Backpacking Prague (Part 2)

I got to Delnicka 24 alive, and with 20 koruna change. (Taxi fare was CZK 480) Tired, hungry, hungry and hungry, I pushed the door open, and was greeted by the sweetest little backpackers lodge I have ever seen. EVER. Brick, wood, dark red walls, heavy drapes, and the softest, biggest pillows... the friendliest staff, a big kitchen, and yes. YES!! A power shower.

Jann was the receptionist for the night, and he said "I will let you have the room called 'Little Dream'. I put my bags down, freshened up, met some people in the bar downstairs, had a beautiful Czech beer, and spent a very lovely evening with some other backpackers from across the globe. Some were staying in Prague for over a month, some were there en route to other places in Europe, one had just flown in from Krakow, and some, like me, were there for a short break. Jann joined us for drinks when he was off duty, and we became fast friends. He's Slovakian with perfect English (fortunately for me, I could discard the phrase book for the rest of the night!) doing his final year of medicine in Prague, and working in the hostel part time.

The next morning, I met Stefan, a German man who has lived in Prague for the last 20 years. He works as a part time guide, and told me he would bring me to the city and show me why he fell in love with Prague and relocated immediately. He was a real character, completely insane and full of life. "I dont do dumb, rip off da tourist kind of tourz! I vill SHOW YOU DA REAL PRAGUE! It's a historical tour. YOU VILL LEARN! I vill show you da Jewish quarter, und explain to you VHY THINGS ARE DA VAY THEY ARE! You vill learn! None of that touristzy, stop here, click click, oooh, ahhh, click click camera type of rubbish!! You vill LEARN ABOUT PRAGUE und THEN you vill fall in love vith it."

Prague, Czech Rebublic. I've always wanted to go. They say it's like a picture-book; every nook has it's own story, every cobble stone is a historical gem. This is Charles Bridge, and a view of how it stands elegantly over the beautiful Vltava river. Stefan made us (I went to the city with him and several other backpackers) stop on the Charles Bridge to make a wish, as they used to do in the 17th century: with one hand on the bridge, your right foot on an emblem, and your eyes fixed on the Vltava River. Stefan was right. I fell in love with Prague. I loved the history, the art, the astounding gothic-style buildings scattered around the town, the baroque statues and the sense of Bohemia everywhere.

I loved the people, the food, the beer, the music, the graffiti wall (I wrote something on there too! It's open to the public to express whatever you want to say, so long as you have a marker, crayons or a spray can.)

(Yoko Ono commissioned a part of that wall to have a picture of John Lennon graffitied on it)