The City of 100 Spires

Bailey Nolen - Editor

Photos by Bailey Nolen

   Over the course of the past week, I have spent my time learning the ins and outs of one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Prague’s beauty is clear in its outward aesthetic, earning it the nickname of “the city of 100 spires.” The beauty, though, is reflected in every aspect of the culture.

   First, it is important to acknowledge the heavy history of the Czech people. In the past century, they have experienced occupation by both the Nazi regime of Germany and the Soviet Union. However, the Czech people gathered in the central Wenceslas Square in 1989 and successfully escaped the control of the Soviets without a single act of violence. This event, known as the Velvet Revolution, remains a powerful reminder of the resilience of the Czech people. Despite all of these hardships, the Czech people have maintained a rich culture and an unbreakable spirit. 

   On our first day, we arrived in Prague after 24 hours of travel. We were exhausted, so we took some time to stroll through the cobblestone streets. As we walked, we stumbled upon various significant places, such as the Astronomical Clock and the Hussite church. We ended the day with a scenic boat ride through the Vltava River, enjoying the views of the Prague Castle. 

   We woke up bright and early on the second day to take a trip out to Cesky Kromlov. This castle complex and city is one of the most well-preserved medieval settlements in Czechia. As we strolled through the castle walls and the old streets, it was hard to ignore the rich history permeating the area. After our tour, we enjoyed some traditional Czech food, such as goulash, for lunch before heading back to Prague. That evening, we had Indian food for dinner, which we all thoroughly enjoyed. 

   The third day was packed full of action. We began with a hidden gems walking tour that took us through the narrow streets and secret alleys of Prague. We toured a beautiful church and abbey. We then had delicious open-faced sandwiches before meeting our next tour group in the famous Wenceslas Square. This tour took us through various pubs with historical significance in the area. If you’re looking to go to Prague, this is a must-do! (The whole family claims it as their favorite.) We ended the night with a delicious dinner at The Blue Duckling. 

   On the fourth day, we enjoyed a private tour of the Strahov Monastery. We still are not quite sure how we managed to secure such an experience. We gained exclusive access to the beautiful libraries, chapels and gardens of the Monastery. I enjoyed seeing the various oddities that are displayed throughout the halls. We had lunch at the brewery on the monastery grounds and headed off to our tour of the Prague Castle. We started the tour in Old Town before crossing the King Charles Bridge. The Prague Castle is known to be one of the largest in the world, but the most remarkable part ofthe complex is the St. Vitus Cathedral. The gothic style and sheer size were a marvel to look at. We finished the day in the most American way possible with a good burger. 

   The fifth day was another full one. We woke up bright and early to explore the Saxon Switzerland National Park and the Bohemian Switzerland National Park. We hiked through the mountains and valleys and were rewarded with breathtaking views. In one of the valleys, we took a scenic boat ride to enjoy the beautiful nature. We ended the day with more traditional Czech food, but we were beginning to feel the weight of the end of the vacation approaching. 

   On the last day, we made a point to explore all of the areas we had missed. We started the day with traditional Czech pastries, such as větrník. The rest of the day was spent wandering through the cobblestone streets and poking our heads into any and every place that interested us. For lunch, we had the Czech staple of fried cheese (a surprisingly filling meal). That afternoon, we went back to our hotel to pack up for our early flight in the morning. For dinner, we found a traditional Czech restaurant near our hotel and soaked up the last moments of our Prague vacation. 

   The most prevalent detail throughout the entire trip was the unwavering kindness, hospitality and spirit of everyone we met. Each Czech person was more than willing to put up with our poor attempts at speaking the Czech language. Each business-owner was amazingly attentive and happy to help. The mark of a good place is the way in which it can bring people together. After each tour, we gained new friendships and fond memories. The spirit of Prague is one that cannot be overstated, and it is with great pleasure that I can suggest everyone make time to visit this wonderful place in the near future.