Fairytale Prague

Being in Prague is like setting foot inside your favorite storybook. The clip-clopping of horse-drawn carriages, sherbet colored buildings, and red rooftops sprinkled with rusty turquoise domes and spires create a magical fairytale land that seems worlds away from reality.

Visiting Prague has been a dream of mine since I was in junior high, and for years it has been at the very top of my “Places I Want to Go” list. I don’t know why it took me so long to get there, but I’m so glad I waited until I did. Experiencing Prague with my mom, my favorite travel buddy and partner in crime, made the city that much more enchanting.

On our first day there, my mom and I headed up to the castle where we hurriedly rushed from sight to sight. I tried to push my way through the bumbling hordes of tourists so I could admire the sublime views, but I felt overwhelmed by the sheer amount of people. The castle itself wasn’t as breathtaking as I expected, and I felt worried that this was what the rest of Prague would be like. Would I really feel disappointed after dreaming about this city for so many years?

We stuck around the Castle Quarter until just before dusk, and like a breath of fresh air, the masses finally emptied out. We leisurely explored the gardens, taking our time to contemplate the mesmerizing vistas and eventually saunter back down to Old Town. Upon returning, we were itching to finally see Old Town Square. As soon as we turned the corner and found ourselves facing the Astronomical Clock, we were immediately overcome with awe.

Nestled in between the picturesque pastel buildings was a sprawling Easter market, bustling with vendors selling hand-painted eggs, traditional Czech pastries, roasted sausages, wooden marionettes and mulled wine. The intoxicating scents mixed with the captivating sounds of traditional folk music pulsing through the entire square, beckoning us forth into a peregrine reverie.

For the rest of our time in Prague, we were filled with the same sense of wonder that first intoxicated us in Old Town Square. As we meandered through the city's many colorful Easter markets, crossed the venerable Charles Bridge and explored the remarkable Jewish quarter filled with intricate Art Nouveau architecture and breathtaking synagogues, we took in the entire city with awe. We marveled at the history and culture, and surrendered ourselves to the city's many sights, sounds and tastes.

My Prague Picks:

Best Hotel: Savic Hotel
Best People-Watching: Old Town Square
Favorite Museum: Museum of Communism
Best Views: Atop the Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square
Favorite Restaurants: Švejk Restaurant U Karla and Il tří růží
Must-Try Dishes: Goulash, dumplings and beer


Linking up for Travel Tuesday today!

Ten Commandments of Airplane Etiquette

These days, I feel like I spend most of my time either racing through airports or flying on airplanes. With the amount of traveling that I do, I inevitably encounter some unpleasant situations along the way. On planes, I usually try to drown out the chaos with my headphones and a decent playlist, but sometimes the insanity simply cannot be ignored. Traveling by plane has taught me the value of common sense, and what a rare commodity it truly is. So without further ado, I give you my

1. Thou shalt stick to thine own seat assignment.

I'm pretty OCD when it comes to selecting seats. I usually only sit in even numbered aisles, and I get pretty anxious if I don't sit in a window seat. I normally choose my seats months in advance, and nowadays I usually have to pay extra for them. So when I'm on a transatlantic flight and I've paid more money for a window seat with extra leg room, please don't ask me to switch seats with you when you're frantically trying to get your family of 10 to sit together. Plan ahead, people. 

2. Thou shalt respect personal space.

It only takes one transatlantic flight with a stranger trying to cuddle with you to make you never want to fly again. See that armrest? Let's think of it as an invisible line between us. Please, do not cross it.

3. Thou shalt wear deodorant.

I shouldn't have to explain this one further, but it's appalling how many people clearly need to be reminded of it. The same goes for avoiding overwhelmingly strong perfume. We're all trapped in this small steel tube together, so let's try our best to be respectful and smell nice.

4. Thou shalt be a responsible parent.

I'm okay with crying babies (I mean, they can't help it), but when a parent does nothing to stop their child from persistently punching and kicking the seat in front of them (when they're clearly old enough to know better), I just about lose it. Oh, I didn't know I was signing up for a free back massage when I sat in front of your savage offspring! This is an airplane, not a daycare. Either control your child or buy me a drink, you choose.

5. That shalt not recline thy seat until after dinner.

There is nothing more uncomfortable than trying to eat your less-than-mediocre airplane food while awkwardly cramped in your seat, because Joe Bro in front of you decided to recline his seat immediately after take off. Considering most in-flight meals are served fairly soon after departure, is it really too much to wait until after we don't have to use our tray tables anymore?

6. Thou shalt not abuse free drinks in first class.

Just because you're flying first class to Vegas doesn't mean you can act like Ke$ha. Maybe the entire cabin doesn't want to hear your life story when you're one mimosa away from a blackout.

