I lived in Prague in 2002-2003. It was I think THE hardest decision I have ever made to come home. Truthfully, I never really did come home. I felt the moment I left there, that Prague would forever be where I call home and had such a hard time re-adjusting to being here. And now I hear it calling me home.
I’m very fortunate in that I have extended family living there. A cottage in the country to visit. A place in the city as well.
The language is difficult. Don’t let anyone fool you. However, everyone there knows some English. Even the really old people. It’s surprising how well they speak it! But even if you do try to speak in Czech, they’ll answer you in English most times because they love to practice as much as you do.
Wear sensible shoes. The cobblestone streets will devour anything but. And believe me when I say you will get one heck of a workout walking those streets.
The transportation is by far the best I’ve ever been on. No matter where you want to go, there is a bus, tram, metro or train going there for really, REALLY cheap. But honestly, walking the city is the best way to really see it because you find something cool in every nook and cranny.
Always pay for your transportation ticket, never throw it away before you leave the metro station, and if you do get caught by the transit police without a pass or an expired one, fake that you don’t know what it says on it unless it’s in English, never give them your passport, don’t give them money (they ask for a ton for the fine) and butter them up with how wonderful their English is. You’ll get off with a warning but NEVER do it again!!!
The pay isn’t well in Prague I’m afraid, but everything is relevant to that. So it is cheap as a foreigner, but not if you live and work there. Apartments are never cheap for foreigners… go to the tiny travel centers tucked in on some side street with rentals in the windows. They have great rentals within the city for way less than the papers and internet.
Also, never EVER change your money at any place other than a bank, unless you want to get totally ripped off. The money changers seem so sweet and innocent and really convenient… you get really ripped off. The bank changes at the latest current rate and guess what, they only take a tiny percentage of commission compared to the little ones on the street. I believe the Austrian banks do give the best rates, however. And if someone offers to sell you money in another currency other than the Czech koruny for a “great deal”, walk away. It’s either hot, fake, or you’re getting ripped off because you won’t know the rate.
And guys, if you’re out walking the streets at night by yourself, or with another guy, and a girl (doesn’t have to be good looking, but most likely gypsy – dark skinned) comes up to you and hangs off you or follows you trying to convince you to go somewhere with her… this is not the time to think with anything other than the head on top of your shoulders. RUN! She has at least 3-5 guys waiting to pummel the crap out of you and take everything on you… passport, money, clothes… Just run.
Ladies, always wear your purse over your head and across your body. Always take your backpack off on transportation or turn your fanny pack to the front. Someone will be taking what’s inside otherwise. Watch out for what seems like people pressing to get onto a tram or metro behind you… they’re most likely robbing you.
There are a lot of gypsies in Prague. Some are good and decent, just trying to earn some honest money by doing something entertaining for you, but like anywhere, you really must be careful and at least know what’s out there. I’ve been out walking around at 4 am by myself and not run into any problems as a woman, but my male companion ran into problems throughout our stay there. So just beware.
If you want something to drink, the cheapest item you’ll find is beer, then water, then wine, then pop, then hard alcohol (which is still super cheap except for Tequila), in that order. Crazy, but true. Supermarkets have great prices on all the above. You can buy a pint of beer for the equivalent of about 40 cents… and that’s for a really good scrumptious one! Have fun testing them ALL! But be prepared to go up a few sizes if you aren’t walking everywhere.
Most of all, soak in their culture, eat their food, go to the opera and National Theater, eat the zmrzlina (ice cream) no matter what time of year, take a good camera, go to the new nightclubs and old, travel by train throughout the country to places like Kutna Hora, Cesky Krumlov, Karlovy Vary, Plzen, Brno, etc. You can get some roundtrip tickets to these places for as little as $5 Cdn. There is so much to see and do there… have I mentioned the shopping? Oh, don’t miss that!
