Friday 3 June 2011

Your Travel – Prague

I am very excited to present the next guest blog in my Your Travel series – Rachel from Da Paura. She has been living in Rome for two years and has also been visiting some amazing places. I have really come to love her blog with all of her fantastic pictures and I was so excited that she wanted to contribute to my travel series. Her post is about breath taking Prague, a city that I would absolutely love to visit, and her post made me want that even more. So enjoy this and be sure to check out her blog.


First, thank you so much to Cammie for allowing me to participate in her travel series. Travel is one of my passions and after living in Rome for two years, I have had the opportunity to see a lot of the world. Strangely enough, I chose to not to write about any city in Italy. This is mostly due to the high volume of Italy-inspired posts on my own blog throughout the past two years.. I actually thought it would be fun to share my very first European experience – long before our crazy notion to sell all we own and move to Rome! My husband and I went to Prague, Czech Republic on our honeymoon in September of 2006.


During that time, it was quite uncommon for Prague to be high on the list of most travellers from the US… and on our trip, it seemed like a hidden gem! Visiting Prague was like stepping back into time, and much more so than even most places in Italy. Since the Czech Republic was under the Soviet rule for so long, it was highly untouched by the Western World. I believe it was as late as 1989… after so many years of dangerous Soviet rule, it was finally allowed and safe enough for travellers. As terrible as the reason was, we certainly had the opportunity to visit such preserved beauty as a result. There was no Starbucks, no McDonald’s… although I am guessing it has changed by now. At the time, the US dollar was stronger which made the Koruna (Crown) an amazing price for us. We typically paid $0.50 for a litre of beer and $1.00 for a glass of table wine! All of our friends kept asking, “where are you going on your honeymoon again? Where is Prague??” It was a unique vacation, and one I will never forget.


Our hotel was near Wenceslas Square, which is actually a popular place for shopping – fashion in particular. Our quaint hotel had the most breathtaking view of Prague Castle, and sunsets were spectacular. Everything is very easy to get to in Prague. The public transportation is SO easy and fast, and at the time, very cheap! We were only a skip away from my favourite place in Prague, Old Town! The charm begins with Charles Bridge. It is absolutely stunning in the early morning hours when very few are walking on it. There are statues of beauty and a view of the castle. I also loved the somewhat medieval and dark feeling of Prague – there are tons of gargoyle statues on the buildings which gives it such a mystical feeling almost. It’s a bit like a life-like Disneyland.


One you pass Charles Bridge, you are at the beginning of Old Town. There, you can see the famous Prague Astronomical Clock, the Estate Theatre where Mozart premiered the famous Don Giovanni in 1787 (so amazing!), and of course Prague Castle at the top of a winding hill. Once you are in the castle, you must again take old winding steps up to a lookout, where you can find the most gorgeous views of Prague. (that is, if you can catch your breath soon enough to enjoy it!)



One of our favourite things to do in Prague was to simply sit at cafes or pubs for hours and take in all of the surrounding beauty. The pubs actually serve amazing traditional Czech food (at least they did in 2006), and be sure to order the goulash and knedliky! Be prepared to walk a lot. I always recommend flat or wedge boots for any travel in Europe – they simply have saved my life a million times. The servers were typically very polite and somewhat quiet, so don’t expect them to list off their specials of the night and come back to check on you every 10 minutes. Prague truly took my breath away, and I can’t wait to return to such a special place. Thank you again Cammie for letting me share one of my travel experiences here!

The pictures are Rachel’s personal photos.

If you’re interested in contributing to this, then please do not hesitate to contact me on cammiewaaden@yahoo.com. I am very interested in posting about your travels and to learn something new.

40 comments:

  1. I remember the winding hill up to the castle, the super cheep delicious pilsner, and our hostel next to wenceslas square (the golden sickle, no longer around :( ) Love to see these pictures from anothers' perspective!

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  2. What a beautiful post, I absolutely LOVE Prague! What a city! I was there in 2004 and would love to go back someday soon!

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  3. Thank you so much for featuring me, and the kind words! It is such an honour, especially to be on such a gorgeous travel blog like your's. Thanks again.

    xoxo
    Rachel
    PS. I'll be sure to put a link to this in my next post!

