Czeched Out In Czechia

2019

I sat in a tower for hours, like a princess waiting for a job offer, just to witness the sunset over the iconic Charles Bridge with the Prague Castle in the background. Was it cramped? Yes. Was it toasty? Yes. But was it also rather therapeutic to just sit and listen to music as I watched the world go by? Truly. Having moved around a few countries already in my post-grad European tour, I figured it was time to slow down a little. Usually I’m the type of traveler that enjoys moving quickly in order to see everything, but there was a lot on my mind during my time here. So, for once I thought maybe I could learn to pace myself, be content, and take it all in.

If you’ve been following along with my journeys thus far then you’ve probably noticed my appreciation for sunsets. However, this experience was different than the rest for it was much simpler. I walked up a narrow stairwell inside the Old Town Bridge Tower until I reached a floor with a ticket booth where I paid for a ticket to access the top of the tower. The rooftop featured a tall pointed prism which took up most of the space, and so there was little standing room and passing other people meant leaning on the metal rooftop. The metal was also rather hot from having been under the sun for hours which made things more difficult. This was the environment I chose to setup my tripod and camera and just wait for time to pass.

I feel like although I tried my best, I failed to make the most of my time in Prague. The capital of the Czech Republic is wonderful with its unique architecture and history, interesting food, and affordability, a perk which makes it a common tourist destination for younger travelers — aside from the beer culture of course. I’m thankful for the places I got to see, but my heart and mind were just czeched out during my time here. I was both anxious and impatient, yet determined and hopeful. It was as if I myself were a brew, except the ingredients were all emotions.

I was notified of my video interview for my job with Princess Cruises during my time in Prague and it was scheduled to happen when I would be in Vienna. I was grateful to finally have the opportunity to interview, but spent much of my time in these two cities preparing and worrying about it. Then, I spent every day in Rome overthinking every single sentence of that interview. Unfortunately I didn’t take the time to capture photos of those cities that I would be proud of, and therefore I feel that I owe it to myself to see those amazing places again. It’s definitely a privilege to travel the world, but often times that’s easy to take for granted.

When I think back on those days and remember how I felt, it all seems rather silly. However, I still vividly recall the stress, the worry, and the desperation. I remember sitting in the room waiting for the interview to happen with my palms sweaty, knees weak, and arms heavy. There were days in Rome where I would lay in bed for hours despite having so much to see and not enough time. When I went to St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, I went into one of the quiet prayer rooms and just sat there in silence, tears welling up in my eyes. In hindsight this all sounds rather dramatic, but with every valley there’s a peak, and thankfully my patience and efforts were rewarded leading to one of the best experiences of my life.

The photograph below is of Český Krumlov, a small storybook town south of Prague that is similar to Annecy in France, but with more history, as alluded by the fact that the castle and surrounding area here is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I made the day trip out to see this town, but decided only to stay 3 hours. That was not nearly enough time to appreciate everything, but it was necessary. As I sat on the bridge overlooking the whole old town, there were tour groups swarming in from left and right — nonstop. There were people from Canada to China, Vietnam to Venezuela, and all of them took so many pictures. I even took a few for some strangers who just saw me sitting there. Somehow they could tell I was a photographer, but little did they know the camera was just for warmth.

As I sat there watching all those people scramble for the perfect picture, I thought to myself about how this might be their first time traveling abroad, and for some, it might even be their last. It was a solemn reminder of how lucky I am to do what I do, have what I have. Not every day will be amazing, and that’s completely alright. However, like Pitbull once said, “Every day above ground is a great day. Remember that”. Life is full of twists and turns, but don’t let that stop you from seeking your next adventure. There’s a whole world out there — let’s go and see it.