I clambered onto my train....which was delayed...and 10 hours later, I arrived in Diepholz. The whole thing felt like it had been a dream....but it is definitely full of brilliant memories. And I can't wait until I go back.
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