So i am going to go on a bit of a rant here. Ever since I first mentioned I was going to Europe people have been telling me two things...go to prague....its so cheap. Well, I am on day two out of five and i got a bit of a bone to pick. First off all, when you come to prague...you give them your US currency and laugh when you exchange your 20 dollar bill and get back 400 korunas. Oh my...you think...prague must be soooooooooooo cheap. But the actual truth is...and as we have learned from some people we have talked to along to way...is that the Prague prices are set to the american currency. For example...coffee...usually about a dollar or a dollar fifty in the us. Well in Prague its about 22-25 korunas. Ah...it all equals out! It IS a bit cheaper...but about as cheap as Portland where I live anyways. Second of all, where is it at here? Yes...its beautiful...so amazing beautiful...I have never been to a city with such old buildings and statues etc etc. BUT wheres the fun. My biggest problem so far is how riducously this place is focused on tourism. It bums me out. Right next a beautiful cathedral will sure enough be a KFC or a mcDonalds...or some handing you brochures, asking you if you want to go on a boat ride. I stumbled into an extremely old building only to find that it was an indoor mall full of souvenirs items. Gross. Gross. Gross. Everyone pratically speaks fluent english and I have seen way too many restaurants called steak houses or american diner. Good job america...you have officially taken over almost the entire world. Maybe in 20 years when i go visit some obscure country like Laos..you can provide me with a Gap and Big Mac.
Fact
Prague is very different and very beautiful. The Kafka measuem is awesome and so is the castle on the hill. Last night, amy and I did find a pretty cool hipster bar where czechs and expats alike met on the dance floor and shook their ass to some okay indie...err...sorta indie music. Upon speaking to people however, it seemed to be the only place like it. Except for one other bar which has no name on the front and you have to ring a door bell...we were informed that Prague is lacking in cool bars like this one. The people of prague seem very cool and the communist museum and a few more activities are definitely in store. However, from everyone telling me how amazing it is and how cheap it is...I feel a bit cheated. It is beautiful...but its definitely been tainted with westernization that I do even want to think how this place is going to look in 20 years.
end result
enjoying myself...but...bohemian mecca my ass.
i think i just like cities where yes...there is tourism...but the whole city could care less. Here, it seems the only thing the whole city is concerned with. Perhaps its because its summer. i dunno...
two things
photos will be coming soon...i didnt get a european plug adapter so its going to be a bit longer till i figure this one out...
second...sorry for the lack of commas and colons in this blog...uh....czech keyboard a bit confusing.....
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1 comment:
Dude Prague DOES have a bunch of really sick touristy things around, but like everywhere else, you gotta sort through the good and the bad. Go to Cesky Krumlov. It's way less touristy. Or scoot over to Cluj. It's supposed to be like Prague was before the Western invasion.
Yes the touristy ness sucks ass. But there's still so much good it's totally worth it.
Grant
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