Photos taken/written by Jennifer Mahon
EUROPE ROAD TRIP — DAY 7 (OF 19)
We leave Munich and head northwest about 380 km (driving takes about 4 hours) to Prague. My last bit of driving in Germany, good-bye Autobahn! Was just getting used to road signage in German and wham…….it all changes and I have no clue what anything says. So long as I see “Praha” on the highway signs, I know I’m going in the right direction.
Our home for the next two nights: EA Sonata Hotel. Location? Perfect! It’s just a 10-minute walk to Wenceslas Square, 20 minutes to Old Town, but the parking situation? HA!
We reserved a spot ahead of time thinking it would save us stress. Spoiler alert: It didn’t.
We pull up in front of the hotel in the New Town area, my hubs goes and checks us in while I wait in the car…wondering – where is the parking for this place? He comes out and says, “Ok, the guy is gonna come open the door for us to park?” Me, “What door? The only door I see is the arched walkway with a double door.” Of course, the doors swing open and I’m expected to drive through this walkway. Honestly, there was about a quarter-inch clearance on the sides of the tiny Fiat, when I finally made it through (with maybe a slight scrape of the side mirrors), it was even more of a bitch getting into the parking spot in the back.
But wait, there’s more! The parking lot itself? Even tinier. After a million-point turn, we parked. It was a whole event, folks.
And, of course, the hotel’s surprises didn’t stop there. There were pitch-black hallways (with random motion sensors you had to find like you were in a horror movie), showers that make personal lakes because there’s no curtain, and—bonus—exactly one English TV channel. It only played retro music videos, but hey, at least the 80s were a blast, right?
PRAGUE: More Than I Expected (In a Good Way)
Now, onto Prague itself! I am honestly, totally and completely, head-over-heels, in love with this city. It’s not what I expected – I guess I thought it would be grungy and dirty, but OMG.
Prague's Old World charm? Off the charts. The architecture? Straight-up opulent. The people? Cultured and friendly. Prague really has everything you want in a city: stunning sights, great food, and enough quirk to keep you entertained.
YOU'VE GOTTA SEE...
WENCESLAS SQUARE (VÁCLAVSKÉ NÁMĚSTÍ)
After the parking debacle we head past all the erotic shops (yes, there are tons of them in this city!) and do the10-minute walk to Wenceslas Square. The biggest square (more like an avenue really) in Prague, it’s the business and cultural centre of the city. At the top of the square is the monumental Neo-Renaissance building housing the National Museum. The square started out as a horse market, it’s now one of Prague’s most vibrant and modern areas – there are plenty of chain stores, restaurants, clubs and hotels, and at night, for those that are interested (no judgement here!) there’s plenty of streetwalkers concentrated in this area.
Photos: Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí)
IN UTERO BY DAVID ČERNÝ
I didn’t get close enough to read the name of this thing, but a quick Google search for “Big-A$$ Silver Pregnant Lady Sculpture in Prague” gave me the answer: In Utero by David Černý. This shiny, 6-metre-tall masterpiece stands proudly at a quiet intersection (Dlouhá & Masná), just a short stroll from Old Town. It’s one of those sculptures that you can’t help but stare at—it's weirdly mesmerizing, a little shocking, and makes you laugh all at once. Perfect mix of art and ‘What the heck am I looking at?’
Photos: In Utero by David Černý
HAVELSKÉ TRŽIŠTĚ (HAVEL'S MARKET)
I walked in expecting a bustling food market, but nope—this place is all about souvenirs. If you’re hunting for Prague trinkets, this is your jackpot. Sure, some of the stuff is a little on the tacky side, but hey, it’s cheap! You’ll definitely save a few bucks compared to the tourist traps elsewhere. There are a couple of fresh fruit stands thrown in for good measure, and the best part? It’s just a 2-minute walk from Old Town Square. Easy peasy.
Photos: Havelské tržiště (Havel’s Market)
PAINT A BRICK
We stumbled upon this super cool, Jenga-like wall (you can find it at Na příkopě 10) called the Beneficial Brick Initiative. For around 150 Koruna, you can unleash your inner artist, paint a brick, and add it to the growing pile. The best part? The donations go toward building a new facility for Portus Praha, an organization that supports people with mental disabilities. The wall is a colorful mix of everything—from cartoon characters to national flags. It’s like leaving a tiny piece of yourself in Prague!
Photos: Beneficial Brick Initiative
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