Prague
Rather than rehash another blog post about things to do and see in Prague I want to share the Blogging From Paradise perspective for you guys.
Make no mistake about it; Prague is one of the top cities in the world for a good reason. Stunning architecture, delicious colors, immaculate surroundings, a fantastic food scene and friendly locals meet to create perhaps the best city in the world.
This city has most of what makes cities great and lacks what makes cities abhorrent.
Prague is one of the best walking cities, boasts world class public transport, is clean and green and lacks choking, obnoxious traffic.
Today I want to take you off of the beaten travel blogger path by sharing a few things you may not know about Prague.
Everyone loves visiting the most popular tourist spots. I had a blast enjoying these epic sites.
But wandering a bit and simply observing cultural norms goaded me to write this post.
Check out six things you may not know about Prague.
1: People Walk Dogs Leash Free in a City
One of the things that really got me about Prague; people walk their dogs leash-free in most cases.
This floored me. I am accustomed to leash laws in any US city I’ve visited.
Of course most dogs are leash-free in a place like Turkey with its street dog culture. Seeing pit bulls, poodles and other breeds roaming around sidewalks a good 10 to 20 feet from their masters seemed odd at first but indicated this simple truth: when you relax about controlling your dog the dog relaxes, too.
Dogs either minded their own business when cruising by other pooches or sniffed and moved along quickly.
I never saw a dog wander into the street.
Some larger dogs seemed leash-bound. Other big breeds sported muzzles.
But by and large, the majority of dogs in Prague roam around the city leash-free as they wander about town with their masters.
2: Quirky Neighborhoods Await Outside of Town
One of my favorite habits in Prague consisted of wandering to various nature parks on the outskirts of town.
I came across more than a few quirky neighborhoods feeling a bit more like a mix between old Soviet Russia and perhaps a little hipster haunt.
Prague
One particularly odd ‘hood seemed to be a predominantly abandoned sports complex close to a rail yard. I spied a long unused clay tennis court, a few neglected lots and other long forgotten parcels of land. But a few feet away an equestrian specialist trained on a horse, old guys practiced their moves in a skate park and sheep grazed in a lush plot, being protected by hulking livestock guardian dogs.
I frankly have no clue why someone would raise sheep beside a skate park, equestrian circle and auto garage amid a largely inactive, desolate region of the city. But the sheep and big dogs seemed happy enough.
Walking down a few streets outside of town revealed a scene out of a Jason Borne movie. Spoiler alert; remember when he visited the Russian girl whose parents he had assassinated? I schlepped through a few of these types of ‘hoods with their huge, apartment high rises intermingled with more classic, Brutalist structures as you trended back into town.
I even wandered through the more “rough” parts of town on one foray but being raised in Northern New Jersey with its hard-nosed inner cities, I felt more threated at the Short Hills Mall.
3: Bomb-Free Beauty
Prague is one of the most gorgeous cities in the world in part because the city largely avoided being bombed during World War 2.
Reasons range from the location being too far for bombing for planes with less range to Hitler vowing to preserve the stunning architecture here.
However, the Allied forces did bomb Prague lightly; the Dancing Building sprouted up from one of the buildings destroyed during the raid.
Prague
Kelli and I spent our nearly month long house sit across the river from the Dancing Building.
I traipsed across one of the bridges for a quick 4 minute walk to capture the above shot.
4: The City Is Incredibly Green Away from the Center
Prague is forest, farmlands and fields shockingly close to the city center.
I was stunned to see actual farmland beside a semi-urban area on the Western side of the city. Never mind the deep forest belt adjoined to the farmland.
I power-walked for 50-60 minutes to reach some semi-outskirts of town.
Fields, forests and expansive farmland is not what I expected to see within the city limits.
Prague
Practical Tips
- search for hikes in the area via Google Maps
- map out directions
- power walk or take a leisurely stroll to the many parks in and around the city
- be prepared for hilly walks; towards the outskirts on the Western side of town you will need to hike up some steep grades
I hiked to the Northeast, Southwest, Southeast, Western and Southern quadrants of the city.
You will find green, decent-sized parks in every direction.
5: The Sex Scene Is Kinda Open Here (As Is Public Urination)
In one moment, a towering castle greets your eyes.
A quick 5 minute stroll from tourist spots reveals yet another Erotic City store.
Prague
In truth, the underground sex scene is a wee bit prevalent but never felt seedy, shady or outright distasteful in its presence.
Prague won’t give the Red Light District in Amsterdam a run for its money but the sex scene here is more present than I’d imagined.
Being a fully responsible travel blogger completely committed to fully immersing myself in the local culture, to give you an authentic perspective (wink, wink), I tried the erotic massage. In truth, this felt like a bit of a quantum leap outside of my comfort zone.
The experience felt relaxing and the masseuses were genuinely sweet, polite and quite bubbly. Although I did feel a little like I’d gone 12 rounds with Ivan Drago after the Russian woman finished with her work.
Cost – 2000 Czech Koruna for 1 hour (85 EUR or 93 USD)
Public urination seems widely accepted. I saw no less than 7 dudes drop their pants and become whiz kids in full view of other folks.
Some tried to be discrete. Others whipped it out and urinated on fences or trees in wide open expanses.
One of the guys began a conversation with a friend who happened to be riding by on a bike as he pee-peed, one hand greeting with a wave and the other holding the hose.
I even saw a homeless dude strip down naked and casually walk into the icy cold river, bathing among many of the majestic swans.
No one batted an eyelash so I just chuckled, shrugged and moved alone (Note; I was not the homeless guy…this is a digital nomad joke).
6: Prague Is *Cold* Late into the Spring
A few days before Kelli and I left the city in later April the temperature dropped down to the low 40’s at night.
Snow squalls and 20 degree temperatures greeted us when we arrived in late March.
Prague is downright cold late into the spring for its Northern exposure.
Vancouver, Canada sits at the same parallel. US-based readers know how cold and snowy Vancouver can be through sprint-time.
Prague is no different in many regards although it snows far less here.
The temperature never reached 70 F during our entire trip from late March to later April.
Practical Tips
- pack winter clothing even if you visit from March to April
- be prepared for high wind weather patterns from time to time; especially by the river
Conclusion
Prague is far more than a few world famous tourist spots.
Travel off the beaten path to enjoy more of this fascinating city.