7. Thou shalt respect thy tall brethren.

If you're pretty short and the guy sitting directly behind you looks like he's over 6'1, is it really necessary to keep your seat reclined through the entire 8 hour flight? When my towering peers help me lift my heavy carry-on bag into the overhead bin, I try to return the favor and not squish them for 6+ consecutive hours.

8. Thou shalt not affront thy flight attendant.

You've gotta hand it to them, these people deal with the craziest of the crazies. I asked my flight attendant friend Shalei what bothers her the most about passengers' behavior, and she said,

"TRASH: Give it all to me when I ask and stop hiding it in the seat back pockets or under the seat. This is not your house. And please don't blame us for all of the flying delays. We are not the weather gods and if you want to fly on a broken plane then buy your own."

9. Thou shalt not yell on thy phone whilst on the runway.

That's cool that you don't mind 160 strangers listening in on your personal conversation, but let's try to use our inside voices. Or better yet, save the conversation for later.

10. Thou shalt use thine overhead space wisely.

If I'm not mistaken, the rule is "one carry-on in the overhead bin per passenger", not "one carry-on, one purse, an extra-large puffy coat and three Duty Free shopping bags". I don't understand why this is such a difficult concept for some people to grasp. Finding overhead space would be so much less dramatic if we all followed the rules.

What would you add to this list? 
Do you have any airplane horror stories?

Springtime in Madrid

Due to all of my recent travels, I feel like I haven't been giving Madrid enough love on my blog lately. With a new season comes plenty of new things to do, so I've been taking advantage of the gorgeous spring weather and trying new things. Here's what I've been up to while at home in Madrid:

Having Picnics on My Balcony

After Christmas I moved into a bigger room in my same apartment, and I can honestly say that having two balconies is worth every extra Euro. One of them faces my favorite plaza and two stunning churches, making it the perfect spot for mini picnics. I died and went to foodie heaven while feasting upon this platter of buttery jamón ibérico de bellota, creamy Spanish cheese, savory chips freshly made by my favorite potato chip factory in Huertas, and my favorite bottle of Rioja wine. 

Wine Tasting with Madrid Uncorked

Madrid Uncorked holds monthly wine tastings, each focusing on a different theme. So far I've been to "Off-road: Spanish wine regions you've (probably) never heard of" and "Smack-down: Rioja vs. Ribera del Duero", both of which were informative and delicious!  Their tastings bring out a diverse group of both locals and expats alike, and the laid-back atmosphere makes trying new Spanish wines relaxing and enjoyable.

You can sign up for tastings with Madrid Uncorked here.

Hiking with Hiking Madrid

Last month my friend Jen invited me on a hike from Colmenar de Oreja to Chinchón with Hiking Madrid, and despite being embarrassingly out of shape, I jumped at the opportunity to surround myself with nature once again. We went on a beautiful sunny day, and 12 kilometers later I was reminded once again of how much I truly love hiking. (You can take the girl out of the Pacific Northwest, but you can't take the PNW out of the girl!) I'm looking forward to getting some fresh country air on more hikes this spring!

If you're interested in going on an adventure with Hiking Madrid, email hikingmadrid@hikingmadrid.com to get on their mailing list.

Playing Tour Guide

Before traveling to Prague and Vienna together for spring break, my momma came and spent one week with me in Madrid! I had such a blast showing her around the city and taking her to all of my favorite spots. We hit all of my go-to bars and restaurants, while also discovering some new places along the way. With her in town, I finally had an excuse to go to the oldest restaurant in the world, which gave us an impressionable taste of old world Madrid. I even took her to work with me one day, and she got to meet all of my darling monsters students and see how wild yet lovable they really are. I felt so proud showing off my city, and having my mom around to witness it all made my life here seem that much more real. While I miss my mom like crazy now that she's gone, I'm also thankful to call this place home. 

Enjoying Sunny Rooftop Bars

At Terraza Gymage and La Azotea del Círculo de Bellas Artes

I've always had an obsession with rooftop bars, but sadly they are far and few between in Seattle. Hence, my love for Madrid has grown even further upon discovering the plethora of rooftop bars that exist here! Although at times unpredictable, the weather here is infinitely better than Washington's - so I try to take advantage of the sunshine by enjoying my vino with a view.

Making Big Decisions

I have some exciting news: I'm officially staying in Madrid for another year! 

I'll continue working as an assistant English teacher and exploring Spain one bite at a time. This year my travel plans have focused on seeing more of Europe (which have thus far included London, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Budapest, northern France, Prague and Vienna - with Munich and Greece up next!), but next year I plan on exploring more of Spain. Although I'm a bit anxious to see what the future holds, I couldn't be more excited to stay here and soak in all of what Madrid has to offer. 

Cheers to another year of España!