Prague: Our First Independent Trip

    

 I've been traveling non-stop. I have been to a new city almost every weekend. However, it's not every day one gets to go to Europe, so I and three good friends decided to cram another trip in; Prague. I've officially been to three European countries now (not including Ireland), which is insane considering that just this summer I could have only dreamed about stepping foot in Europe.

   As we were traveling, I found the Czech countryside very beautiful. The forests felt very old and warm. They were nostalgic and I couldn't stop thinking of the Narnia movie. The countryside was also much less populated. In Austria, it never really feels like you leave town, but there were many empty meadows and deep forests in the Czech that didn't seem well-traveled or utilized. The towns we did pass through were old and sort of run-down (In a quaint way). However, the closer we got to Prague the more apparent it was that the Czech had seen communism and survived it. As I travel Europe, I am constantly reminded that it is not only comprised of the fairytale forests and romantic cities we see in the media but also a turbulent history. I don't think this takes away from its beauty, as it brings a sense of humanity into a place that can seem like a fantasy land if you have only been exposed to it through popular media. It helps us see the resilience of others and empathize with them as many of us have shared experiences. If we don't have shared experiences, they inspire us. For example, I recently read a book based in Romania during the end of the Iron Curtain. It's embarrassing to admit it, but I had never known that these countries had experienced such harsh conditions after World War II, and to learn that they only came out from under the Iron Curtain in the late 80's was shocking. Yet, that book made me fall in love with Romania more than any idealized social media post could have because I was able to see the beauty in the people's spirit, strength, and community, not just their pretty buildings and good restaurants. (the book is called "I Must Betray You," by Ruta Septeys, she writes historical fiction which touches on important topics and periods. I highly recommend her work) 

   I mention this only because I want to make sure I am portraying an accurate depiction of what I see and experience here. Mainly because, even with books like the one I mentioned above, I came into this whole venture with a lot of uninformed ideas and views. I think this is mostly because of social media, movies, and even most books which only portrayed an idealistic image of Europe. Thankfully, this naivety hasn't harmed me yet, but I have already been put in some extremely uncomfortable situations (more on that later). 

   Regardless of the cement apartment blocks, and rundown buildings left behind by Communism, the Old Town of Prague inspired a much older much more vibrant history, as it kept many of its medieval characteristics. This was a change from Vienna which tended to have more Classical and Baroque characteristics. 

   We visited a 1600's underground alchemy lab. I researched it and there was definitely a presence of illegal alchemy in Prague, but I'm pretty sure the lab was a hoax since the bottle they claimed to be original had a seal on it that said "Prague" in the modern English spelling. Suspicious. Regardless, the history was interesting to learn about. it is always curious how interconnected the ideas of magic and science used to be, and the unfortunate outcomes that had, whether it was scientists being shunned and killed for practicing "magic" or people inciting demonic powers to help them with their "sciences". The saddest part is that this indistinguishability could have been prevented but was, in fact, perpetuated by the church, of all institutes. The shunning of science undoubtedly led to much of the stagnation we find in the Middle Ages; but I suppose it gave the church much more power when the only way to receive healing, education, or help was to consult their treasury. 

The "original" bottle. 

One of the underground chambers that was allegedly turned into a lab.

I didn't think it was right to smile in such a dark, "spooky" place.

   One thing that made the whole trip a learning curve was the Sabbath. Unfortunately, it is very hard to find Adventist youth who don't do some sort of "buying and selling" on the Sabbath and this was my first true experience being put in a situation where I had to exclude myself from the activities that everyone else was participating in. I'm not writing this to be self-righteous, I simply want to highlight it because I discovered how hard it is to truly stand for what one believes when faced with the pressure of one's peers. Don't get me wrong, everyone was very understanding and no one directly pressured me to do anything I didn't want to. But, that doesn't mean there wasn't pressure. I felt guilty the whole day; as if my choice was making everyone else uncomfortable and stopping them from truly enjoying themselves because they knew I was waiting outside the store for them, or hadn't eaten lunch, etc., I had to figure out where I stood. Was it acceptable to use public transport on the Sabbath? To visit a museum? I wasn't completely sure. And you know what, to be completely transparent; I made some mistakes. But I also learned where my lines were. What I was okay with, and what I wasn't okay with. After talking with my parents, I think that these kinds of experiences are very important in my personal growth. This is where I make my faith and my values my own; where I learn, on a personal level, what God wants for me, not just what I've been told He does. 

   The other really cool thing about our trip was that the Monday before I was assigned a project (yes, I actually do school here. 😜) I was supposed to pick an Austrian figure and make a presentation on them. I chose the author, Franz Kafka, because I had read his story, "The Metamorphosis", (Personally, the story itself wasn't my cup of tea, but that doesn't negate his talent as a writer) so I thought he would be interesting. The thing is, Kafka was technically considered Austrian because he was German-speaking and the Czech was under the Austrian empire at the time; but he was actually a Jew from Prague. So, as we toured the city, I was able to experience his culture and city firsthand. I have researched and read about many European figures, but never in my wildest dreams, did I think I would ever visit one's home amid my research. It was an extremely rich experience. 

Here I am at a monument dedicated to Franz Kafka.
he would have hated that this exists, but that's a whole essay. :) 

   I also had the opportunity to visit the church where Jan Huss started his reformation. It's inspiring and sobering to be confronted with the raw history of the Protestant church and the courage of those who have come before us. I have been very blessed to experience these stories of our heritage coming to life in a new way. (But more on that later). 

   Here are some photos from the trip;

I'm obsessed with the spiky towers. It seriously looks like
Maleficent's castle from Sleeping Beauty.

We went to the "Museum of Miniatures". This artist
had crafted a caravan of camels out of bronze and put them inside
the eye of a needle. 

 I was vibing to the Accordion player.

This cathedral was in the middle of a giant 
palace complex that had been standing for hundreds of years.
I loved this place! It had my imagination going wild.
I sat and sketched here for a couple hours while everyone else got food.
It was lovely. 

I ate one of these grapes and my mouth started hurting.
Quickly discovered they were not grapes but actually a mildly poisonous berry.
Thankfully, the only lasting effects were some discomfort in my throat,
saliva build-up, and the revocation of my "responsible friend" status.