My Trip to Prague

In December 2014, I traveled to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. I was finally able to take a vacation, so I made a reservation for a package of airline tickets and hotels on the internet two days before the departure. I intended to go somewhere else, but, according to the weather forecast, it was going to rain almost every day there, so I changed my destination to Prague. There wasn’t a direct flight from Japan, so I went there on Air France via Paris.

Contrary to the forecast, which had said that it would be sunny, the sky was somber, and the temperature was about zero degrees Celsius the entire time. However, I was able to stand the coldness because I wore a lot and I was moving around. I was able to see the blue sky a few times at the center of the city, when I tried to take a lot of pictures, but it was still cloudy on the hill where Prague Castle, the most must-see point in the city, is. I waited every day for good weather so I could visit the castle, but it never came, and I ended up visiting the castle on the most freezing day.

It was the Christmas season and there were markets everywhere in the city. That’s why I chose this city. In spite of the cloudy, freezing weather, I was able to enjoy the view and the atmosphere of the Christmas markets. Particularly, the one in the Old Town Square was gorgeous. There was a big Christmas tree at the center of the square, and there were a lot of stands with red roofs that were selling a lot of food and Christmas-related goods.

Prague consists of old style buildings and stone-paved streets that reminded me of the Middle Ages. However, it wasn’t like the Middle Ages, because there were tourists from the far corners of the earth clad in colorful costumes and milling about, and the modern cars and buses drove by.

 

The Old Town Square was surrounded by some important buildings such as the Church of Our Lady before Tyn and Old Town Hall. At the foot of the Old Town Hall was an astronomical clock. In spite of its age, the clock was well-made and indicated a lot of astronomical information. One night, I went up to the observatory of the Old Town Hall to overlook the night view of the square.

I also took a tour in the Municipal House and get to look around many rooms, including Smetana Hall. I listened to a concert in the Municipal House, but it wasn’t in Smetana Hall.

I also walked around the Jewish District. A lot of Jews used to live there. I visited some synagogues that were opened to the public as museums. I learned about Jewish culture.

 

I walked along the Charles Bridge that spans across the Vltava River. Many statues of the Saints were standing on the parapets of both sides. The one of John of Nepomuk was particularly popular, and I saw many people touch its base for good luck. The view of the castle on the side of Vltava was nice.

Prague castle was a complex of many buildings, such as a palace and a cathedral. The inside of St. Vitus’s Cathedral was decorated with stained glass. The Old Royal Palace had a big hall. There was another church. I saw the changing of guards at the entrance at noon. I also visited a monastery library near the castle. The ceiling of the library room was covered by the huge fresco.

I also visited the Vysehrad Cemetery with the tombs of Smetana and Dvorak -- famous composers -- and walked along the Vltava. There were many swans.

I ate in some restaurants and beerhalls shown in my guidebook. I think I tried some authentic Czech food. The food I ate consisted mainly of potatoes and meat. They were palatable for me, but the beer was definitely necessary. The food was expensive – I don't usually spend so much money on food – because the yen was weak at the time.

※この文章はアメリカ人の先生の添削を受けて修正済みです。

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