WOW! What a week. It's safe to say that i am a bit culture shocked. Despite going into this feeling like I couldn't have been more ready for life abroad, I have been a bit anxious. Throughout this semester, i will be sharing my experiences with those of you who are interested in travel and possibly going abroad yourselves one day. I will be reviewing a variety of cities around Europe and sharing my experiences in them with you. My reviews will take a holistic look at each city and its suitability for a semester abroad. I will be reporting on each city based on its transportation system, how accommodating it is to American students, nightlife, safety, affordability, aesthetic and scenic beauty, and cuisine. Each city will receive a grade which is scaled and relative to all other cities. By the end of my experience abroad, I hope to provide you with some insight as to why Prague may be the right choice for you.
I'll start this weeks review by taking a look at the city i will call home for the next 4 months, Prague:
Transportation: B
Compared to previous experiences in Europe, I have to say that Prague had quite an impressive mass transit system. The metro grid covered a vast majority of the city and within Prague's 7 central districts, I never found myself walking for no more than 5 minutes from a metro stop to my destination. During peak hours, underground trains and above-ground trams run in a maximum of 5 minute intervals. The system is extremely clean and orderly which may come as a surprise to some considering it operates on an honor system - nonuniformed officers conduct random checks once patrons pass a given area. But despite the cleanliness and efficiency of the mass transit system, the city of Prague, especially in its most central areas, is oriented like a maze, making cabs and auto-transport extremely inefficient. Prague also has a relative large amount of gypsy cabs which prey on tourists who are unaware of their fraudulent meters and corrupt practices (taking a longer route then necessary).
Accommodations: B
Generally speaking, the natives in Prague can be extremely cold; they will keep to themselves unless you extend an open arm to them and give them a reason to be warm to you. From my previous travels, Ihave noticed that most Europeans have similar tendencies and I certainly can't fault them for this; after all, my home city of New York can be an equally cold place. After a week of school, social gatherings, and late nights on the town, I can wholeheartedly say that Czech's abide by the golden rule.
The actual living quarters were very good. All students and most hostels in Prague are centrally located within the Old Town, approximately 5 minutes from Old Town Square and 10 minutes from the historic Charles Bridge. All locations were equipped with modern amenities and appliances -- ours even came with a 42 inch TV (not that it was much to get excited about, there were only 3 English channels).
Nightlife: A
Coming from Madison, the home of 400 dollar underage drinking tickets and 2am bar-time, Prague can only be considered 2nd tier to heaven. The bars and clubs are eccentric and there is a place for everyone regardless of scene or musical taste. From neighborhood dive bars to 5 story clubs featuring a floor dedicated to playing music from each of the last 5 decades, Prague can suit the late night social needs of almost any abroad student. In a day where students are constantly search for cover/entry and drink specials, Prague also allows students to oblige in a night of fun with no more than 15-20 US dollars.Safety: AB
All things considered, I couldn't have felt safer to this point. While males of my size aren't usually the ones who are targeted for crimes, girls generally feel comfortable in Prague as well. Most of the crimes which occur in Prague are petty, non-confrontational crimes -- in other words no one is ever going to try and rob you to your face. Americans and tourists alike should make a habit of carrying their wallets in the front, or inner jacket pockets as pickpocketers are some of the most skilled in the world. To make a long story short: a friend of mine had his wallet with 300 dollars taken from him in a matter of 30 seconds of paying a cover entrance fee and placing it back in his pocket.
Affordability: A
In this first week alone, with all meals and 7 straight nights out, I found myself spending less than 100 US dollars. 3 course dinners at a very good restaurants are usually no more than 15 dollars with drinks and tips included. Cabs rides of approximately 10 minutes are never more than 2 dollars/person when split with 2 people. Beers are generally cheaper than water for the same equivalent in fluid ounces. Books and transportation passes are also provided by the University abroad and almost every business in Prague gives considerable discounts to students on everything from gym memberships, to clothing and groceries.
Aesthetic and Scenic Beauty: AB
There aren't many cities in the world which are as historically preserved as Prague. Decimated by several wars, there are few cities in Europe which can tell the story of its past through architectural depth like Prague can. While the city's main tourist attraction, a Gothic cathedral known as St. Vitus often steals the show, there are many different masterpieces such as a slew of Renaissance buildings in Old Town Square and the Baroque, St. Nicholas cathedral which separate the city from its European counterparts.
Cuisine: B
After getting food poisoned from my first meal in Prague, it's hard to give this city anything higher than a B when it comes to cuisine. But after a few day's of fending off my homesickness with McDonald's, KFC, and Subway I took some recommendations from some of the abroad staff and explored some local delicacies such as Czech goulash, duck, potato soup, sausage, and schnitzel (to name a few) and found that beyond the nasty beef and stew catastrophe that subjected me to several hours in the bathroom, Prague has a lot of fantastic eats to offer.
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