Prague – The Journey Starts with Cobblestones, Castles, and a Pretzel I'll Never Forget

Prague was supposed to be a three-day stop. It turned into six.

Over looking Charles Bridge and Prague Castle

It was my first time in the city — and honestly, the perfect place to start this trip. Between the medieval architecture, the walkable neighborhoods, and a surprisingly efficient public transit system, it was almost too easy to fall into a rhythm. I walked over 10 miles a day, ate like I had something to prove, and got more out of the week than I expected.

Day One: Jet Lag and Fried Chicken

After a chaotic travel day involving a delayed flight, a missed seat upgrade, and a mad dash through Amsterdam, I landed in Prague running on fumes. I didn’t do much — just wandered a bit, tried to stay awake, and found what appeared to be a bootleg Popeyes called Luisana Chicken.

No notes. It was incredible. Better than the real thing.

Day Two: Castles, Crossbows, and a Sausage That Tried to Kill Me

I kicked things off with a walking tour of Prague Castle through 100 Spires City Tours. After the tour, I stayed for hours to explore on my own.

The highlight? St. Vitus Cathedral. I stepped inside and just froze. The silence, the light, the raw stone — it took my breath away. I actually said “holy shit” out loud, and a few people turned around. No regrets.

St. Vitus Cathedral – nothing prepared me for this.

Later, I wandered down to Golden Lane, where I shot a crossbow at a paper knight target. Because apparently, that's something you can just do in Prague.

On the way back to the hostel, I grabbed a spicy cheese sausage from a street vendor. It looked innocent. It was not. Molten cheese, hidden heat — the kind of snack that burns your mouth, your soul, and still makes you go back for a second bite.

This sausage nearly ended me. I would absolutely eat it again.

Day Three: Heavy History, New Friends, and a Michelin Pretzel

After switching to a new hostel — The Checked Inn (less cozy, but way more social) — I connected with a few travelers who quickly became my Prague crew.

We joined another 100 Spires tour, this time focused on World War II and the fall of communism. It was sobering and intense, covering resistance movements, Nazi occupation, and life under Soviet rule. You don’t walk away from it unchanged.

After the tour, we stumbled into what we thought was a pub — and slowly realized we were in a Michelin-starred restaurant. Casual, cheap, completely unassuming. I ordered a pretzel, mostly out of curiosity, and it ended up being one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. Warm, golden, just the right amount of salt. A surprise hit.

Michelin-star pretzel. I wasn't emotionally prepared.

We spent the rest of the day wandering the city together, sharing stories and comparing notes from our different tours like a bunch of history-obsessed backpackers.

Into the Czech Countryside: A Game Becomes Real

With a few extra days to spare, I took a bus out into the countryside to visit real-world locations featured in Kingdom Come: Deliverance. Somewhere along the ride — watching thick forests roll by and seeing shrines along the roadside — it hit me: this landscape felt familiar. Not because I’d been here before, but because I’d explored a digital version of it. The game led me here, but the real thing hit harder.

Talmberk Castle (aka Talmburg) was little more than some forgotten ruins in someone’s backyard. Cool in theory, underwhelming in person. But still — standing there, it felt weirdly significant.

Then there was Sázava Monastery — or rather, Sasau. It was peaceful, beautiful, and felt like it had held onto time itself. Walking through its courtyards and quiet halls grounded me in a way I didn’t expect. The game recreated it well, but being there in person was something else entirely.

Sasau Monastery – the digital version didn't prepare me for the real thing.

Prague surprised me. I thought it would be a good starting point. It turned out to be something more — a city that gave me space to reset, explore, and reconnect with parts of myself I hadn’t seen in a while.

Next stop: Vienna.

More soon.