Time flies! It’s hard to believe that it’s already been over a month since my family and I arrived in the Czech Republic on Christmas Eve. We didn’t stay with family in Sweden this year– a step away from what has now become a tradition for me these past four years. Luckily I got the best of both worlds by spending time with relatives (including some surprises!) as well as traveling to a country I haven’t seen before.
Prague was a great city to visit for the holidays. The place was teeming with spirit! There were Christmas markets everywhere throughout town, including an enormous one in the old town square. There was a gargantuan Christmas tree which performed a light show every evening with gusto, synchronized to Rossini’s William Tell Overture. Despite being cold and at times very rainy, Prague offered an abundance of cozy restaurants where we could settle in to the warmth and enjoy good company.
The city itself is picturesque. Something unique about Prague is that the whole city feels like “old town.” In most Polish cities, there is a distinct region of the city which is rebuilt and identified as the historical Old Town. Prague, however, was spared destruction during WWII. As a result, the modern details have been incorporated into the historical, rather than built up from scratch in a separate new part of town.
Approaching the Christmas market in Wenceslas Square.
Wenceslas Square on Christmas Eve.
Old Town Square with the Christmas market and musical Christmas tree
Old town square
Old town square
Around Prague, a lovely peak of sunshine!
The John Lennon Wall. Post-WWII, this was the one place in Prague where citizens could express their protest through graffiti. The wall itself belonged to Malta, as it surrounded an official building of theirs. Thus, the communist government could not punish citizens for graffiti on a wall which was not their property. Malta allowed the graffiti to continue.
Tourists crossing the Charles Bridge
View from the Charles Bridge
Seats and balcony in the marionette opera theatre, where we enjoyed a rendition of The Magic Flute performed by puppets on strings. It was a totally novel experience for me, and I loved it! You could see human hands manipulating the strings above the stage, and the puppets even had jaws that could move in synchrony with the German opera singing.
Prague is a city for dogs and dog-lovers! Czech dogs are extremely well trained. Most dogs stroll through town alongside their owners off-leash. I was pleasantly surprised to discover there was often at least one small dog quietly hanging out under a table while their humans ate at restaurants.
This statue at the Prague Castle became famous for the golden genitalia. The communist government censored this statue when it was erected (pun intended), by removing the genitalia altogether. However, this caused such an outrage that the government decided it wasn’t worth the trouble. They quelled the protesters by replacing the missing parts, which thereafter represented a victory for the citizens. It is considered good luck to touch that particular part of the statue. Over time, the metal was worn down, until only this gold-coloured layer beneath remained.
The sweet smell of Trdelnik baking over hot coals wafted deliciously throughout Prague. If you like sugary, soft, crispy dough, I recommend this delectable hollow cylinder of goodness!
View from outside the Prague Castle
St. Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle.
The Life of All Sorts 