Jenna's Magical Adventures

Before going to the Czech Republic (or Czechia), I did a ton of research to make sure I was ready for my trip. I checked out the various customs to see how they differ from what I’m used to in the US, and I even tried to pick up some basic Czech phrases to help me get around. I read up on the country’s history, the little cultural quirks, and the local traditions. I thought I was pretty prepared, but was still pretty surprised when I got there. The whole experience was so incredible and eye-opening and I have a new love for the country and can’t wait to go back!

Adjusting to the Time Difference

I wouldn’t say I really felt too much jetlag on my way there. I was a bit nervous about it, so I tried to get myself ready by shifting my sleep schedule a week before before my flight. I didn’t sleep on my (March 10th) flight from NYC to Zurich, Switzerland like I thought I would, but I managed to stay awake until after dinner on March 11th in Prague, Czechia. Looking back, I think that drinking plenty of water and skipping heavy meals on travel days really helped me keep my energy up. While I didn’t suffer too much from jetlag there besides being a little more tired than usual, the time zone difference was pretty fascinating. It was interesting to think, “I’m having lunch now, but back home I wouldn’t even be awake yet.” I chatted and video called my mom almost every day so the time difference was pretty noticeable. I would be getting ready for bed before my mom even ate her dinner!

I did notice some jetlag when I got home, which I didn’t think I would. I had been told often that most people experience jetlag when traveling East, but not West. I had been to California before and didn’t experience any difference during that trip. However, this time was definitely different! I found myself extremely tired for about a week afterwards, struggling to stay awake during the day and waking up extremely early.

No Free Public Bathrooms

I knew this was a thing before my trip, but I also didn’t fully believe it. I thought that there must be some loophole or that there were at least one or two free public bathrooms available for tourists at least. I also thought maybe they would accept credit cards, but this was not my experience at all. I never saw any free bathrooms during my travels, and they all only accepted cash! We ended up buying coffee at multiple places just so we could go to the bathroom, as it ended up being not much more than the fee for access to a public bathroom. In the US, I am used to public bathrooms being everywhere, from fast-food restaurants to parks, and having easy access to these facilities is something I have definitely taken for granted. I will say, the bathrooms I encountered in Europe, though, were all very nice and clean. I also loved how private each stall felt. Some even had seat cleaners in the stall!

Public Transit Being So Easy

I spent months looking into walking and driving routes and also checking fare pricing on Uber or Bolt. In the end, we used Bolt, public transportation, and walking for everything, which turned out to be both cost-effective and convenient. Using the trams and metro was so easy! I pre-downloaded the app (PID Lítačka) before my trip, and it was amazing to see how user-friendly it was! I just typed in the directions, and it told me exactly how to get there, step by step. I could even order my tickets through the app, eliminating the need for cash or tickets from machines, making the entire experience seamless. The fine is high if you try to not pay or do not validate your physical ticket, but I still feel like this system wouldn’t work by me. They recently installed spiky turnstiles in New York to discourage fare evasion, and despite this, people still try to avoid it by jumping over the turnstile. The trams and metro were so clean and the seats were comfortable, making the journey enjoyable and relaxing.

Less Water Availablity

I knew this would be an issue and brought a water bottle everywhere I went, but still was thirsty at times. Just like public bathrooms, I expected water fountains in parks or even at some stores. In the US, we always have water pretty easily available. Tap water is free at restaurants here, and it is fairly easy to find a water fountain or a water bottle fill station. It was weird to me to not have any beverage included with a meal. You really do see beer alongside a meal more often than water, and that was shocking to me. In some cases, it was cheaper to buy beer than it was water!

More Vegetarian Options

Whenever I told someone I was going to Central Europe, they almost always mentioned the lack of vegetarian food options. However, I felt pretty lucky because I didn’t have this problem. I planned ahead and did quite a bit of research, finding a surprising number of vegetarian restaurants and options at even traditional places! While it’s true that not every restaurant has these options, especially if you are vegan, I discovered that pretty much every restaurant had at least something I could eat. Most of the time it was fried cheese called Smažený sýr. It is usually served with tartar sauce and fries or potatoes and I really enjoyed it. It was exciting to experience the local cuisine! There are still so many great places that I wish I had time to try out!

Freshness of the Food

Throughout the years, I have heard so much about the food difference between Europe and the US. I was mostly told how much better the bread is there. I don’t think I fully grasped how different it would be. Their produce was so fresh and amazing, I still think about it! It tastes farm fresh and like the vegetables I used to grow with my dad when I was younger. I ate cucumbers with my breakfast every day I loved them so much! The fruit and veggies sold at the outdoor market called Havelské tržiště almost looked fake they were so perfect.

Walkability

Before my trip, I kept seeing how Prague involves a lot of walking. For the vacation part of our trip, we stayed a few days early in Old Town, before moving closer to the event we were attending. We walked at least 20,000 steps per day while there, but we were able to walk everywhere because of where our hotel was. All of the main places I had wanted to visit were usually less than a 15 minute walk away.

Exploring the city on foot allowed us to discover so much that we might have missed otherwise. I watched a lot of YouTube videos about Prague to prepare. The Honest Guide has amazing videos that really helped to plan everything. One of the things they mentioned in a few videos was to just wander and get lost. Prague was incredible and I can’t wait to visit again, but we really did see so much by just wandering! Some of it was not intentional, my phone’s map was not great while there, which I think may be due to the buildings. I truly loved this method of exploring and plan to use it on other adventures.

Relaxed Approach

Growing up, I always heard about how the US is more fast paced and that Europe in general is laid back. We were never rushed at any meal, which was unique for me. While some restaurants are like this by me, it is definitely not every single restaurant. While there, we even had to ask for the check a few times because they didn’t just automatically bring it when they thought we were done. While we have coffee shops here, it was interesting to see so many people go to cafes to relax and enjoy time with friends and family. In my experience, I see a lot of people doing work while at coffee shops in US and less people hanging out with friends.

High Expectations

Right before my trip, I was nervous that I would be disappointed. Going to Europe had been a dream of mine for so long and I realized how much I had built it up in my head. I didn’t think it could live up to the idyllic vision I had of Europe for most of my life. As soon as I landed in Zurich, Switzerland, I knew that would not be the case and Prague and Vienna confirmed it even more. The architecture, cobblestones, and culture were all so incredible. I know I will be back there someday!

Have ever been to Prague? I would love to hear all about it!