Praha

 

September 29th

Today was, hands down, my best day of this trip yet. And I wasn't cycling...does that tell me something? Aside from the freezing weather (10°C in September ? I wasn't the only one surprised) I went on this free 3 hour walking tour of the city; which, ended up being 5 hours, and I don't even know where to start because I learned so much. Like, we went through the old Jewish area, and did you know that over 70,000 Jews in Praha died in concentration camps during the Holocaust? Aside of that more recent history, I learned a ton about architecture dating back a thousand years, as well as all the cool stuff the Czech's invented. Such as: defenestration, the microwave, sugar cubes, tanks, and the future cure for aids? Moreover, during the walking tour, I met a few other cool Canadians and Kiwis. 

My hostel, in fact, is unfortunately full of young, dumb Americans. But they were all brilliantly sleeping through the day, and thus, did not partake in the tour nor learn about or see anything related to Prague during their journey here. I guess that's one way to travel. Regardless, there are so many Canadians and Aussies here. I've heard more English in Prague than I have for a month!

A few cool facts: Prague has the world's oldest working synagogue (check); the world's largest mideval castle (check); it's the world's largest UNESCO world heritage site (check); AND beer was invented here! I LOVE PRAGUE.

 

 

September 30th

Got up early and rode my bike South along the river 30km or so. Had to turn around after the first 10km because of another flat tire. So all in all did about 70km today...in the sun....with no wind...and no paniers...and music...I was in heaven.

For the afternoon, after I ate 2 lunches, took my bike apart, cleaned, and packed it into it's traveling box, I just had to go back to Pragues Old Town and just soak in all it's beauty and history one last time. I was reminded during this afternoon of all the amazing things I had learned on my walking tour the day before. This includes how there is art in the Jewish Museaum, done by the children of the Holocaust; who, had their drawings never been discovered, there would have never been prof they existed; as them and their relatives with all accompanying paper work were destroyed not long ago. There is a myth in a church which describes a statue of Mary coming alive as a thief attempts to steal her necklace, clasping the thieves arm, and till that day forth, the mummified arm still rests in the church. The Jewish cemetary holds people 11 bodies deep, along with all their tomb stones. And the place where people still play music today is the last remaining buildings that Mozart actually performed in. The rest were destroyed during the war.

I walked, mused, relived, and amused myself, and then headed over to Charle's bridge and the castle, where I watched the sun set over the city. It was stunning and all I could think of were all the people I would have wanted to share that moment and this place with.

A few last words about Prague.

There are a lot of police. everywhere. with guns.

There is a sort of Russian-maffia or corruption in the air I can't explain.

The Czech language is crazy cool. With grammar similar to that of Finnish and sounds more foreign than any language I've ever heard in real life. Don't even get me started on the letters and their keyboard.

There is no real specific 'look' but all the locals have a very pale complexion. Aside from that it was pretty diverse.

They are great inventors, musicians, and artists.

If I had to chose a capital for my empire, it would be Prague, much like many (10 or so) kings of old.