By the Vltava
A different point of view
Korean
The countryside
I woke up to find my “neighbor” (we slept in a big room with 12 beds) had gone. He had a flight to Italy at 5am, from where he would have a 3-week cruise back to the States.
I was a bit dreamy, still. The previous day had been both exciting and tiresome. My bus would depart from Prague at two, so I still had something like seven hours.
“What to do now?”
“Heyho, let’s go.”
Prague, 8am
The next moment, I found myself walking by the Vltava river. This morning was no more foggy; sky was clear and bright.
Before leaving this city, I decided to have a look at its modern side – where the main economy runs and high buildings place.
From the Dancing house, I turned left to the modern area. How to say, it was quite similar to any typical European city. I sometimes stopped to look through a looking-glass of a clothes shop, or visited a bookshop where they sold only English books – All you can find on Nádroní street.
However, for me, there was not much left to see; I had been to somewhat the best spots of Prague, so now could be a good time to chill and prepare for the coming journey.
Why “Korean”?
Well, because I had my Korean friends from Finland coming to Prague today. They would arrive around one, and we could meet in the Old Town Square.
I went back, had a nice coffee and breakfast, then checked out.
The moment I went out from my hostel with all luggage, the feeling was different.
Have you ever felt like, being an outsider, the moment you were about to leave a place?
For me, it was that way I felt; when my heart and plans had no place for Prague anymore – even though it had successfully ended, I suddenly could not look at the city, the same way as 5 minutes ago.
No hate. No love. No guilty. Just alienated; I didn’t belong there anymore.
But let’s look at that emotion as a good sign: I was ready to move on, and enjoy new things.
For Prague? It was a good memory, and I would keep it somewhere in my heart. Now? Let’s go.
The countryside
The bus center was a bit tricky. I went to my bus stop almost late. But the bus came 30′ later than scheduled so it was fine lol.
The trip was 4-hour long. I spent the first half sleeping. The time on bus is usually the best time for relax, as you technically can’t do much there.
I woke up to something very different.
The countryside of Czechia.
Someone told me once, that: when you have lived in one place for a long while, the rest of the world will look new and amazing, despite how normal they are.
I lived in Lappeeranta, Finland, and have never seen a countryside in Europe. For me, this continent is highly developed with metropolitan cities, skyscrapers, or at least, huge avenues.
What I saw, some hundreds kilometer from Prague, is totally different. From the bus, your vision is similar to watching clips; things came and went in frame.
There, I saw no metro, luxurious plazas, nor even neon panels.
There, I saw paintless farmhouses with leaves covered tops, and barns in a distance.
There, I saw stables with horses eating grass. Nearby, someone was burning hay. Smoked blurred the air, made it super dreamy.
There, I saw children running on a hill; I guessed they were reaching their windmill, as I was so far from them – only some seconds and they were gone by the bus window.
Things were just…peaceful here. On my right, the golden sun flashed through the empty chairs, to me.
Nevertheless, the bus moved on. From hills to fields, to town, to border bars. Until there was nothing but vineyards; I just passed the border, like that.
(to be continued)
Khanh Tr.
moink20.com 