A Quick Detour to the Heart of Europe | Gabby Welty

After a long day of missing our train to the bus station, running around the station like crazy people looking for another train, having our bus delayed, and being lost for the first hour of our arrival, we finally made it to our hostel in Prague to catch some quick zzz’s before a busy day ahead. My alarm rang off at 10 in the morning, and I excitedly jumped out of bed to wake up Bailynn and Patrick for breakfast. We trotted down the stairs to meet Neyah, Alaina, Blake, Adam, and Lowell, and started our day walking through the cobble stoned streets of the shopping district. The smell of fresh baked trollo, a fluffy cinnamon sugar Czech dessert with crunchy caramelized exterior, permeated the air around us while shoppers weaved in and out of each little, unique store.

After shopping and enjoying delicious local Czech cuisine, it was time to discover the classic sight-seeing landmarks: the Charles Bridge and the Prague Castle. Little did we know, but we were about to experience one of the most beautiful views in the entire world. There were local art vendors along the bridge, musicians performing their talents, and the most intricate stone statues I have ever seen. After thirty minutes of soaking in the view of the homes, the river, and perusing the art, we finally made our way across the bridge. We approached the castle to find ourselves at the foot of a cobblestone stair case about ten stories high— I knew we had to make our way up to get the full experience of Prague.

We huffed and we puffed until we trudged up the last step of the stair case, and when we finally reached the top, it was absolutely worth it. The rust-colored roofs of the old homes of Prague went on for miles, the old architecture was breathtaking, and the smiles of the E3er’s were gleaming as we stood in silence just absorbing the view. We peered down on to the bridge watching hundreds of travelers make their way up the stairs, rooting for them to achieve the experience of a lifetime. Although we only had two days to explore this beautiful city, it is a memory that will last me a lifetime, and I am so thankful I got to experience the “Heart of Europe” with all my friends in E3, who were just strangers fourteen days before.