Flying into Prague
(Praha, Czech Republic) I didn’t know what to expect.
I arrived at the airport and was unaware that I needed to exchange my euro for crown. Just as I was starting to wrap my head around the euro. {Ba-humbug} For every 1 euro
the conversation to crown Czech is 27.37 – and for every 1 dollar
(for all you who are wondering back home) the conversion is 20.12 crown Czech. I
thought I was rich taking 2,000 crowns out of the ATM. I learned quickly that
my average meal cost me around 200 crowns and a good souvenir runs 450 crowns. 2,000
crowns go down the drain pretty darn quick.
Really?!?!
Any who - the show must
go on!
My traveling companions
decided to stay in a hostel that weekend. I guess I had no choice, as I was out
numbered. I didn’t want to be the only one staying at the
Embassy Suites {Giggles - a joke – kind of}
My first REAL hostel
stay and to my surprise it wasn’t what I expected. It
was situated in a great area, clean, homey, and the staff was phenomenal!
The fully equipped kitchen was a shared space. We were free to cook and store things bought in the
fridge and cabinets. Oh – and the staff cooked free dinner
for their guest every night.
They staff was extremely
friendly. They have a list of activities posted every night of the week for
their guest to enjoy. They also come along with you for a night on the town.
The ladies and I stayed
in a mixed 10-person room. We occupied six beds - leaving four beds to individuals
we didn’t know (male and female).
I was grateful for
individual lockers that we were able use. I brought my own personal lock to use just for that.
And for our convenience
we were able to check in to our departure flight with a small computer
area. The
hostel provided us with free Wi-Fi throughout the entire hostel, which was an
added bonus. They won brownie points from me, I’ll say.
The shower area was
quite interesting, but satisfying. Of course, that too was shared between male
and female. I actually took note because I witnessed the staff several times a
day come clean the area – including mopping. That small detail is
important because in a hostel stay there are several people using the same
showers – BAREFOOT! Even though I witnessed the mopping, I still wore my handy dandy, old navy flip flops to shower. {Giggles}
Those babies are a lifesaver.
However, I did feel
comfortable enough to use the bathing area.
We toured around the
city all day and got a nice feel for Prague.
We also traveled (one
hour bus ride) to the small town of Terezín. Terezín is city that was assigned to
“ghettos”
and concentration camps during World War II. We visited museums and an actually concentration camp used during that time. I kind of didn’t know how to feel at first, being right there in the history.
Terezín held primarily Jews from Czechoslovakia, as well as tens of thousands of Jews deported chiefly from Germany and Austria, as well as hundreds from the Netherlands and Denmark. More than 150,000 Jews were sent there, including 15,000 children.
When I first learned of
the Holocaust in the 7th grade I felt such sympathy. But standing
there on the soil put me at a lost for words. Mis chicas shared the same
emotions as I.
After being stranded
out in the cold in Terezín for an hour … back to Prague we
went.
I also got to experience my first fish pedicure in Prague.
These Garra rufa fish (Doctor fish) are originally from Turkey and have now integrated as a spa treatment. They feed on the dead skin of your feet {yuk, right?!?} We asked the worker if people also use them to bathe in … and she said in Turkey – yes! I couldn’t imagine having fish sucking at my whole body. It was ticklish enough that were nibbling at me feet.
The city of Prague was
historical, the food was magical, and the shopping was phenomenal. To see more pictures of my weekend trip in Praha visit my Facebook Page Voyage avec Antoinette. I didn’t
spend much time shopping as I would have liked to so I would love to visit for
one day just for that sole reason. Until then …
Keep dreaming, stay
inspired and be blessed.
Prauge is really one of my favorite places I have ever been! I am so jealous right now! Have a great time!
ReplyDeletesome of my friends have travelled across Europe and said the hostels were all pretty decent :) i have never heard of a fish pedi before, but it looks cool.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the rest of your trip!
Great pictures. I'm going to Prague again this spring. What was the name of your hostel?
ReplyDelete