When you imagine a fairytale, you probably picture a castle in a high mountain, a bridge at some point and beautiful streets to strut by while you enjoy the view, the atmosphere… the huge crowds? Well, maybe not the last part. Prague is definitely the reflection of everything mentioned above. A beautiful city full of history and interesting places to visit.
Yes, the astronomical clock is absolutely cool and one of a kind. The weird part comes when you wait for it to announce another hour has passed and by the amount of expectation of everyone gathering around it with their phones ready to record; it seems like something really impressive is about to happen. The reality: a few wooden pieces of the apostles come out a small door and kind of waltz around the clock. That’s it, it lasts less than a minute.
The Charles Bridge is definitely a gem. It is full of sculptures that tell many stories, it overlooks the Vltava River and there is no denying the views from there are breathtaking. That is, if you get the chance to stand in just one spot for more than two seconds, because the amount of people there at all times keeps you moving at all times. The probability of getting a half-decent photo without tons of photo bombers in your shot is very low. Also, beware of pickpockets.
And how about the boat rides? There is ample offer of types of boat rides to choose from. The dinner and drinks one, the only one drink and you have to pay extra if you want more and the just a plane ride. Although there are a couple of different routes, the low waters prevent you from going beyond a certain point (at least during our visit in November). The conclusion is you might as well pick the shorter (and cheaper) route, when the longer one cannot be completed due to technical difficulties. To sum up, the ride is nice, not super remarkable.
It is fair to say I am not able to judge Czech cuisine, since I am a vegetarian and it consists in very meaty/greasy flavors. Nevertheless, I got to taste the signature pastry, kolache (made with poppy seeds) and I liked it. Another great advantage: little cozy cafés where you can sit down comfortably and get shelter from the cold in practically every corner. Even inside a majestic classical concert venue, where you can have some lovely tea and cake while you listen to a live pianist inside the restaurant.
All and all I would say it is a city one has to visit eventually. However, if I was making a top five most impressive cities in Europe, I am afraid it would not make the cut.
