I’ve worked my life for this opening day, So I can show off my abilities In cooking. Now I will ask if you may Come and enjoy my Thai delicacies. It’s not the typical fare you’d find here Among the old brick buildings and beer halls. It’s a departure from the normal cheer; I’m glad you’ve heard its tantalizing calls. I have added a little German flare For that is the place that I call my home. The combination is not all that rare; Instead, it creates a comforting poem. You will always be my first customer Of this lifelong wish of an endeavor.
Though the road may be a little bumpy And the wheels on the cart don’t have much give, I’ll try to make the ride not so jumpy. The turning is also not responsive, So we’re going to have to take it slow, Giving us enjoyment of scenery That we usually ignore as we go Because we believe trips should be busy. Though we won’t be able to see as much, What we will see we will really take in. It gives vacation a different touch When the small moments are what we’re makin’. Don’t fret about the trip in a wheelchair For we got to see what was really there.
It was not the first time that I had been to Prague, and I hope it will not be the last. The city is a great place to visit, and both of the times I have made it out here, they have been very enjoyable. There was a big difference between the first and second trip though. On the first trip, we were able to get around town rather easily because we were younger and in better shape. This time, one of us had just had surgery and we were forced to make adjustments to go around town.
One of our four legs was in a boot, and we had to either use crutches or a wheelchair to get around. In a city that was made long before handicap accessible was a thing, and streets are still made of cobblestone, we knew that it was going to be a challenge, but should that have been a deterrent from going out and enjoying the city anyways?
There is a lot that can be seen in Prague, and it does not always involve going to museums and cathedrals. A joy can be experienced just by wandering around the streets and seeing what there is to see. We had decided that this would be our goal this time around, and we borrowed a wheelchair to make this an easier endeavor.
It did help to move from one place to another, but the cobblestones were not always easy to navigate, and if the crowds that Prague experiences during the summer were around, it would have added another level of difficulty. Despite this fact, it did change the way I would have looked at this city. Instead of running around to see all of the important sights, I had to pick and choose what I would do, and make sure that they were accessible for the situation that we had found ourselves in.
Because I slowed down, I started to notice little things about the city that I might not have noticed before. The buildings were no longer just about the architecture, but was now also about the art that I could find on those buildings. I could pay attention to the people and the way they moved through their natural day instead of being shuffled around with the crowd of other tourists who managed to come to this place at the same time. In a way, I got to experience more of the real Prague better than if we did not have this small little problem to deal with.
The places that I did go to visit had a different quality to them than the regular sights that pack in the people. One of my favorites was a quiet English bookstore near the center of town called The Globe. It was a little harder to get to because I had to push the wheelchair down skinny lanes of cobblestones, but when we got there, its quiet atmosphere, great adjoining cafe, and collection of books was inviting. I especially loved the collection of English translated books by important Czech writers, something that is hard to find in my travels. I loved the fact that I was able to be introduced to a new writer that I might have never heard about.
If reading is not your thing, there was also the option of many of the beer halls that can be found throughout Prague, the oldest being U Fleku. They all brew their own beer, and in the traditional ones, you are offered two options, light or dark. The beer was also relatively cheap, compared to many other places in the world, and to enjoy it in an atmosphere that recalls up medieval times just adds to the experience. Some of the places will even allow for you to arrange a tour of the facilities to demonstrate to you how they have been brewing beer over countless centuries.
Despite all of the delicious beer that has been enjoyed by countless people over many generations, Prague has also joined the craft beer revolution. There are a few brew pubs where you can whet your whistle with an IPA, stout, or hefeweizen. They are not as plentiful as the traditional beer halls, but with a little effort, we were able to find a couple of them. Most of the time, this took us out of the older parts of the city, but it was nice to see what Prague looked like to the common citizen who lived there, plus, we got to enjoy a couple of good beers in the process.
Prague is a European city that is filled with many different hidden gems. It is part of the reason that it is included on many people’s wishlist when they make their way out to this continent. Even if you don’t have enough time to seek these special places out, there are so many other places to go that the crowds usually go to.
It is a great city, and I am glad that we did not let a little thing like a bum leg stop us from enjoying it. The trip helped me realize that I need to take advantage of any opportunity that might come my way. I might not have had the typical experience that most people had when visiting Prague, but I still had a great time. I’ll just have to come back again when I won’t have to push a wheelchair around.
Until next time, get out there and experience the world any time you can.
Now that we have gotten the crowds gathered, We can start the fires within our hearts For a proud people that has been battered. This is the way a revolution starts, Not with terror, guns or an explosion, But with a single match and a gesture That demonstrates to them our frustration Over our culture held in indenture. I do not believe it to be too rash That what I will leave as inspiration Will be my bones and a pile of ash, And the knowledge that I freed a nation. You can bring your armies, and your big tanks, We won’t ever be a part of your ranks.
The city of Prague is one of the top destinations in Europe. It boasts a lot of history, great food, amazing beer, and some of the most interesting sights that can be found in any big city. People flock to this city to check out the Prague Castle, stroll across the Charles Bridge, and set their watches to the Astronomical Clock, but one that is often overlooked is the amazing viewpoint that can be found on top of the Petrin Tower on the top of Petrin Hill.
Petrin Hill stands looking over the old town square on the other side of the Vltava River. It is a little bit of a hike to make it to the top of the hill, but still you can make it to the top in a matter of twenty minutes going at a reasonable pace. For those who do not like to do hikes uphill, there is a funicular that will also take you to the top. It is not too expensive, and it runs every fifteen minutes. Space is limited, so I would recommend getting there earlier in the day when there is less of a crowd.
Once up top, there are many things to see that do not include the Petrin Tower. There is a medieval wall that adds to the atmosphere on top of the hill. A couple of restaurants offer food, and coffees, as well as a beautiful garden that you can stroll through. I was out here in the middle of winter, so the garden was in its dormant state, but I could still tell that it would be a spectacular place to wander through when it is in full bloom.
It is a little cooler on top of Petrin Hill because there is nothing to stop the wind that is blowing. I would recommend dressing in layers if you plan to come up during the winter months, and it would be the perfect place to escape the heat of summer though I do suspect it will be more crowded during those months than what I found when I was up there.
Hiking to the top of the tower is not too stressful either. It was designed rather well with an up stairs case and another one for those descending, so you are never stuck in a place where you have to wait while others pass going the opposite direction. There is even an elevator that will take you to the top, but it does cost a little more to be able to get up that way. The views from up top offer the perfect perch to see all of Prague. It is fun pointing all of the places that you have been and would like to go, and it has one of the best viewpoints of any European city I have been to. It is a little expensive, and during the summer months, I would suspect that it would be pretty crowded. Still, it is a nice little getaway for someone looking to do something a little different on a trip out to Prague.
John Collings 