From: Wednesday, July 12, 2017
To: Wednesday, July 19, 2017

My travel to Prague was more of a relaxing trip than hectic. I had a week to spend there and the city was so small that you can see all the hot spots in a single day (most people I met in the dormitory came for a night). The first two days in Prague was actually a packed, planned trip because I met YJ, Chihiro (the japanese friend), & YN (Yonsei peer who was also traveling Prague). So, I basically did all the ‘city tour’ that day. For the remaining days, I was less interested in Prague and more about Plans and Lists that I love to do. Prague that I’ve experienced for these two days was the massive tourists, touristy restaurants and locations, which wasn’t that fun to me. The remaining 5 days were perfect to simply use Prague as a new place to refresh my mind and focus on myself.

This is when I’ve worked on my undergrad plans. I also used this time to really think about what kind of life I would like to lead. It was the perfect time to think about it because, being away from Korea, I could really realize what was important to me. I could see the person I wanted to be without being affected by all the artificial and superficial influences that existed in my daily life in Korea. Also being in a completely new environment, and meeting people randomly away from the culture you are accustomed to, gives you the chance to see your real self because those situations truly reveal you. My time in Prague wasn’t ‘perfect’, but why does it have to be? By the stiff will of wanting everything to be perfect, you get to miss true things that pass by near you, and your true self. Those imperfect and not that fun times in Prague (and in my entire trip to other European cities) were exactly the time I was able to simply be ‘myself’.

2 Days of Touristy Places

I enjoyed time with friends I met here. I had the chance to travel Prague the “Korean-Way”, that is, the hot spots and courses shared in Korean social media. Korean friends I met here were experts at that. I simply had to follow them and the day was packed with nice spots to take pictures. I was shocked to see a line of only Koreans in front of a starbucks cafe, which was a line to take a picture on top of a rooflike spot that allowed the entire Prague scenery. I was confused as to whether I was in Prague or in a european theme park in Korea. I also took picture along with my friends and other dozens of Koreans, and indeed the picture was awesome. But not the kind of ‘natural’ picture as it was too perfect, too staged.

Parks

On my third day, after all my friends left, I needed to be away from the tourists. So I looked for a local, peaceful, and relaxing spot: a park. I actually became a huge fan of a park during this Europe travel. Every time I wanted to be away from the crazy tourists, I headed to parks. In a park, you can see various activities; people read a book, cuddle or have a conversation with their lover, family or friend, sleep, laugh, exercise, meditate, walk, look at the sky, etc. All my favorite things. I therefore fell in love with the positive energy that a park gives. And In Prague, Kampa and Letensky Park are the two places I spent my remaining days.

Maria Observatory

On the 7th day in Prague, A friend in the dormitory (unlike other friends that left earlier, this friend was staying for a month in Prague so she was more into enjoying the daily life here) suggested that we should go to the Maria Observatory. That evening we headed to the place, but the road was quite long because we were lost. But still, those roads were the most beautiful spots I encountered in Prague: No tourists, quiet and beautiful houses, sounds of leaves waving from the wind.

The Maria Observatory is a quiet little (really tiny) plaza (a ‘balcony’ would be the right word) right next to a monastery where you have a statue of graceful Maria and a stone bench where you can enjoy the view of Prague’s light. After coming out of the observatory, we realized that there was a shorter path from the Prague castle to the observatory (a walk of around 15mins), but we did a prolonged walk of around an hour and a half:

Prague castle – Nerudova Road – little town of embassies – mountain road to tower – 굶주림의 벽 – tennis court – walk down to cathedral – monastery – opened door – Bellavista restaurant – many benches – mountain – ‘SOCHA PANNY MARIE’ plancard – Maria observatory.

But still, it was worth it. I would take the same road. If Switzerland made me want to spend my latter years in the country and bring dad to see the peaceful scenery, This road made me want to bring my lover to Prague. Next time I visit Prague, I’m going to spend most of my time in the left side of the Vltava river instead of the right side where all the hot spots and tourists are jammed!

Karluv Most

Charles Bridges is the mecca of all the travelers in Prague, and so it is always crowdy. I wonder how come it never seems to be breaking down. At a distanced view, all the people in the bridge seems like evils who are wanting to destroy the bridge.

Reduta Jazz Club

The only reason I would cross a bridge from left of Vltava river to right, would be to attend a Reduta concert. The “Famous Swing Melodies” Jazz Concert that I attended was amazing… I really liked the ease and communication and all the smiles and eye contacts that the musicians made with each other while performing as a team. They performed as if they were creating a world, a world of love, smile, harmony, tenderness, all of it in a slow motion, by telling a story. It was interesting, exciting, sweet, and just all the ingredients needed to make a perfect night.