Cesky Krumlov » 18-20 March (2 nights)
Cesky Krumlov was that town I discovered by my massive read of travel blogs, and after seeing the photos, I couldn't say no to it, and after two trains and one bus from Vienna, I arrived in one of the most charming secret small towns in Europe.
Weirdly small at first sight, this town will offer you a glimpse of paradise, from the colors, to the friendly people, to that hostel that will feel like you're actually staying in a local's home.
After a month and half of travelling across big cities and most of it very touristic places, always crowded with people from all over the world, this place was my little piece of sunshine. I felt in peace, I was able to rest and still see and enjoy this small town, and I felt like I had ran away to the countryside, to the middle of nowhere, and even travelling alone I thought it was perfect.
It was all about getting my travel mojo back, about trying miserably to cook my own food, by having breakfast in the garden with the morning smell of the mountains (and having it attacked by a hungry bee). It was about enjoying the little things in life and that tend to be forgotten while I travel, instead of having to wake up early and think how many touristic stuff can I see in one day until my feet can't take it anymore.
And, in the end, it might also have included me getting desperate to get on a bus to Prague, after missing a couple before, and volunteering to travel in the luggage compartment of the bus if there were no seats available.
Weirdly small at first sight, this town will offer you a glimpse of paradise, from the colors, to the friendly people, to that hostel that will feel like you're actually staying in a local's home.
After a month and half of travelling across big cities and most of it very touristic places, always crowded with people from all over the world, this place was my little piece of sunshine. I felt in peace, I was able to rest and still see and enjoy this small town, and I felt like I had ran away to the countryside, to the middle of nowhere, and even travelling alone I thought it was perfect.
It was all about getting my travel mojo back, about trying miserably to cook my own food, by having breakfast in the garden with the morning smell of the mountains (and having it attacked by a hungry bee). It was about enjoying the little things in life and that tend to be forgotten while I travel, instead of having to wake up early and think how many touristic stuff can I see in one day until my feet can't take it anymore.
And, in the end, it might also have included me getting desperate to get on a bus to Prague, after missing a couple before, and volunteering to travel in the luggage compartment of the bus if there were no seats available.
PRAGUE » 20-26 March (6 nights)
I feel like me and Prague became bestfriends from day one. It could've been one of those easy summer kind loves, but this city chose to give me the tough kind of love. Prague wanted to test how much could I endure and still be madly passionate about it, and she did it by giving me some bedbugs as a souvenier.
My hostel sucked, that's the biggest truth I can tell here. People keep telling me "for 4€ a night, what did you expect?" and my answer is always the same "I expected not to get bedbugs, thank you very much." You see, I've paid four euros in other places, like in Budapest, where I paid 21€ for four nights in the city center and with great breakfast included, and guess what? No bedbugs!
Still, Prague is on the top of my list of favorite cities in Europe. From the adorable baby lambs in the Old Town Square, to the crazy amazing street food that I made sure I tried all the time, to its beautiful streets, squares, river and the Charles Bridge that even crowded with tourists was still amazing to cross and watch the artists all over it. Oh, and I almost forgot about one tiny, tiny thing that is pretty great in Prague, and those who've been there will agree: the beer! Czech beer is cheap and tasty and well, it rocks!
My hostel sucked, that's the biggest truth I can tell here. People keep telling me "for 4€ a night, what did you expect?" and my answer is always the same "I expected not to get bedbugs, thank you very much." You see, I've paid four euros in other places, like in Budapest, where I paid 21€ for four nights in the city center and with great breakfast included, and guess what? No bedbugs!
Still, Prague is on the top of my list of favorite cities in Europe. From the adorable baby lambs in the Old Town Square, to the crazy amazing street food that I made sure I tried all the time, to its beautiful streets, squares, river and the Charles Bridge that even crowded with tourists was still amazing to cross and watch the artists all over it. Oh, and I almost forgot about one tiny, tiny thing that is pretty great in Prague, and those who've been there will agree: the beer! Czech beer is cheap and tasty and well, it rocks!
BRNO » 26-28 March (2 nights)
I really wish I could say amazing things about Brno, I really do. I wish I had saved great memories like I did from Cesky Krumlov and Prague, but it just didn't happen. It took me seconds to judge this city as soon as I dropped out of the bus, and the more I walked and the more I noticed my surroundings, the more I was disappointed for choosing Brno to end my time in Czech Republic. It just wasn't a fit for me and my time here kind of sucked to be honest.
I saw myself in a city where, unlike other places I'd been, nobody spoke a word of English, where I saw so many homeless and gypsies asking me cigarretes or money every five minutes, where I just couldn't find the beauty in such a grey city.
Thankfully I only had two nights here, and on my second day I got to explore Brno the best I could, still with no love in sight and honestly just feeling bored most of the time. I know I can't love every place that I visit, but I had high hopes for this city! And what got me sad about not loving it was the fact that I did love Czech Republic, the people, the cities and small towns, the life, everything, but Brno killed my buzz about it. Honestly, I could've gone for so many other cities in here, why Brno? I'll never be able to answer that, but well, one must live with the choices made, and I'm living with this one.
I saw myself in a city where, unlike other places I'd been, nobody spoke a word of English, where I saw so many homeless and gypsies asking me cigarretes or money every five minutes, where I just couldn't find the beauty in such a grey city.
Thankfully I only had two nights here, and on my second day I got to explore Brno the best I could, still with no love in sight and honestly just feeling bored most of the time. I know I can't love every place that I visit, but I had high hopes for this city! And what got me sad about not loving it was the fact that I did love Czech Republic, the people, the cities and small towns, the life, everything, but Brno killed my buzz about it. Honestly, I could've gone for so many other cities in here, why Brno? I'll never be able to answer that, but well, one must live with the choices made, and I'm living with this one.