72 hours in Prague | #traveldiary

Day one:

It's funny because even though all of this freedom makes me feel so alive, the stress that I'm putting myself under during this trip may well be knocking years off my life expectancy. I'm loving it (obviously) but there isn't a minute when I'm not worrying about some distant situation or potential problem along the way. Catching my train - the first of 5 with my Interrail pass - was stressful. I got to the station an hour and a half early (y'know, just to be on the safe side) and sat waiting and worrying about missing the train. As the train pulled up, scrambling to find my carriage and seat was the final push until I could sit down and 'relax' for 4 hours. This is definitely the most relaxed I've been since I set off for Manchester Airport three days ago. 

The train journey was just as beautiful as I expected it would be. I spent the first half of the journey zooming through golden fields and wind farms and the second half following the tracks along a riverside overlooked by a huge cliff face and the prettiest little Bavarian-styled houses that for a brief hour I totally envisioned myself moving into to live a simple country life. The carriages were very Hogwarts-esque which I enjoyed. Finding my way to the correct tram stop once I arrived at Prague train station was also surprisingly painless, although I had to make a quick mad dash to the opposite side of the road as my tram pulled up because I realised I had been standing on the wrong side! The language is pretty bewildering so I expect I'll have a few hiccups with communicating here.

I quickly discovered that Prague is everything I love and look for in a city. I spent my first night wondering through streets, getting my bearings and admiring the view of Charles Bridge as dusk began to set in and everything looked golden. The view from just around the corner of my hostel in Praha 1, the castle district, is incredible. I ended my night looking down on the fairy-tale landscape of the city and the pink skies above it. I can't wait to dive straight into the pretty backstreets and winding roads tomorrow!

Day two:

Today was my first rainy day abroad and I was caught in some showers and big gusts of wind a few times (should NOT have worn a dress) but the streets were still just as pretty and I had lots of exploring to do so I didn't let that stop me. I headed straight to the Old Town to explore the area and my god, did I mention Prague is just so pretty yet?!? I was tempted by the tourist-trap snack stalls and bought two food items that I don't know the official Czech names of but can only describe as: a spiralised fried potato on a long stick and a cone made of pastry, rolled in sugar and smothered in jam. Fancy.

I didn't feel much like walking anymore. I had a late two-course lunch which cost the equivalent of about £7, drink included - my frugal little heart was very happy and headed back to the hostel for a couple of hours. Honestly I've valued the time I get to just sit still and scroll through my phone SO much these days. It's easy to feel a bit guilty when I've come all this way and there's amazing experiences to be had but when travelling alone, sometimes the only way to wind down is to be alone with my phone.

I nipped into an art shop on my way back and got talking with the owner who was SUCH a lovely lady! As we parted, she Google translated the word 'courage' to me, as her English wasn't fantastic and told me that's what I had for doing what I'm doing which made me almost burst with happiness at how kind she was. When people have told me I'm brave for being out here alone for such a long amount of time, I obviously appreciate the compliment but I get such a nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach because I know deep down I'm really only faking it in the hopes that I will eventually embody the bravery that I'm striving for!

Day three:

My last day in Prague started a bit later than I had planned as the temptation to go back to sleep won over, so I left my hostel at 11:30am and headed up the hill to Petrin tower. My days have been very busy so I'm trying not to feel too guilty about it!

Prague is a small city but it's very hilly and steep, especially in the district where I've been staying so even though I've been walking half the distance I did in Berlin, my legs have ached a lot more. The views from Petrin tower were great but it's seriously not for the feint-hearted! It was seriously rickety... like I thought I was going to be swept over the edge and I didn't let go of the railing much. I've really loved my time in Prague and I'm sure I will come back here. It's pretty touristy but still has its authentic charm and picturesque views. Nothing has really been tarnished by gimmicks. Even the McDonalds and Starbucks are quite inconspicuous. I'd love to see this city at Christmas. I feel like I'm in a fairy-tale land, like the town where Belle lives or something! 

I tried and failed to find the famous John Lennon wall, which is essentially a street-art style memorial which looked super Instagrammy from the pictures I had already seen, never mind! Then took a spontaneous trip up the Astronomical Clock Tower in the main square which again, gave me fantastic views of such an incredible city. I've learnt more about Prague's occupation under Nazi rule and the effects of it were pretty devastating to the architecture here. It's so easy to forget that so much of every city in Europe had to be massively rebuilt.