I love snow. No, that’s an understatement. I adore snow with all the life in my beating heart. But when I’m in a foreign country, and I’m supposed to go on daily walking tours — well then, not so much then.
My mom had always wanted to travel to Prague, the capital of Czech Republic. But every year, my brother and I would beg to go to a more “interesting” place (usually Disney World). Finally, a few years ago, my dad put his foot down and exclaimed we would be going to Prague — in winter. Now I’m no travel agent, but if I were recommending a trip to Prague, I would stick to visiting in the spring or summer because the best part is walking around and exploring.
But if your family is anything like mine, no snow is going to stop you from doing just that. I have never been so cold in all my 18 years of life. If you think College Park has been cold these past few weeks, try walking outside for almost eight hours in below freezing temperatures.
The tour guide picked us up from the hotel in the early morning and, against the desperate wishes of me and my brother, we set out on our quest. We trudged through the snow, rubbing our gloved hands together to try to keep warm (the guide keeping warm with a different kind of courage). In the first 30 minutes, all I could focus on were my toes screaming in agony and losing all feeling in my face.
When my body hit its freezing point and became completely numb, I was finally able to see Prague through my icy eyelashes. And it was absolutely beautiful. The city is a maze and with each turn, you discover something new and unexpected. One minute you’re in the Jewish Quarter and the next you’re in Old Town Square.
I truly believe it’s one of the most underrated cities in Europe. The astronomical clock in the center of Old Town Square, the Prague Castle overlooking the city from high on a hill and the John Lennon Wall filled with the most stunning graffiti that can only be described as art, are all gems in the red-roofed, picturesque city. My romantic side shone through at the wall bursting with “love locks” – locks that symbolize everlasting love – with no room for just one more lock. Yet, nothing compares to the Charles Bridge at night. During the day, it was filled with vendors and artisans. From there, the city looks so little and so perfect it’s like a toy model, but during the night, it’s a whole different story.
Because of the temperature, the bridge was almost always deserted — we were the only crazy ones. My family and I would just huddle together and walk from side to side, looking at the twinkling lights of the sleeping city, laughing and reminiscing. It was as if no one else was alive in the world but us. Though there were many beautiful sights in Prague, finding our “own secret place” in the center of the city was unimaginable.
Even though I still shudder every time I think of the weather in Prague, it’s always followed by a small smile in remembering the family bonding throughout the absurdity of it all.
