Prague, the Best of Europe!

I intended to treat myself to a trip for my birthday and so it was...even though I intended to go back to Amsterdam for the 3rd time, but when I found this offer I didn't let it slip away, or rather I found it myself heheh, flight + hostel 145 euros!! The choice fell on this destination because I had already been there, but back in 1992, so I have practically no memories apart from the photos...I must say the choice was, I won't say wise, but very wise indeed!!! It is an absolutely fantastic city; personally I'd put it in my top 3 along with Barcelona and Istanbul as far as European cities go.

My luck was being able to explore it alone..with no worries about timetables and whims, which I'd definitely do again as soon as possible; for those who like to travel and get around, going alone is a unique experience because it lets you do whatever you want without answering to anyone and gives you the chance to meet many people, if you have a touch of extroversion! My English, I must say, isn't too bad..even though in the city not everyone speaks it...but that's the least of the problems; my guidebook had practically everything marked and I never had any problems! The city, as you all well know, is divided by the famous Charles Bridge (where you'll find a multitude of street artists) with the district with the castle and the gigantic park on one side and the Jewish quarter and the old and new quarters on the other.

Having taken a fantastic hostel (Hostel Tyn..I highly recommend it) only 50 m from the old square, I was able to explore the city on foot at ease, without using the metro or tram, even though in that cold it's also a nice relief to be sheltered heheh! Then there's the weather... perhaps the only drawback of Prague...cold and biting wind and frequent snowfalls! The city is a continuous stream of things to see...from the beautiful old square with the very famous astronomical clock, to the Jewish quarter with its large cemetery, to the castle with the changing of the guard every hour and the large Petrin park.

I was also lucky enough to see the less famous quarters, finding the tomb of Franz Kafka, the beautiful church of Vysehrad and enjoying a fine Sparta Prague match for just 3 euros! The city is really cheap, and a cult for beer lovers (not me!)...absolutely worth drinking is absinthe, the local drink that tastes really awful, but it's a real bomb!! I absolutely recommend it...if you're lazy, you can manage in 4 days by tram...but go, you won't be disappointed!!