Sightseeing Sundays: Prague (Part 4 of 7)

Out of all the cities we visited during our two week backpacking adventure (check out parts 1, 2, and 3 here), Prague was the most awe-inspiring because you can feel the weight of history in every single crevice. Walking across the Charles Bridge and staring up at some of the statues that started being built in 1357, you feel tiny and insignificant in the big scheme of history but also simulatenously strangely important and connected to so many by standing were so many others have stood and so many will stand. It's worth walking up the huge hill (great exercise and we tried to save money on cabs!) to the top of Old Town to check out the castle and get away from the most touristy parts. We ate at the hidden Restaurace Nad Uvozemat the top of Prague, where we had the best view of any restaurant we experienced. Word of caution: we encountered more unfriendly, unhelpful people in Czech compared to anywhere else we traveled. Some of the places we visted made us feel like we were an intruder, but we just brushed it off and continued enjoying the beautiful sights. I would have liked our Prague portion to have been extended, but it was at times expensive and confusing because they use the Koruna instead of the Euro. You could definitely feel and see the difference between Western and Eastern Europe--the west being grittier, less refined, less welcoming but in the same breath more historic, charming, and "real." They haven't changed to the Euro, they don't embrace their tourists, and they still do everything like they have done for hundreds of years and don't plan to ever change their MO if they can help it. You gotta respect that sort of attitude and integrity!
To read my poem about Prague, click here: On Top of Prague