PRague day one
I pulled into Prague via the bus at about 3 o’clock in the afternoon & realized my SIM card was kapoot. Frustrating, but I wasn’t going to lose my mind about it. I connected to wifi via the bus terminals free service, got my bearings & called for an Uber to get me to my lodgings.
The driver was hard looking, but very friendly & offered to carry my bags up to the door to my apartment building. I find these Eastern European men are akin to M & M’s…hard shell, soft center.
I had a bugger of a time getting into the place though. The lockbox that housed the keys proved difficult to open, the main door into the building almost made me cry in frustration & once I hauled my bags up five flights of ancient marble stairs, I couldn’t for the life of me open my apartment door. Fuck. Me. Finally a neighbour came out & we wiggled the lock until it opened. I walked into the room & threw myself on the bed.
There is nothing easy about travelling. Once you’re at your destination the fun & games begin, but the logistics of getting there absolutely guts me & I want to stay in one spot for a month right now. The first thing I did after scraping myself off the bed was to check the thing for bed bugs. Ya, after. Doi! Seeing no evidence of the pesks, I plugged my phone in to charge up, popped open my bags to air out & drank a gallon of water. Dehydration is a bitch.
My place checked all the boxes; king size bed, lots of storage, cool decor, decent bathroom & modern kitchen. It was roomy & comfortable. I lay on the bed, surfing what to do.
I plugged the coordinates of a VODAFONE into my GPS & set off to get my SIM card straightened away. Once that was complete, I figured the main square was as good a place to start off to & after glancing at my phone’s map, set off towards the river & then I was to turn right, which would take me into the main area. The late afternoon was chilly, but the streets were packed with people. I pulled my sweater around me & walked at a fast pace to warm up. This was Krakow on steroids. Gritty, old, dark, with baroque facades to the buildings that had a bit of an edge to it. A little dangerous, but in a good way. The Vlatava river on one side & ancient buildings on the other, I walked & walked…just getting a feel for what I was in store for. Finally reaching a street that was teaming with people headed into the old part of city, I followed along with the masses until me & my grumbling stomach came across U Zlateho Hada Cafe Restaurant, established in 1714 & offering traditional Czech cuisine. I was craving a hearty soup to warm me up & a cold beer for pleasure. The menu looked interesting & I had my eye on the garlic soup with croutons & cheese…served in a rich flavourful broth. The beer was a local Pilsner which was delicious with the soup. The atmosphere was lively & I sat there happily taking it all in.
I was in Prague! I never thought I’d make it here. I didn’t have much desire for the capital city of the Czech Republic honestly, but absolutely everyone I talked to about travel with had such good things to say about this city. Now that I’m here, even though I’m tired & cold & seriously in the bla’s…I’m also happy. I don’t have many plans at the moment, but I’m going to walk the living shit out of this city.
After the soup & beer were shot, I walked back to my apartment…a good 40 minute brisk walk & slept fitfully for the first time in ages.
