It's the season of love. Valentine's Day is looming ahead and it makes one wonder how the pandemic will change the streets that were filled with beaming young ladies carrying bouquets, the appearance of huggable teddy bears that were silently perched on the shelves of the department store's children's section, while men made a beeline to the florist & cupcake shops.
My husband is not big on celebrating it. Over the years, we ended up making the 14th of February a celebration of self-love while transforming 364 days of the year into Valentine's instead.
Imagine a world without Covid-19, if you were to take yourself out on a date this month, where would this be?
As I stared out into the sea in our backyard, my mind took me back to a time I traveled solo in Prague in 2015.
My daughter then just turned a year old and we were temporarily living in France with my in-laws. Being a full-time hands-on Mom and wife, well no complaints but now and then, I crave the silence. We just quit our comfortable life in the Middle East and a career that was precious to me.
I needed a short break from the uncertainty of our future and the daily routine. With the blessing of my husband and in-laws, I purchased a budget airline ticket, packed my hand luggage for a solo trip to Prague for 4 days which I will write more about soon.
Traveling alone, we usually meet fellow backpackers along the way, and sometimes we get swooped up joining them in the journey.
By chance, I met two male travelers there and enjoyed their company over a fresh pint of Czech beer after a free walking city tour. They invited me to join them a couple of times but I turned them down because this trip is a rare time for me.
A date with the self. The freedom of stopping anytime I please. Drinking at whatever pub I choose without seeking another's opinion. The luxury of waking up early or late and walking at my own pace.
I woke up early that summer morning and quickly drank a Vendo machine coffee from the hotel.
Vysehrad means "upper castle"
You can take the metro and hop off at Vysehrad Station but I was just masochistic to walk the entire day to and fro.
This was the park inside the historical fort and such a view was the reason why I wanted to walk. I didn't want to miss any of it.
Vltava River view along the fortified walls of Vyšehrad
There were coffee shops and restaurants within the fortified city. I took a break from walking and ordered coffee. I sat on one of the benches and enjoyed the view with my cup of joe.
Pause anytime and enjoy this view with a cup of coffee
Vysehrad Cemetery and St. Peter & Paul Church
Many famous people from Czech history are resting here.
I perused the graves and was drawn by a particular one. A mother and daughter who both died. She was younger than I was when her life ended. I stood there for a very long time and wondered what happened. I whispered a short prayer for both of them and wiped the tears that just fell for inexplicable reasons. Crazy me, why am I crying over someone I didn't know?
The grave was located somewhere around this arched area. I hope she and her child found peace and eternal happiness.
During my time in Prague, I crossed all of these bridges on foot from one end to the other. This is the view of the city from the fortified walls of Vyšehrad.
Have you ever crossed a wooden plank walkway of an old railway bridge?
Vysehrad Railway Bridge was built in 1871-1872 that runs across the Vltava River. The Vltava River according to wiki is the longest river in the Czech Republic and is commonly referred to as the Czech national river.
The bridge is 69.9 meters long. The creaky planks of the Vysehrad Railway Bridge walkway.
The view from this bridge was spectacular!
The train whipped past. I felt the heavy vibration of the bridge under my feet and the strong wind was more than ready to knock me over the thin metal railing. I welcomed the fear of falling and crashing hard in the deep Vltava River. It felt surreal.
Adrenaline. Fear. Exhilaration. Freedom. Elation.
It was one of those moments I'll treasure forever. Thank you for reading and for reaching this far. This was inspired by my original post
What is your favorite memory of a time alone?
Is there a place you wish to re-visit, this time on your own?
I will write about Exploring Prague on foot in my next travel article.
"I want to create spaces that tastefully marry function and aesthetics. I want to immerse myself in beauty not only by tangible objects but also by the unseen." -
Curiosity and imagination lead to unexpected experiences. Interested in Nature, Places, anything French, International Cuisine, and Architecture + Interior Design. Co-founder of Architecture + Design Community. Feel free to follow her, re-blog, and upvote if you enjoy her content.
