City of a 1,000 Spires

I knew next to nothing about Prague and the Czech Republic before I moved here. All I knew is that the people spoke Czech, Prague was the capital city, and I knew about Martina Navratilova. It all happened so suddenly last year that I didn't have much time to study the country. With time, I've become a lot more knowledgeable about the city, but there's still a lot more to learn.

Sights

Prague is probably the most beautiful city I've ever had the privilege to visit/live in. Everytime I walk around the center, I feel like I'm on vacation, and looking at all the old churches, buildings and the amazing sense of history makes me feel lucky that I'm here. Some of the more famous sights in the city include, the Charles Bridge, Prague Castle and the Astronomical Clock (see picture.) Many people dislike tourists, but sometimes it's nice to hear different languages besides Czech, and when I hear Americans, it feels like home again.

Entertainment

The city has loads of pubs and clubs, and it's tons of fun going out here and the beer is cheap as well. There are also lots of concerts. When going to the cinema, the movies aren't dubbed, but are subtitled, a big advantage! Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of good restaurants and all in all, the food is mediocre at best. However, the beer is great and is served in pints.

Crime

For a city this size, Prague has a low crime rate, which is a good thing because the police is notorious for being incompetent. The only thing one really has to watch out for are the pickpockets that frequent the center, but by practicing common sense one can significantly reduce the chance of being pickpocketed.

People

Czech people, and people from Prague in particular have become infamous for their grouchy demeanor. There's no such thing as small talk with strangers (believe me I've tried.) When speaking another language on the subway, tram or bus, one is likely to be glared at. I don't believe the people have much of a sense of humor either. The women have a deserved reputation for being very lovely and fashionable, but are unapproachable. Men often wear camouflage clothes and have odd hairstyles.

Cost of Living

Before coming here, I was told that the cost of living was a lot lower than western Europe and the United States. It probably is a lot cheaper to live here than western Europe, but I think the US is cheaper. I paid a lot less rent for my apartment, which was also larger, gasoline was cheaper, electronics and clothes are a lot cheaper as well. The only thing that costs less here is food and beer. However, for a capital city, relatively speaking, it's quite economical to live here.

Conclusion

I love living here. At the same time, a part of me is itching to go westwards again. The longer I stay here, the more I'm looking forward to the next opportunity. The novelty of living here is slowly losing its charm, but I'm still enjoying myself while I can. The day of my departure is still unclear, but I know it's coming closer with each passing day, and I'm looking forward to that day. But when it comes, I know it will be bittersweet.