I had the weekend to myself in the Netherlands, and I'd already been to Amsterdam. I thought I'd go to Paris but the Thalys was experiencing serious delays due to weather conditions so I decided I would book a ticket to Prague instead since it's always been high on my list of places I've wanted to visit (the list is extensively extensive).
Anyways, I landed in Prague at around ten thirty at night and changed my money at the airport. Even though the Czech-Republic is part of the Schengen, they use the Czech Koruna (or crown) instead of the Euro. The conversion of CZK to USD is about 100 CZK for 5 USD.
Here is where Prague is on a map in case you were wondering.
My first impression of Prague wasn't the most stellar. The driver of my taxi was abrupt, drove recklessly and shamelessly requested a hefty tip. I couldn't see anything that distinguished the city from any others in the night time and the streets were lined with what appeared to be young prostitutes.
The first restaurant outside my hotel was an Indian restaurant so I ate some spicy vindaloo and tucked in for the night. I decided not to forgo my initial perception and start the next day fresh and excited.
Interesting facts about the Czech Republic:
Anyways, I landed in Prague at around ten thirty at night and changed my money at the airport. Even though the Czech-Republic is part of the Schengen, they use the Czech Koruna (or crown) instead of the Euro. The conversion of CZK to USD is about 100 CZK for 5 USD.
Here is where Prague is on a map in case you were wondering.
My first impression of Prague wasn't the most stellar. The driver of my taxi was abrupt, drove recklessly and shamelessly requested a hefty tip. I couldn't see anything that distinguished the city from any others in the night time and the streets were lined with what appeared to be young prostitutes.
The first restaurant outside my hotel was an Indian restaurant so I ate some spicy vindaloo and tucked in for the night. I decided not to forgo my initial perception and start the next day fresh and excited.
Interesting facts about the Czech Republic:
1) Czech parents typically choose a name for their baby based on a register (unless they want to battle with authorities). Each baby name corresponds to a date in the roman calendar so people get to celebrate a birthday as well as a "name" day in the event that the two aren't one and the same
2) Independent Czechoslovakia was established at the end of the first world war.
3) Czechoslovakia was invaded by Hitler's army during WWII which led to the Prague uprising.
4) Czechoslovakia was a Communist state from 1945-1989. The country achieved democracy through student protests and largely non violent demonstrations which in turn led to the movement being called the "velvet revolution". Coz it was a smooth transition. Geddit?
5) In 1993 the country amicably split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia during the "velvet divorce".
6) A majority of Czech citizens do not believe in religion, leading the Czech Republic to be one of the least religious nations in the world.
**Everything mentioned above was gleaned from the exemplary Sandemans half day Prague tour. If you're in Prague I highly recommend you check it out. If you need more justification than gaining insight and knowledge into a country and culture that has a beautifully old heritage and an excitingly new government, then let me just tell you, the tour is free.**
**Everything mentioned above was gleaned from the exemplary Sandemans half day Prague tour. If you're in Prague I highly recommend you check it out. If you need more justification than gaining insight and knowledge into a country and culture that has a beautifully old heritage and an excitingly new government, then let me just tell you, the tour is free.**
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