If you haven’t been to Prague….put it on your list! Before I first went to Prague, my mind was filled with questions; what is the regional cuisine? Is the there beer really cheaper than water? Are there castles? Will anyone speak English? Needless to say, all of my questions were soon answered! Prague is a lovely city with a small town feel. Every district has its own distinct flavour and there seems to be a lovely bakery, or Klobasy (sausages) stand at every turn.
A main staple of Czech cuisine is Schweinshaxe (pronounced “swine haxen”. It is roasted pork knuckle). It is slowly spit roasted until the outside is crispy and the meat is tender. Initially I was afraid to try this, however it tasted amazing, and is best enjoyed with a glass of famous Czech beer. Czech food is primarily meat based, so be prepared to be on a bit of a protein diet when you come here! That being said, there is actually a large culture of Asian cuisine. I was most struck by the amount of Thai and Korean offerings. At the airport, they proudly noted a partnership with Korean airlines, so I assume that is part of the reason. It was a pleasant surprise to be able to sample a variety of international cuisines in this lovely city.
Moving on from the food…I found that most people did speak some English, and that most signs were in English as well. It was quite easy to get around also. We spent a lot of time walking, but they also have a lovely transit system that is cheap and very convenient. One of the highlights of our trip was the Prague Castle. There is an stunning Cathedral which cannot be missed, as well as this very quaint area known as “Golden Lane” which is a lane of tiny houses and functioned as servants and tradesman’s quarters. One of the houses was even inhabited by the writer, Franz Kafka, for a period of time. Another famous landmark is the Charles Bridge. Prague has a number of bridges which join the city on both sides of the river, but this bridge is particularly special because it joins the Old Town to the Castle walk. It is a busy, lovely heritage bridge that takes you to Wenceslas Square. Here you will find the Astronomical Clock, as well a number of shops, restaurants and cafes. It is the centre of Old Town life. You can easily spend a full day enjoying the square.
Prague is a mix of old world and new world. It is very clean, beautiful, and still has the slight fairytale quality. It is definitely worth a stop next time you’re in Europe. Free free to contact me for more tips on Prague!
Oh…and yes…per litre, beer is cheaper than water in Prague!
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