europe

March 2, 2020

Old Town Square, Prague

Getting to see the legendary Astronomical Clock in person was so special.

The clock was first installed in 1410, making it the oldest clock in the world that is still operating.

The Church of our Lady before Tyn (please note the bear friends I met while I wandered).

The House at the Minute. Covered in ornate Sgraffito decorations depicting Greek mythology as well as references to biblical and Renaissance legends,

The Powder Tower

The Municipal House is the Art Nouveau gem

One of the eateries on my list was Cafe’ Imperial. The interior is decorated an art nouveau finish. It brings back the grandeur of the turn of the century in Prague with elaborately carved ceramic tiles covering the walls and the pillars of the cafe in floral and animal designs depicting Asian or Moorish scenes.

I had French onion soup and cucumber salad in yogurt.

January 18, 2020

Arriving in Prague

It was a dream of mine to travel to Prague for many years. I had seen photographs of the city’s gothic architecture and red roofs in my grandfather’s National Geographic books. Growing up in America, (and South Florida, at that), I had recurring dreams about Prague’s ancient landscapes and earthy color palettes; the images shook me out of strip-mall monotony.

After going back to school and completing my Associate’s Degree, I needed a break to focus on my own personal growth. With the recent loss of one of my close friends, I started to rethink our tendency to put off dreams for a “better” time. The truth is, there may be no other time than right now.

I decided to take off the semester to see another part of the world (and develop my podcast project). I organized a budget-friendly experience and stayed in an Airbnb room in the heart of Prague 1. I had never traveled alone in a foreign country, so I was a bit nervous about the language barrier and my dreadful sense of direction. To prepare, I did a ton of research beforehand.

On my first evening there, I walked around the narrow, cobblestone roads with pink buildings and pistachio rooftops towering above me. I wanted to have dinner somewhere that offered a breathtaking view of the city, and Kate, who runs the instagram account @praguetoday, recommended T-Anker restaurant. I was overwhelmed by the panorama! My periphery was submerged in flower boxes of vivid red, and just beyond that lied a medieval skyline that looked straight-outta-fairytales. I genuinely questioned if I was dreaming it all. Turns out, I wasn’t!

January 1, 2020

I Still Keep a Suitcase in Berlin.

Baretto: A sweet Italian cafe’ in Berlin

Pretty sure these blue doors are the entryway to my heart

Dusty book piles everywhere and the scent of old paper

December 15, 2019

Café Cinema

Berlin is home to numerous distinct courtyards. Hackescher Markt is a square located near Schwarzenberg House, which is a truly special courtyard in the city.

Café Cinema sits at the entrance of the courtyard on Rosenthaler Straße. It has a long history of bohemian rendezvouses: filmmakers, artists, and locals have gathered there over the years. The walls are covered in graffiti and artwork, and it’s a great meeting place.

October 17, 2019

Berlin: Arrival

I arrived in Berlin by train after a busy week of exploring Prague. I’ve long heard about the city’s reputation as a cultural hub, an alternative mecca of artsy dreams. “Is this Kreuzberg?” I exclaimed at my taxi driver as we passed through a graffitied, gritty area. Indeed, it was. Phew!

Kreuzberg is the European version of Brooklyn. Actually, the neighborhood reminded me of the East Village in its hay-day: punks with piercings, vegetarian restaurants, street art, little booths with junky merchandise, and bohemians rebelling against their parents at each turn. Truth be told, it made my heart swell up like a punched lip: I ached for the subculture anarchy of yesteryear. New York City has become so commercialized, its primitive spirit seems drowned out by an overarching instagram filter. Berlin is alive with genuine weirdos that make me feel at home.