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  4. i absolutely adore laura and she is one of my fav bloggers! great post sweetie!!!! i love prague too!

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  5. What a wonderful honeymoon! I once had a girlfriend who visited this location and loved it. From your photos Rachel it looks amazing! Glad you had a wonderful time and I hope you get to go back there sometime. xo.

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  6. Love this post - I went to Prague two years ago and I'll never forget it!

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  7. wow Prague does look beautiful!

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  8. I went to Prague the same year and it's gorgeous. I recommend most of East Europe as well - some of it is still untouched, though unfortunately Prague is very touristy by now. Love Rachel's blog by the way. And I have to destroy a bit of the illuision, because when I went in June 2006, there were at least two McDonalds we passed (not to mention H&M and other chain stores). Stick to the old city center if you go - the commercial area near the train station is less picturesque.

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  9. I loved reading about prague through her eyes! i went there a little over a year ago and so it was fun to see someone else's view on it :)

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  10. Wonderful!!! This is fantastic!!!
    Kisses...Miriam

    Fashion Crazy Ball:
    http://fashioncrazyball.blogspot.com
    Visit and follow me!!! :-)

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  11. Lovely post and pictures. I really like your blog, maybe you want to follow each other?

    www.fromanedge.blogspot.com

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  12. Hi!Nice blog.I like it.Now I'm following you.
    Wish you followed back.

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  13. such beautiful photos of Rome! lovely guest post.

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  14. Praga is one of my dream-place! love your amazing description ad pic!
    winterbag.blogspot

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  15. I would really really love to go...

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  16. it was indeed a wonderful experience, every bit of information helps and inspires a lot, this place is awesome to see, maybe we can survive esp my husband who loves McDonalds for fast drive thru, or me for checking my blog at Starbucks...sobs!=)The medieval architecture is the most stunning masterpiece, thanks for the tips! Can we contribute places fr the past that we traveled too?

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  17. Fantastic post! We went to Prague in November and it was one of the most magical experiences ever (it snowed)! It was truly like stepping back in time! We spend endless hours in dark moody cafes watching the trams rumble by! Your pictures are everything I remember, thanks for sharing!

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  18. I was just in Prague in March - such a beautiful city! I literally fell in LOVE with it.

    x
    http://artfashiontwentysomething.blogspot.com

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  19. Beautiful pictures and great article - I so want to go to Rome and Venice. One day! ;D Shah. X

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  20. That looks awesome! I have always wanted to go to Prague!

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  21. I would love to spend endless hours in Prague, seems so historical and exciting!

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  22. Prague looks great with much interesting culture and historical background.

    What a wonderful place, even their ordinary streets look great ♥

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  23. fabulous post - Prague's beautiful - I went for few days a few years ago now. Shah xx

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  24. I want to visit now! I love Rachel's blog! Who's down for a trip right now?

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  25. Wow wowowowowoowowowow!!!!! AMAZING photos, gorgeous! I want to go to Prague sooo badly! My sis and bro went a few years back and had the most amazing time! Love this post!!

    btw, I just launched my brand new blog, MOONSTRUCK EXPOSÉ!

    I was formerly blogging on, I Live For It, where we followed each other.

    Hope you'll come visit and follow along!

    I'm of course following you from moonstruck now. ;)

    Hope you've been well, babe!


    moonstruck exposé

    x. juliana

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  26. Prague is such a lovely city. Wonderful views and great beer. I remember having to hop fences to get into the Castle, though, hahaha.

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  27. Hey - checking in saying hi. Hope all is well with you. Shah. X

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  28. thanks for sharing with us such a special and beautiful experience.

    p.s,I have an award for you, stop by when you get a chance :)

    http://alexandriajz.blogspot.com/

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  29. Gorgeous photos! it looks so lovely, I'd love to visit :)
    http://www.annawithlove.com

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  30. How are you dear?? We missed ya! I hope you're taking your summer vacation! Kisses :)

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  31. Woow, stunning pics, thanks for sharing.
    Hope you are keeping well, enjoy your weekend and take care.
    Colin.

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  32. so beautiful! wish to go there someday:)

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