Travel with Mia!

As the weather (finally) gets warmer here in Athens, I can’t help but reminisce on what was a very unique Thanksgiving this year. Since I work at a Hellenic American school, we got a long weekend to observe Thanksgiving this holiday season. I “observed” Thanksgiving in a taxi straight from work to the airport, then on a late night flight to Prague. Ironically, there actually was a restaurant in Prague serving an “American style” Thanksgiving meal that evening, but I arrived too late to make a stop. Instead, it was takeaway chicken strips and fries from a restaurant called Chickin (surprisingly good, no food poisoning), then straight to bed.

During the holiday season, Prague was magical. The weekend I visited was the first weekend of their Christmas markets, and the city was full of festive energy.

Part 1: The Sights

Our main goal in traveling to Prague was to experience the Christmas markets, but we made time to see the main sights as well. My favorite site was the Prague Castle. This castle rests on a hill overlooking the city, and it had the most incredible views. It was huge and can be seen from almost any viewpoint in the city. In the area surrounding the castle, there was a neighborhood with good restaurants, cute shops, and a Christmas market!

When venturing out to the Prague Castle, we crossed the Charles Bridge, admiring the statues that rose like pillars from both edges of the bridge. We climbed up the Astronomical Clock before joining the crowds to watch it change time in the evening. Fun fact: this is the only astronomical clock in the world that still tells time.

What’s more, Prague has their own miniature version of the Eiffel Tower, called the Petrin Tower. It is located near the Prague castle and has wonderful views of the city, especially at sunset. The tower was surrounded by depictions of the stations of the cross, painted onto marble. It stands in the middle of a huge park, complete with a squash stadium, cafes and restaurants, and the Strahov Monastery. I enjoyed spending a chilly Sunday evening exploring this area, from the top floor of the tower to the many other treasures of the park.

Part 2: The Food

Christmas festivities aside, I feel that the food also makes Prague a cozy winter destination. If I could describe each meal I had with one word, it would be “hug.” Despite the cold weather, Prague is a place where you can always find a steaming bowl of soup, hearty potatoes, and best of all, bratwursts.

Though I, once again, didn’t take many photos of the food, I can report that I had the most delicious pumpkin soup from a cafe near our place. This was my first “real” meal in Prague (besides Chickin) and it made a wonderful impression. This was followed by potato and garlic soup in a bread bowl, chicken schnitzel and mashed potatoes, and possibly the most delicious apple pie and almond/vanilla croissant I’ve ever eaten. The apple pie deserves a special shout out, as it was filled with merengue cream and topped with a delicious, crunchy crumble.

However, the best foodie surprise of all was the Saturday market. When planning the trip, I read that the Saturday market was a must-stop when visiting Prague. After having visited, I completely agree! On the shore of the Vitava river, the Naplavka Farmer’s Market had everything: toast with homemade pesto and herb butter, sauerkraut, pastries, and tons of grilled bratwurst. Though I am not the biggest bratwurst fan, even I was impressed by how delicious they tasted (and smelled). To drink, I had an incredible gingerbread latte. ‘Tis the season!

Part 3: The Christmas Market!!

Part of the appeal of choosing to go to the Prague Christmas markets was that they were supposed to be less busy than those in Italy, Germany and France. I guess everyone was in on this secret… it was packed! Even with the crowds, I still loved it. We listened to Christmas carols, shopped around for ornaments, food, and cider, and admired the huge Christmas trees at each market.

Me with my new favorite Christmas treat: trdelnik!

This Thanksgiving in Prague was one for the books!! Between the castles, lights, and delicious food, I am so happy to have celebrated the start of the Christmas season here. Though it was busy, I would still consider Prague to be an underrated Christmas destination. This seems to be turning into my signature sign-off… but I would definitely go back 🙂