"Ahoj" from the greatest city in Eastern Europe (until I choose a new city)! We landed at the tiny Václav Havel Airport in the early afternoon, a bit exhausted and unsure of what to expect. Catching an Uber into the city was fairly easy and EXTREMELY cheap, way cheaper than Paris, and way cheaper than anything I have paid in America. I was also nervous about how we would be treated as brown Americans in a country as such, but our Uber driver was extremely friendly, even engaging in German banter with me the whole 20 minute ride in (and they said German would never be useful for me, psht)! The car ride through the city was uneventful, the scenery a bit dreary and cold, like what I imagine a country in Eastern Europe to be. People were bundled in jackets and long pants, and not because of modesty, but because even in late June, IT WAS COLD!! Like 40 degrees cold! I began to shiver in my light jacket and thin pants, wondering if this was just a cold front, but nope, it's like this most of the time apparently! The driver dropped us off at Hotel Vysehrad, a quaint little place not too far from the action near the Charles Bridge. The inside looked like a time capsule from I don't even know when, but it was kept very clean and orderly. We were greeted by a young man who was able to help us get checked in and sorted in our very dated room. After settling in, we decided that it was life or death to get some Mexican food...and stat. Now, before you judge me about my food preferences, just know that sometimes a certain type of food is done better in other countries, and I am not one to discriminate, so I'll try anything at least once. Also, I'm a creature of habit, if you're looking for a blog where the author seeks out the best cow-brains in whatever city they visit, I promise there's one out there for you! The restaurant we chose is called El Pueblo Mexicana Steak House, and it was definitely a strange place as they kind of overdid the Mexican theme, but I can appreciate them for trying! The theme was kitsch, sombreros and Spanish labeled items everywhere, but the food lacked that flavor I know so well having lived in Arizona for many years. Overall, the meal hit the spot, and we were hungry. After starting to feel the pull of the -itis, we decided to hit the streets and see what the surrounding area was like. We got a couple of slack-jawed stares while walking, but my friend and I are used to attention, and worse attention at that, so stares were fine with us. There were a lot of strip clubs and stag parties around which we had been warned about so we kept our distance. The main attraction nearby, was the Statue of Saint Wenceslas, the famous Duke of Bohemia, by which everything here is named after it seems. This statue sits in a park that faces the Jan Palach and Jan Zajíc memorial, a great place for photos and just getting a feel for the city as a whole. Prague: Night OneWho knew that coming to Prague would change how we partied? Since the Parisian nightlife was such a bust for us, we were praying that things would get better once we visited this country to the East, and WOW were we pleasantly surprised.
Before going out, we stopped down to the lobby of the hotel and chatted up another young man who had taken the night shift, and he made the same suggestion everyone else had about where to go for nightlife, Karlovy Lázně. I had done my research before coming out and knew that this place would be the ultimate tourist spot, and I was expecting to be disappointed, but it was amazing. First off, keep in mind that even in June, Prague can be chilly and rainy, and if you know how to shiver in a mini skirt and heels, I would definitely suggest it as Karlovy Lázně get hot AF, and I'm not just talking about the temperature. There was a very long line to get into the club, and in America, this usually doesn't mean anything good (i.e. the club wants to seem like it's packed, so they keep people waiting outside to boost that illusion). Karlovy Lázně is the exception to this, after paying about $20 US dollars we went inside and the place was PACKED with tourists. If you're the type of person who wants to hit up the local faves when you go on vacation, definitely stay away from here, but if you just want to get drunk and have a good time, this is the place for you. My friend and I met so many awesome people, got a LOT of beer for really cheap (or free), and scurried up and down the different levels, just exploring. We really didn't want to leave since we were having such an awesome time, but there were other places on our list to go. We left here going into the freezing night in search of more music and drinks. We stumbled upon a club called M1, which I had read reviews for, and it seemed just right for my friend and I. We waited in a line where people said they had been standing for ALMOST AN HOUR, realizing that we may have to wait AND pay a fee, my friend and I jumped to the front to ask about it. Once we did, a bouncer immediately yelled at my friend to get back in line. He didn't look at me, OR any of the other people who were standing nearby, he specifically targeted my Arab friend, being very rude and hostile. After getting this treatment and connecting with other people who had witnessed it as well, we decided to leave. We headed to Chapeau Rouge next, still high off of anger from that awful experience and ready to drink somewhere else. This bar was decent, a bit empty, but a great place to rehash the nights events with some new friends. They had a club in the basement, but it cost, so we and our friends decided to pass. After leaving and meandering around a bit, we decided to leave and just call it a night since it was getting late. We were a bit bummed, especially considering how awesome the beginning of the night had been...until we stumbled upon Fancy Lounge. We debated going in as we were unsure of what to expect, but this was probably the best experience of the night. This underrated bar was a mecca for hip-hop and reggaton, we danced and sweat so hard we stayed out for three more hours, not going back to the hotel until around 4am. This place was wild and also a great place to find a mix of locals and tourists, it's dancefloor is tiny, but so worth it.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Prague 2018A trip to Prague in June of 2018 ArchivesCategories |