West Virginia Executive Spring/Summer 2020 | Page 121

Mikulov was far less crowded than Prague, and with that
came less distraction. I could observe how life was in this city
versus only experiencing it as a tourist. There comes a point
when the tourist becomes his or her own worst enemy. That
is why I always recommend incorporating smaller cities on
itineraries rather than just the larger ones. There is a more
authentic absorption of the culture in a smaller environment.
Absorbing Prague
On the last night of my trip, while walking back from listening
to hours of jazz, the after-midnight hour of Prague revealed
its own charms. For the first time, the Charles Bridge was
vacant. The loneliness made the city seem new again. The
yellow tones of the buildings shadowed by the misty outlines
were no longer bright orange and colorfully painted. The saints
along the Charles Bridge told the stories on their weathered
faces of what they have seen for centuries of watching guard
and holding their mysteries.
The Czech Republic was the first trip in a long time where
I made no plans before my arrival. While the trip was difficult
at times with my lack of reservations, the surprises of venturing
away from the guidebook and removing the demand to see it all
allowed me to truly absorb Prague. Changing hands between
many countries many times, Prague holds its own identity.
The causal bohemian nature mixed with the cosmopolitan
importance of art, music and culture allowed the city to have a
balance. It is popular for a reason, and I found it magnificent. •
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